August 29, 2007 Story told me that she's communicating better with her human. Said her human took the riding clinic with Doug and he must have trained her better because she's easier for Story to understand. Thank goodness for teachers otherwise you humans would never know what to do to get us to go. Speaking of teachers, I think all the kids have gone back to school now because it was really quiet around the farm yesterday until late afternoon. Then all of a sudden, it was Kid City. They were everywhere! I like the quiet times, but I do like it when there are kids running around getting their horses ready to ride. They always have the funniest things to talk about. They don't think anyone's listening, but we horses always are.

August 25, 2007 Now, I'm not saying it's been raining a lot lately, but the other day I was out in the mare's pasture and a couple fish floated by me. Said they were from the pond and were out on vacation. I'm thinking I need to get some flippers and a snorkel mask if it keeps raining.

August 23, 2007 It finally cooled down and I felt so good that I just wanted to run and run and run. It was great to be in the outdoor arena and not feel like I was swimming through the air. I just had to move my body – I mean, that's what we horses do. Well, besides eat. And, well, you know. Anyway, it's not my fault that this perfect running weather coincided with a riding clinic my human signed us up for. She needs to be more flexible and go with the flow, if you ask me. But no, she wanted me to trot slowly and look good for Doug, our instructor. I thought I might as well show him how we normally look so I trotted off with gusto. Then my human and I had a battle about my speed and unfortunately, I lost, but not right away. I put up a good fight. Doug said that I had spirit. I'm not sure what that means but I like the sound of it!

August 21, 2007 The Tooth Fairy left carrots for Mistie but she came and went so fast than none of us got to see her. There must have been a lot of teeth to collect that night so she couldn't stick around and chat. Unfortunately the carrots aren't enough proof for Smoky to believe that the Tooth Fairy exists. He says he has to see it to believe it. He's very left brained – everything's black or white, no room for any shades of gray. I know I believe in her – those carrots didn't want in the barn on their own. Wow! Wouldn't that be cool, though, if carrots could walk? I'd want some to walk right into my stall every single day.

August 18, 2007 There is excitement in the barn tonight! You see, Mistie lost a tooth and is going to put it under a hay bale in her stall for the Tooth Fairy. So we're all looking forward to meeting the Tooth Fairy. Well, most of us are. Smoky doesn't believe in her, says he's too smart to believe in tiny creatures that fly. What about birds, I asked, but he just walked away. Anyway, I've met the Easter Bunny and Santa and all his reindeer, so I'm quite excited to add the Tooth Fairy to my autograph collection. I hope she comes soon because I'm getting tired and don't want to fall asleep and miss her.

August 17, 2007 I wish you humans would get the wash rack done. When you all get working on it and congregate in a big bunch right next to my stall, well, it interrupts my sleep. You wonder why I'm crabby? A well-rested mare is a happy mare. And don't even get me started with that saw. I don't like that noise at all. It makes me so nervous – I just want to run through my stall door, even though it's closed. Worst. Noise. Ever. You guys have been working on the wash rack for a few months now. It's time to finish it, don't you think?

August 15, 2007 Guess who's back home – Inniss!! He spent the summer at Girl Scout Camp in Indiana with his human. It sounds like he had a lot of fun, but I swear all he says now is, "One time at Girl Scout Camp ..." Just think if he had gone to band camp. Welcome home, Inniss!

August 13, 2007 What a weekend we had. First off, there was a clinic that my human and I attended and it was really fun. I was pretty skeptical because I'm older and very knowledgeable. I mean, I've been a horse my whole life so what else are you going to teach me? I'm a horse expert. But I did learn some things. And so did my human, which makes me very happy because we're communicating better. And this spinning thing that she's got me trying to do seems kinda fun. We practiced after the clinic and I'm getting the hang of it. If I can just remember to plant my hind foot. Then we had some friends stop back and it was so good to see Catherine and Elizabeth. We miss them! I hope they come back again soon, especially when my human and I can spend more time with them. Hi, Catherine and LIz!!!! It was good to see you.

