February 28, 2007

Grass
a haiku by Pippi

Dainty green surges forth
furnishing tender morsels
to horses in the spring

February 27, 2007

There is hope for spring; I saw a robin today. Green grass can�t be far behind. Sweet, delectable, tasty, tender, lush, supple, mouthwatering, young, fresh grass. Oh, how wonderful that first taste will be!

February 25, 2007

All of us horses made it through the storm OK. I was scared last night, though, when it started thunder snowing. And I wasn't the only horse that was. We were all nervous in here, except today, the geldings won't admit that they were afraid. Nope, got to be the big, strong protectors when they get out around the fillies, but last night they were all looking to Story to save them from the thunder and lightning.

Now today it's snowing again, but I'm not going to say a word against Mother Nature. I've learned my lesson. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

February 24, 2007

Ok, Mother Nature, I give. I must have made you mad when I said bad things about you. I'm sorry. Today you have given us rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow, wind, and now thunder and lightning. You are very powerful. I will never doubt you again. So please, please make it stop.

February 24, 2007

That Mother Nature is a mean lady. She was just teasing us with spring. Get's us all happy and shedding our winter coats and then she pulls the rug out from under us.

Ice. Yuck. Freezing rain. Yuck. I don't like to be out in the pasture when I start to turn into a popsicle. Or in my case, I guess it would be a "pipsicle". Snicker, nicker, nicker!!

Still got my sense of humor, Mother Nature. No matter what you throw at me, you can't break my spirit. I am Horse, hear me whinny!

February 22, 2007

February 21, 2007

All is right with the world! The sun is out, the weather has warmed up, and my human's been out to ride me. I guess getting tough with Mother Nature worked. Just goes to show you that I'm a horse of considerable influence. You know, some of you other mares might want to be a little nicer to me. Otherwise I might just see if I can have your hay. I got Nugget moved, the weather's warmed up — I'd say I'm on a roll!

February 20, 2007

I've just found out some disturbing news. Don, one of the nice gentlemen out here, has a broken leg.  He's pretty important out here, I think. He does something called pay the bills, so we need him to be healthy. At least he didn't have to be put down. We horses know how serious a broken leg can be.

Don, if you're up in your apartment surfing the 'net and happen upon this Web site, all the horses from the north and back barns say, "Get well soon. We miss seeing you outside."

February 19, 2007

Hello, everyone, this is Boomer. I live in the back barn, but I snuck over here to use Pippi's computer to say hi to my human, Becca. She's a Hawkeye now, which means she's away at college — Oh, my gosh, what was that noise? What was that? Oh, just the wind. Never mind.

So hi, Becca, I miss you. Now what was that?? Oh, nothing. Never mind. Hope you're having fun at college. Yikes, what was that??? Oh, nothing. I'm OK.

Bob rides me every week, so I'm getting some exercise, but it's not the same as you. Now what was that??? It sure sounds like there's something outside. What? It really was nothing?

Don't worry about me, Becca, I'm doing well. Oh, my gosh, that was a big noise. I've got to get back to my barn; it's too scary over here. Bye for now, Becca. See you soon!

February 17, 2007

Ok, Mother Nature, I wrote you a nice letter asking for spring to come and what happens? SNOW!!!! More SNOW!!! I can't take it anymore. I'm so mad I could just squeal!!!!

I need to run. And play. And take a warm sun bath without my hooves being stuck in icy cold snow. Mother Nature, it may be not nice to fool you, but it's also not nice to mess with Pippi Longsox. Especially when I asked you very sweetly.

Stupid snow. Stupid cold. Everything's just stupid. I need a vacation. Hey Story, want to go gallop on the beach? Let me log on to travelocity.com and see if I can get us some good rates.

February 16, 2007

Dear Mother Nature,

Hello, my name is Pippi Longsox. How are you? I am fine.

Actually, I'm not fine. I'm darn cold and I'm tired of it. Would you please let it warm up? I'm tired of it being so cold the hair inside my ears gets crispy. I'm tired of the wind blowing so hard that it's no fun to be outside. I'm tired of snow and ice being on the ground so I can't run around and play. And I'm most especially tired of there being no grass. What I wouldn't give for one tender, delectable, green mouthful.

Please, Mother Nature, make the cold go away. We're all duly impressed with your talent for the frozen. Now why don't you show us something new and different? Like spring. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Pippi

February 14, 2007

Can you keep a secret? You can? Good. I've just got to tell someone before I burst. Guess who I think is cute — Bravo!

I know, I know, you're probably wondering when this happened and I can't really tell you except that after Bravo moved into our barn, I really got to know him.  I mean, it's obvious that he's very handsome, but he's also got a great sense of humor and a real playful side to him. He's not your usual gelding, not by any means.

