Teddy Bear Cactus

These cute little sparkly spines jump right off the cactus and right onto the wandering horses walking by. Most of these little desert horses just live with the spines until they can flick them off with a tail or someone else's tail. My little band doesn't seem to pick them up very often, but on occasion we find a "pear" hanging off a lower leg. Anything besides a human hand will do as removal equipment. Shoes, rocks, ropes, whatever is handy and nearby is used. And they usually come off in one nice piece with nothing left behind.

Bella must have backed right into a "bush" because she came home with several spines coming out of her hock. It was simple to remove them and a day later all was still normal. Bella gets a thorough going over every time she comes in from the desert. I use Swat on any and all marks and scratches so the flies don't continually bother her. As you know, she is ENTITLED. Mochie, the old gelding, and the others watch in wonder at what I'm doing to her. Brushing burrs out of her tail, checking to see her eyes are clean, putting Swat under her belly, cleaning her boobs, picking her hooves. It's all questionable to them. And then there's the bucket of happiness.

Alright. I can't put this off any longer. It's been working it's way steadily, one second at a time, 'til it's right here ready to smack me in the face. I'm turning 60 the day after manana.

WORK IT GIRL

What happened to the buckskin in this filly?
Bella was in the largest paddock yesterday when I arrived to give her the much beloved bucket of happiness. The horses kind of play musical chairs in this small family farm and they get to go into whatever paddock is nearest when they come in from their daily desert freedom. As I took my time entering, turning to latch the gate, and then facing her she was doing her best imitation of a very mean mare. Ears back, shaking her mane from side to side, but not approaching me. I shook my finger down around my waist and she backed up about 4 feet. More tap dances and more finger wagging and I had her a good 8 feet back. Then, happiness was produced for the smartest little girl in the world.
I love her throat-latch.

I got some.
So?
I'm always excited to find some new candy.
Why?
Cause I really like fresh candy.

I grew up with this guy's mother. We rode at the same stable and we went to the same schools forever. McLain has surpassed both of his parents horsemanship which is saying alot. Especially his dad.
This video was just pointed out to me from another buddy who we rode with.