November 29, 2006 It’s a rainy, rainy day today. I’m thinking that I’ll roll in the mud since my human’s coming to ride me tonight. Yesterday, Story made sure she got mud caked all over her so her human had to really work to get her clean enough to ride. I stayed pretty clean, so I think I’d better do some serious rolling today. Don’t want my human to think she’s got it too easy with me! November 28, 2006 Hasn’t been much going on around the farm the past couple of days. Sunday was a great day, though, because we went on another trail ride. Four of us went – me, Story, Bok, and Garth. This time I knew what was going on, so I got right into Kay’s trailer, no problem at all. My human was just beaming at me because of that. She’s so easy to make happy, silly girl! The ride was really fun, although there were some kids playing and yelling that Bok didn’t like. He can be such a wimp sometimes. Yeah, he’s beautiful and all that and acts like he’s a prince, but when it comes right down to it, Story and I could take him any day! Well, I’d better go, there’s a mud puddle just calling my name. November 23, 2006 Happy Thanksgiving! To all our humans out there, we horses would like to say thanks. Thanks for mucking out our stalls, giving us good hay and grain to eat, clean water to drink, and a place to live and play. Thanks for brushing and grooming us, being gentle when you put the saddle on, and cinching us up slowly. Thanks for being understanding when we don't quite do what you want and for praising us when we do. Thanks for getting our hooves trimmed regularly and for worrying when we have bumps and bruises. Thanks for the vet care even though we don't like getting our teeth floated. Thanks for spending time with us even when you're busy with school, work,and family. Thanks for all the fun rides and the treats and apples after. Especially the treats and apples after! Pippi, Mistie, Sundae, Holly, Murphy, Ebby, Nugget, Story, Innis, Bok, Simon, Jax, Lexie, Buddy, Smokey, Bravo, Boomer, Taz, Dicey, Khemo, Kirovv, Reggie, Austin, Buck, Cloud, Stormy, Tommy, Garth, Ladybug, Scarlet, Shiloh, Tubby, Cameo, Cassie, Paprika, Jack, Jackie, Fiesta, Merlin, and Bear November 21, 2006   Hey, y’all – this is Ebby. Pippi’s sleeping in her stall right now, so I’ve borrowed her computer. I thought I’d better clear up some things that Pippi’s been saying.   First off, I’m a very nice, black Arabian gelding. I’m not the meany that Pippi makes me out to be. I try to be really good when my human rides me. And I’m even gentle enough that one of the really young kids has shown me before. I don’t see any of the little ones riding Pippi, no I don’t.   Anyway, as for me sticking my head in Pippi’s stall, I have to because she just irritates me. Whenever there’s food around, she’s afraid we’re going to break in and eat it, so she kicks and squeals and tosses her head around. When she acts like that, I think it’s really fun to agitate her. And even if we did eat her food, it’s not like she’d waste away in a day, if you get my drift.   So if Pippi says any more bad stuff about me, just remember that she brings it on herself. Well, mostly. November 20, 2006   I love frosty mornings! Grass covered with frost tastes so good. It’s crunchy, yet cool. And it kind of melts in your mouth. It’s like you’re getting a drink while eating. How fun is that!   Today the sun is shining and the sky is blue, but it’s nippy. I love to get out to the pasture and run on mornings like these. It’s so fun to get the other mares going. Either Story or I start and then they all follow us – even Holly will join in a little and she’s kind of old. The boys in the pasture next to us like to run, too, and sometimes we play games to see who can run the fastest. Bok and Simon can really cover some ground. I think I could take them, though. I’m small and scrappy!   November 17, 2006 You know what happened the other night? Ebby bit me on the rump as my human was leading me from the cross ties back to my stall. It startled me more than hurt, but I still didn’t like it.   That Ebby gets on my nerves. He’s this little Arabian, and everyone thinks he’s so cute. But they don’t see how he’s always sticking his head around into my stall opening and getting me all agitated. And he thinks that when my human gives me treats, just because his stall is next to mine, he should also get treats. And sometimes my human does give him a treat. Those are meant for me! I don’t want to share with him when he goes and nips me on my rear end. I need to talk to that woman and let her know that all treats should go to me. November 10, 2006 Story and I went on a trail ride yesterday in Scott County Park. My first inclination when my human came to catch me in the pasture was to play games with her. I ran around and made her chase me for awhile because it’s kind of fun to hear her yell and watch her try and corner me. I get quite the nicker out of it!   Then I put up a little fuss getting into Kay’s trailer. The last time I was in her trailer was when I was brought here from my previous home and I was pretty nervous that day, so that trailer has bad memories for me. Plus I like to see what I can get away with. Well, I found out pretty quickly that I can’t get away with much because before I knew it, I was in the trailer and we were off.   