I ordered pizza tonight for dinner before I left work, so when I got home, I took the dogs and just sat out on the front porch steps to wait. The front steps have like brick and concrete "arms" on either side--not bannisters, they're like a decorative element. One side does have one of those iron bannisters, added later on, but the dogs like to stand with their front feet on the other one because they can see better from there. Taenzer nabbed that, so Timber came and sat on the step below me, between my feet, with his front feet on the step before that, and every once in a while he'd wiggle back a little bit as if to get closer. I was rubbing his neck, which he loves.

I talk a lot about Timber, I know, but I think it's because I'm less sure of him. Taenzer is a very demonstrative girl and never leaves me in doubt as to how she feels about anything, including me. Timber--Timber seems to like *everybody* and I've always had the feeling he'd be just as happy to jump into the first car that stopped, opened the door, and called "Here, pretty puppy." And he spends so much time off by himself. *sigh* I love you, Mr. Timber.

Monika and Taekwondomom both commented about how powerful horses are. True--there's a reason it's called "horsepower." :) But you know, horses have always made me feel very calm and centered. I definitely respect them--I've been bumped, stepped on, tossed off numerous times, kicked hard enough that I still have a dent in my shin bone, and nipped (not by my own horse, I hasten to add, except the falling off part), and I know they can do a lot of damage if you don't respect them. But I still feel confident, calm, and happy around them.

For one thing, I think I read their body language pretty well--unless they're wearing fly masks! A friend took me to visit her horses once while I was visiting, and I was surprised at how "blind" I felt not being able to see their eyes because they both had fly masks on. Of course I could still see their stance, their ears, their tails, their mouths, but I really felt at a serious disadvantage without their eyes. Very strange. Dogs send a lot of signals with their eyes--blinking, looking away, "soft" eyes, "hard" eyes--I need to read up on horse body language and see if they have a set of horsie eye signals.

You know why I like those Gypsy Vanners so much? They remind me very much of my mare. She was half Morgan and half draft horse, stood about 15.2 (that's 62 inches, or slightly over 5 feet tall at the shoulder) and was a very big-boned girl. She had a long, thick, double mane and her tail often touched the ground, and she had feathers, though nothing like a Vanner! Her conformation was very very similar to these Vanners, with the round "apple butt," round barrel, smooth withers (instead of sticky-up ones like you'd see on a Thoroughbred), crested neck. I never took riding lessons, except from her, and I always rode bareback--it was very comfortable--and she had this beautiful, soft, floating trot. I don't have any good pictures of her, but she really had nice conformation.

So Vanners are (mostly) smaller than she was, but their build is so similar, it's probably only natural that I'd be attracted to them right away. Add to that that they're supposed to have these very sweet, willing, stable personalities--it would just be really nice to have a horse I could ride bareback across a cow pasture, and hang out and be buds with. I know so much more now, too, I could do so much better.

I always wanted to take riding lessons. I wanted to be a 3-day eventer. :) Out here in the heart of Western pleasure classes. *lol* And I know enough about the biz now to know I probably wouldn't have liked it too much. But it would still be nice to learn some basic dressage.

Oh well. Maybe in my next life.

OB knitting content: I *think* my sister signed me up for a 3-month membership in this sock-yarn club, so I've been opening the mailbox every day with a sense of hopeful excitement. So far I've been disappointed every day, but--maybe tomorrow, right? This has really spoiled me--free sock yarn in the mail every month! What a birthday present! :-D

Dream a little dream...

My very first, oldest love is horses. I've been horse-crazy since I was a bitty thing. My 2nd word was "horsie." I was very very fortunate to have a wonderful mare during the difficult teen years; she taught me a HUGE amount, and we became quite a team.

I always hoped/dreamed/expected I would eventually get another horse, but it doesn't look like I will. *heavy sigh* But every once in a while I can't help browsing horse sites.

My current favorites are Gypsy Vanners, which are like a new fad in breeds in America, but I like them. Even though I love bay Morgans, I just like Gypsy Vanners, and today I found the two I want (at least for today ;-) , a mare and a gelding.

The gelding is atypical in that he's not the usual very loud black and white, but he's got a beautiful build and a lovely, refined head. Vanners tend to have biggish, narrow heads, but this guy has nice width between the eyes and such an expression!



For more pics of Bubba, go here: http://www.gypsymvp.com/horses/bubba/bubba.htm

The mare is a more typical of Vanners, a very flashy piebald with lots of feathering and a mane that goes to her elbows. Her head is not quite as refined as Bubba's (what kind of name is that for the poor guy anyway???), but look at the shoulder on her! She's probably a dream to ride. Her forelock is all wavy because, as you'll see if you go to her page, they keep her mane and forelock braided when she's in the pasture--probably a good idea!



For more pics of Meghan, go here: http://www.gypsymvp.com/horses/megan/megan.htm

As far as I'm concerned, this is a real dream site. Their stallions are very impressive, although the one I like best is a little grey called Caruso. Make sure to check their sales list and their gallery. http://www.gypsyhorses.com/ is another good site; look at their sold horses as well as the ones for sale. *sigh*

Oh, I know, they'd be hell to keep clean, but since I won't ever have one, it doesn't matter. I can just dream on.