Today is the anniversary of Baasha's homecoming to our little farm. This day is so special to me, even more so than his upcoming 25th birthday. This day last year was a dream come true, and I've been enjoying it ever since, and I'm determined to not take any vacations while he is still alive. I bought him a 2 kilo bag of apples - a rare treat, and I discovered they are really, really yummy! I don't like apples but these are amazing. They are called "Elstar" - never heard of this type. I slice them up thin in his morning and evening mashes and add a few chopped carrots too. I guess that's not that special in comparison to fall when we have apples every day.
My man was kind enough to buy him 100$ worth of Glucosamine and MSM - the pure kind that comes as a powder. I order it from a company called Makana, which is Hawaiian for "Gift" - cool, huh?
When I look back at how Baasha looked last year, I'm amazed at the difference. He was so thin! Even his face looked thin the day he arrived here. He's what I call perfect weight now - you can see his ribs sometimes, but his butt is fully padded. His tail is twice as thick, too.
When I look back at my April 1, 2009 photos, I see a field with no fence. Oops, I guess we had a horse at home before our pasture was even partially fenced! (He lived on the hang a while, which is about 1/4 acre.) Now our pasture is not photogenic, it has not recovered yet from the months of snow cover.
(Today I found two piles of horse poop in an area of our hang that I cleared of blackberries just yesterday. So apparently Baasha notices when I do this, and comes down to investigate/scratch on the 200 baby birch trees that are planted down there. HM!)
And to be real, here is a picture of our mud. We do not have a completely mud-free environment, we do have a bit of mud. Actually, right now there is a daffodil cluster growing right in the middle of it - very strange.
My man asked me in the morning, soon after I'd crawled out of bed, "Have you fed the horse? Or will I be faced with a 'Neih neh neh huh heh huh' on the way to my office?" I said, "You're good, he's fed" : ) I had just made his breakfast on our kitchen counter, as always. I don't have a feed room, so the kitchen is it. It ensures that his bucket is clean.
It's so good having my horse at home.
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13 comments:
I'll be grinning all day, just thinking about this post!
I feel great empathy with you - after bringing my horses home after a six-day drive from one side of a continent to another. You've done a great job making a happy home for your beautiful beast. Long may you celebrate this anniversary.
I wish we had our horses at home. Someday, someday.
LOL about his morning greeting.
I long for the day when I have my horses right outside and I am preparing their breakfast on the kitchen counter! Now, three miles away...too far for me! Happy Anniversary!!! Enjoy!
Oh sweet girlfriend,
this was such a lovely thought and post. I love that you have Baasha there..and the journey has been so worth it!
Hugs and smiles= in my heart sending them-to you 3!
KacyK
I know exactly how you feel, having our horses at home is the best thing that has ever happened to us. I love reading your blog, and I think you've done an incredible thing bringing Baasha all that way. I'm glad he's put weight on, too, not easy with an older horse. Here's to another great year, and lots of fun for the two of you.
Has it already been a year? He looks absolutely great!
Love having my horses at home, and have been able to do so for almost 15 years now. Occasioinally there are things about boarding that I miss, and I have boarded 1 or 2 of my horses out during the last few years for easier access to a trainer, but I love being able to be with them any time and having control of their care.
aarene, awww that is so sweet: ) i know you appreciate it too. your homecoming anniversary is only a few weeks away, right?
whp, i would think that a 6 day drive would be more difficult for horses than a one-day flight. i'd sure like to see that continent of yours. for my 40th bday i hope to see northern europe.
breathe, you will. you are the kind of person who achieves her goals.
juliette, i thought they were at home with you!
kacy, as captain picard said, "you know...there really is no substitute for holding the reins." (ok he was talking about captaining a spaceship, but i can apply that to keeping horses at home!)
autumn mist, gee thank you! i think of all the years when baasha was cheated out of the food he was due, and no we're making it up to him.
fv, i tried to find some body shots that show his weight in comparison to a year ago, but none matched up with the same lighting, position. oh well, at least you can see his rounded butt in the new photos. his butt had the two-point peak last year.
melissa, the only thing about boarding i miss is....
...
hm...
i'll have to try later to think of something: )
but to celebrate today, i went out and moved my moveable fenceline. i think that is one of the funnest things i do here on this farm, because it is a physical demonstration of how i control my horse's environment - without asking permission! also, moving a fenceline so he can reach different grass is just plain FUN!
Happy Homecoming Anniversary Lytha and Baasha!
Look how far you've come together. Relish every joyful moment in this wonderful life together again.
~Lisa
Great to hear he recovered from that whole ordeal. Quarantine and the trip so much for a horse to deal with. Sometimes horses at his age don't do nearly so well.
Sweet post. I'm glad you and Baasha can be together.
I'm so happy for all three of yall! :)
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