I had a great time on the ride. It was good to get out and see woods and stuff. At one point we walked next to a big bean field and I really wanted to get over there and run. And we ran into another horse and two mules. They sure look silly. Story had to make sure they weren’t ponies because she doesn’t like ponies – they’re small and clever and ready to take over the world.   When we got back home, it was dinner time! And my human gave me an apple for desert. Yesterday was a really good day.  November 8, 2006 Guess what happened today! Buck and Story went to the chiropractor. It was Buck's first time and he wasn't very happy about it. I heard through the horsevine that he tried to kick Dr. Shanie, but Kay, the head human of our herd, didn't let him get away with it. So he calmed down and let Dr. Shanie work her magic on him. He said he feels much better, although he didn't like getting adjusted. I don't like getting adjusted, either, but it takes my soreness away so I put up with it. Story did real good with Dr. Shanie, but I knew she would. Story's really brave and she watches out for all us mares. While she was gone today, I got to be in charge out in our pasture. I didn't do much, but I did boss the filly around. Mistie thinks everyone loves her, but I don't. She sticks her head in my stall sometimes. I hate when any of the horses do that. Makes me kick my wall and squeal at them. Then I get yelled at when they're the ones being bad. Oh, the injustice. Would you like your neighbors sticking their heads in your windows whenever they pleased? I don't think so. My human told me that we're going on a trail ride tomorrow. I can't hardly wait! November 6, 2006 My human and I had a great ride yesterday. I actually didn’t mind being taken out of the pasture to get tacked up. The weather was nice – not too hot because horses don’t like to work when it’s hot and humid, you know. My human was in a good mood and gave me lots of pats, and she cinched up my saddle slowly like I prefer. But the coolest thing happened before she put my saddle on. I got vacuumed! And I kinda liked it!   I’d seen other horses get vacuumed, but my human had never done it to me before. I guess since I was in an agreeable mood, she decided to try it on me. I was a little afraid at first and my eyes got really big, but my human calmed me down and, well, it felt good!  I kept my eye on her as she went around me with it, but it was definitely a fun experience. I hope she does it again. Vacuuming is good. Ranks right up there with hay and grain. November 1, 2006 I've got a bone to pick with you humans. What is up with this time-change thing? It seems like a big deal to you, but it doesn't matter at all to us horses. We can tell time just fine and I can tell you right now that it's breakfast time. Why are you making us wait an extra hour for food when my belly is telling me that it's time to eat? Hungry, I'm hungry now. Come on, hungry, where's breakfast? Hey Story, you hungry? Murphy, Nugget, Ebby – are you hungry? Yeah, me, too. Where is breakfast? Hungry, hungry. Sundae, get away from the back of my stall. I'll kick the wall, don't think I won't. There. Oh, that almost hurt – I'm tough, though. Hungry, hungry. Where is breakfast? Hungry. Finally, here's the human!! Morning, Kay. I'm hungry! Feed me, feed me....mmmmmmm.   October 31, 2006 Happy Halloween! Hi, my name’s Ms. Pippi Longsox, but you can call me Pippi. I’m an 11-year-old Paint mare and I live out here at the farm with all the other horses. With the help of Story – she’s the head mare of my herd – we keep everyone in line in our pasture. I’m kind of crabby and I’ve got lots of opinions, so I get to be the one to tell you of all the goings on in our barn. Things have been quiet this week, but man, was there a ruckus going on last Saturday night. There was a Halloween party for the kids in the youth association and it sure seemed like they were having fun. There was lots of food and a couple kids even dressed up in costume. We horses got a nicker out of seeing the kids who ride us looking so different. I heard from Dicey, a pal of mine from the back barn, that there was a haunted house in the indoor arena. The adults put it together and seemed to really enjoy scaring all the kids. They must have done a good job because there was lots of screaming coming from over there. It didn’t scare any of us horses, though. We’re too smart to spook over a bunch of grownups dressed up in costume. Now if they were covered up by a plastic tarp – that’s a different story. Those tarps are SCARY. I’ve got it on good authority that they’ve been known to attack and kill unsuspecting horses that get too close. There was even a psychic at the party. Madame Jillian consulted her crystal ball and Tarot cards and told all the humans’ futures. I have to say that we were disappointed that she didn’t come into the barns and tell us horses our futures, too. I’d sure like to hear that there’s going to be a lot of treats for me. I gotta go now. It’s almost time for breakfast and I need to hide my computer so the humans don’t see it. Check back often and I'll keep you up-to-date on everything happening at the farm. Return to top Home It's A Pleasure Youth Association is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation and IRS 501(c)(3) public charity. © 2006 It’s A Pleasure Youth Association. All rights reserved. Web design by crow creative and StartLogic. Images © 2006 crow creative. We value your privacy