my farm family

so yesterday we had a new addition on the farm, L.T.B. (Little thorough bred), and it made me realize that y'all don't know who I'm living with and feeding each morning. It is a farm that revolves around horses but consists of several different mammalia.

First are the humans. Me, 21, 6'0" tall and relatively even keeled. I keep a positive attitude but I do eat a lot. Then there are Bill and Emily, he's 32, she's 30 and they are both hard working, patient, and extremely competent. They're old hands at this whole thing.

The horses that are on the farm are competition horses and training horses. For instance, this sunday, several of them will head up to a horse jumping event and the riders earn points throughout the year in their quest for the top prize...Maine Equine Glory.

So every morning at 6 we go to the barn out back, feed the horses (they each have their own specific blend of several types of horse food consisting of grain, a sweet/molassas concoction, and healthy vitamin stuff), then take them to their respective pens. Paparazzi, Emily's gelding, Ivy, Hannah's mare, Noah, another gelding, and Paloma, the second newest arrival, all sleep in the barn because they are "thin skinned" and need protection. During the day, though, they move outside and that's how I'll divide the who's who of horses.

In the smallest pen are Paloma, a grumpy mottled white/gray horse who kicks alot and who I don't really get a good vibe from. Roux, a 5 year old former race horse who is the most attractive but is not trained to ride yet, and who kicks and is fidgety. and Petunia, the donkey.
The other day we were trying to wash Petunia, who is ugly, furry, and covered in mud, and Roux got out. Bill got him back in his pen but, having tasted freedom, he spent the next 10 minutes charging the gate, though never hitting it. Petunia is usually mild and slow, but when we set her up for washing she turned into a bitch, turned herself so that the ropes that were holding her got twisted around her face, and was attempting to kick at Bill, who heroically calmed her down about 20 minutes later and put her up again. I don't know petunia's purpose but someday they hope to have her pull carts.

in the other small pen are Ivy, a dark, tall, beautiful mare, who is the queen bitch, Prizm, a brown and white pinto who has a history of kicking with little children riding her, and Daisy, a sweet but excitable chestnut mare. She was the first horse I rode, and she is nice.

in the last, biggest pen are the boys.

There is Jeeves, the old man, who is a D-bag to all the other horses. He literally looks old. he's light brown with a funny nose and almost greying hair. but he is good to ride and a favorite for little kids. Then there is bugsy, another light brown with white lower legs, and he is the second best for little kids. he's very sweet, never has a tantrum and is very patient. Then there is Noah is who sorta blah. I don't really know him but he seems like a decent fellow. The last two are george and mckenzie who came to the farm together and who are best friends. I call McKenzie Clyde because he is a clydesdale and man are those things huge. I haven't seen anyone ride him yet, but I can't wait. He is like 8 inches taller than ivy is the second biggest. he is very sweet but he intimidates me. then there is George who is the local stallion. but i feel like he's still kinda young so he's really playful. He is dark, dark and still has his man parts. and by playful i mean he and mckenzie like to kick each other for fun. I don't know LTB well, though, as he just came last night.

Emily doesn't own all these horses. some are owned by others, like clyde, george, noah, and LTB, and stay on the farm.

the other animals are two rabbits, 3 cats, who are really cool and stay in a closet but jump through a hole in the bricked-in fireplace to get there, and Abbott, who is the awesome retriever.

oh, and Stella, who has her head on my lap right now, also wants to be mentioned. She is Alex and Elizabeth's 150 pound mastiff. when i first met her, she freaked the hell out of me because she is a guard dog who doesn't want to be messed with, but now she knows me and she is just wonderful. very mellow, and often bored. she is a just really cool, and extremely huge. once you know her, she'll protect you with her life, but if you're a threat she'll take you out in an instant.

So those are the animals that are part of my life. I'll put pictures up once I get home.