August 12, 2007 Smoky has asked me a favor. Seems he's too lazy to borrow my laptop and type a message of his own, so he asked if I'd do it. Seems it's his human's birthday. And since I love birthdays, I said OK. Smoky's human, this is for you: "Dude, happy birthday. Easy on the spurs. Smoky" We're gonna party like it's your birfday. Drink apple cider like it's your birfday, We're gonna party like it's your birfday and we don't care, cuz it's your birfday!

August 11, 2007 There was something very evil near the outdoor arena. I'm not sure what it was, but it made me extremely nervous. My human was oblivious but once she saw how concerned I was, she paid more attention. She kept telling me that it was nothing, and then she thought I was worried about the round bales out in the pasture. I was insulted by that! She should know better, after all this time, that I wouldn't get that upset over stupid hay bales. I mean, c'mon, I'm not a gelding. Anyway, we kept riding and I made sure I kept my eye on that corner of the arena. Once my human started my cool-down, I thought we were going to be OK but all of a sudden the monster made a move. I turned to face it and heard it coming closer, so I very quickly got farther away. Then my human got off me and told me there was nothing to worry about. Yeah, right! Well, I made her walk pretty darn fast for a two-legged creature, and we had just gotten through the gate when I heard the monster moving again. I started snorting at it and threw my head way up, and human finally realized that there really was something going on. I almost ran off without her, but she's been pretty good to me so I held my ground while she got the gate fastened. We finally walked off and I can't tell you how relieved I was to reach the barn. For a few moments there, I thought I wouldn't live to eat another apple.

August 9, 2007 Haiku by Pippi Broil. Roast. Swelter. Sweat drips onto the ground leaving melted pool of horse.

August 7, 2007 I've had more baths this past week than I can count. The humans are hosing all of us horses off after we're done riding and normally I'd be upset by it, but it's been so darn hot that I don't mind it too much. It feels kind of good to get all that sweat rinsed off. You know what would be even better? If I didn't have to work at all in this hot weather. I'm very tired of this heat and the flies. I'm SO ready for fall.

August 5, 2007 Hi, all, Bok here. Don't you think it's about time that Pippi lent me her laptop so I could speak to all of you? I am gorgeous, I am talented, I am the Prince – so I definitely think my voice should be heard here. I want to wish a very happy birthday to my human, Kay. She's the head human, so Pippi said I have to share the computer with the other horses because they all want to send her happy birthday wishes. So here goes: "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Kay! Happy birthday to you! We're gonna party like it's your birfday. Drink apple cider like it's your birfday. We're gonna party like it's your birfday!!!!" Bok, Simon, Lexie, Bravo, Mistie, Taz, Story, Pippi, Boomer, Dicey, Austin, Ebby, Smoky, Nugget, Sophie, Jax, Holly, Cloud, Reggie, Buddy, Stormy, Kirovv, Kehmo, Garth, and Tommy.

August 3, 2007 I can't believe it happened again – carrots were being given out and I didn't get any. Kay brought out a whole bag and fed them to Austin. Meanwhile, I was directly across from him, patiently standing in the crossties like the good horse I am, but I was ignored. Not only could I smell their sweet orangeness, I had to watch Austin eat them. It's just not fair! I don't know what the problem is, but it's the second time this has happened and I'm beginning to think it's a plot. Yeah, the carrot conspiracy, I bet that's what it is. I'm going to have to do some investigating.

August 1, 2007 Buddy and Stormy have turned into idiots. Mike had to mow their pasture so they decided to act all upset and run around like fools. Geldings, you know, they can't handle anything. You would have thought they'd never seen a tractor before. Stormy was acting all Arabian – had his tail way up and was prancing around the field. And Buddy can really move. He's so long-legged that he sure covers the ground. Meanwhile, my human and I were working in the arena right next to them and I didn't have a melt down. Nope, I just carried on. Business as usual is my motto. Although when Eric opened the gate while he was still on Cloud and then couldn't get it closed, I got very antsy to bust through it. My human thought she had me in control but I if had really wanted to, I could have gone through it and been back to the barn in a flash. But I'm such a good horse, I did what my human wanted. Well, I protested, of course, but in the end I gave in. Anything for my human, that's my motto.

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