And he's so shiny! I love that in a man. And I can tell that he appreciates a mare of a certain age, one who's mature and knowledgeable about life instead of some ditzy filly who has a trim underline, but just wants to discuss what product makes her mane the least frizzy.

I wonder if he likes me, too. Hey, Story, will you ask Bravo if he'll be my Valentine?

February 13, 2007

Geldings,  dumber than a bale of hay? I don't know; I'll let you decide:

A couple of days ago, a certain group of geldings managed to get their gate open and get out of their pasture. And what did they immediately do? They ran down to see the young fillies in their pasture. Did they look for hay? No. Did they look for grain? No. Did they look for even one blade of grass? No. They had to run down to the young girls and start showing off. Geldings!

Another day, it was time to come in for dinner. A certain buckskin decided he'd rather play and run around then come up and eat. And because Buck wouldn't come in, Austin had to wait for his food. Now I'm the first to say that it is a ton of fun to not behave and have the humans running around trying to convince you to move, but not at dinnertime. Come on! What was Buck thinking? 

Mares are obviously much smarter. When the gate opens at night, boom — both Story and I are in our stalls enjoying our fine evening cuisine. We're not going to turn down an invitation to dinner!

February 11, 2007

Well, I longed my human today. Poor old gal — she really does try hard, but she's so easy to mess with. Snicker, nicker, nicker!

She was all business, going to longe me before she rode me because I hadn't been worked in a while. She was trying and trying to get me to go, and every now and then I'd break into a trot or a lope to make her feel like she knew what she was doing.

But then Story came in and dared me to get my human running around me. And it was so easy. All I had to do was keep facing her and the old gal kept scurring around trying to get back by my hip. It was soooo funny!!! Story, Taz, and I all were laughing, and then Story's human realized what I was doing and I had to stop. But put it down in the record books: today I, Pippi Longsox, successfully longed a human.

February 8, 2007

I sure had a big day yesterday. My human showed up at breakfast time and made me come out of the dry lot, which I was not happy about at all. I let her know it, too. But you know I'm all about sweetness and being accomodating, so I let her catch me and take me away from my hay.

And I'm so glad I did — I got to run around in the indoor arena! I haven't been able to run free like that in weeks because of all the stupid snow and ice on the ground. And then Ms. Afraid-of-the-Cold hasn't been out to ride me much, so I've been going stir crazy.

It felt so good to run!!! And I played a game with my human. I would head in her direction almost like I was going to run her over, but just in time I'd swerve away from her. I was hoping she'd join in playing with me, but she's just not built to run. Legs are too short, you know.

So she took me back to breakfast, but not five minutes later, she was back out trying to catch me to come inside.  This time it wasn't as much fun. Dr. Shanie, the chiropractor, was here and I got an adjustment. I sure don't like it while it's going on, but I do feel better once it's over. I guess Sundae, Lexi, Simon, Reggie, and Buck all saw Dr. Shanie, too. It was Simon's first time and last night after we were all back in the barn, he said it was kind of weird getting adjusted, but he felt a lot better.

I just hope my human comes out again soon and lets me run. Now that I've had the kinks worked out, I'm ready to move.

February 5, 2007

I heard that the colts won the Souper Bowl. Well, that will show you humans to pick an animal with paws over an animal with hooves. 

February 4, 2007

Brrrrrrrrr!

All of the humans here are chattering about some Souper Bowl. I don't know if I like soup, but if it's warm, I sure would give it a try.

Anyway, some bears and colts are in the Souper Bowl, so it must be a huge bowl to fit these animals in there. And the humans keep talking about how they want the bears to win, which I just can't believe. BEARS? Don't they know they are smelly animals that growl? And would eat any horse they could get their paws on? And let's not even talk about what they do in the woods. Yuck!

You would think the humans would be for the colts. I mean, horses are the best animals ever. But if they're for the bears, I'll be for the bears because the humans are the givers of the hay and grain. I'm not stupid.

Go Bears!!!! Go Bears!!!! Go Bears!!!!!

February 2, 2007

I saw the neatest thing last night. I think it was called a puppy. My human and I were walking back into the north barn and Helen was there holding this teeny-tiny little furball. My human started squealing about the darling little puppy, so I decided to take a look and I have to say, I was quite enchanted. I stopped in my tracks and had to have a smell. Mmmmmm, puppy.

He was quite small and furry and didn't seem to mind my big face snuffling around him. I was hoping my human would give him to me after she was done holding him, but she gave him back to Helen and Eric. I think it would be quite fun to have a puppy. He could live in my stall and keep me company at night. I'd be very careful to not step or lie on him. They were calling him Golden Retriever, but I think I would name him Butterscotch.

February 1, 2007

Oh where, oh where has my human gone?
Oh where, oh where can she be?
She used to come out and our rides would unfold.
Oh, she must be afraid of the cold.