Horse names Part 1

This morning while I was typing the list of critters for the vet visit next Wed. I realized there are some interesting names and classifications. In the drink category here is Too Much Brandie.

And here is Chardonnay.

Then there is the insect category. Lady Bug

And Cricket.

Barn cat Daphne wanted a starring role in today's blog. She was born in the wood pile when we lived in Magalia, so she was a wood pile cat first, then a barn cat.

Her full name is Daphne Braveheart Thistledown. She's a real talker.

The tack room has storage above. You can see the window the barncats have to hop into the tack room.

They have a climber to use, too.

Hi, Daphne.

You are certainly beautiful and fluffy.

After morning chores I went "across the street," as Margaret calls Highway 70, to take some hay to our horses there and to visit with Margaret.

The horses spend the Spring, Summer and Fall enjoying the pasture that she seeds every year.

Bruno came to say Hi.

Bruno is a really big boy.

Aurora, Sunny and Chardonnay have been eating nonstop since April. The girls have BIG bellies.

Mike came to help carry the hay to the barn. If Mike doesn't help then Margaret and I cut the bales and haul the hay in the wheelbarrow. Thank you, Mike, you saved us a lot of work.

Lift and load.

Load and lift. Whew!!

The girls say, "Whatcha got?"

"Hey, Mike. Where are you going?"

"Wait for us." They chased Mike all the way up the hill, nibbling as they went.

Dobbin thought you'd like to see how beautiful he is. Front view.

Yes, Jenny. You are beautiful, too.

And Jessie, you are gorgeous.

Dobbin- back view. Dare I say it? An ass's ass.

Zoe, Brian and Jim finish the day with a good visit.

No new sick animals today. Hopefully, we are coming to the end of the strangles siege

NBBH and a Cool Thursday

When I got home Tuesday BBH was missing. She was no where to be found. Then Jim came out with a new hat who immediately became New Best Beloved Hat-NBBH. She had a guinea feather no less. Isn't she beautiful? I guess BBH has met her maker or destroyer as the case may be. Thanks, Jim, I love her.


This morning Fiesty and Princess were having a peaceful nap on the back of the chair.

Then along came Patches and rest time was over.

The laundry was claimed by cats and every time I tried to fold and sort I had help.

Took a short walk around the upper yard and enjoyed the company of Harmony. Doesn't she look cute with the eared fly mask? She and Chance have been the best pasture mates. They can both run like the wind and enjoy getting the other wound up. Sometimes all there is is a cloud of dust.

Chance, whose registered name is Naughty Nine, has recovered from his broken knee. He will always have limited use, but should be a great trail horse. He is easy to be with and really wants to please.

Here's a close up of his pretty face. This one is for you, Diane.

Dancing Drum, Dunny, Frankie and Moon Dancer enjoyed the cool afternoon.

Star was there, too. He was checking to make sure no one left anything at breakfast time.

When Dancing Drum came she was thin and run down. She was headed to slaughter because she couldn't have any more colts. They had bred her to a racing mule, but she didn't conceive so it was the end for her. NorCal rescued her and brought her to us. She's put on weight and feels so good now.
She loves being with Star and Dunny. Everyone in that little herd is very gentle.

Dunny is filling out nicely. His cataracts don't slow him down at all. He races around and kicks up his heels with the best if them.

As I walked by the calf pen (and Bobbie and Quest pen) Bobbie insisted her picture get taken. This was her favorite pose.

When Callie pruned the roses she did a really good job. The roses smell so sweet.

Only a few horses were in the upper turnout this afternoon. Lacey the Haflinger certainly has maintained her weight. We thought she might catch the bug from Babe, but apparently not. Haflingers are mostly this palomino color.

Babe, the Pony of the Americas, lost a lot of weight while she was sick but eats continually now so she should fatten up again.

Skittles was a little sick, but never got bad. She enjoys time by herself, but does not want to be away from her herd. This tree is one of her favorite places.

Stuart was the only other horse in the turnout. There is a nice article about mustangs in the October issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. It said the Kiger Mustangs have the Spanish gene markers in their DNA. They carry the primitive dun coloration and markings in their genes with a dorsal stripe, jack stripe, zebra stripes, bi-colored mane and tail and ears with a dark outline. All three of our Kigers, Stuart, Tiger Lily and Rosie, have these markings.

Love those sunflowers!!!!

The view from our back deck is never tiring. Quest and his little herd is in the calf pen right out our back door.

Bobbie and the calves are in with him.

The minimules are, also, in view.

Thank you James G, Lorie H, Carolene D, Lisa A and all the others who have been so very generous. Home At Last can survive only with the help and support of all of you.

This morning Callie was still muscusy, and Rosie is now drippy. She also has what looks like hives that could be internalized strangles. We will be watching her closely. Both are eating and don't seem to be suffering. Tory and Molly have coughs.
The cooler days have been wonderful. Poor Jim had 100 degree plus weather while I was gone, but now it is sooo pleasant. Our chores are easy to manage when we don't have to work in the heat.

Home At Last

The sunflowers greeted me this afternoon as I came home from the Denver area. It was a wonderful week with family near the Mile High City. Jim had all kinds of stories to tell. Some were funny and some very sad.




Honey cat said a happy hello and thought maybe she could have a little extra treat.


Do you remember the poor raggedy donkey who came a couple of months ago? Well, Jonathan is no longer raggedy. In fact he's fat and sleek. When I talked to Jim last night he said he had good news and bad news. The good news was that we had some wonderful fully ripe watermelons. The bad news was that Jonathan ate them all. Jim said the juice was dripping from his chin and he was one happy donk.

Our pasture has an empty spot. The really bad news is that Breezy Summer died of colic while I was gone. Dr. Darling feels she may have had a strangle abscess break internally. They worked for days to keep her alive. Jim knew she was in trouble because Tucker the mule would not leave her pen. When Tucker stays with a sick animal we know the animal is dying. Tucker has a special gift.

Breezy Summer was a beautiful sorrel Quarter Horse mare. She loved to be petted and Smoke was her favorite pasture buddy. We will miss you, sweet girl.


Quincy came for a drink.

Then enjoyed the salt lick.

More good news. Maggie had been feeling better and Jim moved her back to her friends in their pen. He said Maggie and Sugar groomed each other for hours when they first got back together. Maggie had been sick when I left. In fact, she could hardly breathe.

Belle and Charles were moved to the lower barn so Belle could have flatter ground to walk on. Charles had not been very comfortable with the old turnout, but is at home in the barn. His blindness bothered him and he just seemed unhappy. Now he wanders all over, but as you can see he and Belle are very close. Belle had some lymph nodes swell and now has some edema on her belly. She is eating well and does not seem to be sick.

Another funny story. Jim thought Molly wanted out so he opened the back gate. Molly looked at the gate, at Jim, at the gate again and seemed to say, "You forgot to close the gate. Someone else may get in." Jim closed the gate and Molly went to sleep.

Rosie had asked to be let out, so Jim opened her gate. She went to the big tank for a drink, then came back and asked to come in. She's a sweet and gentle girl and often gets chased off her food if she is out. Sh sure looks good now. Remember how skinny she was?

Lexi has put on so much weight I almost didn't recognize her.

Hi, Gracie.

Juan was sick while I was gone, but is doing better now.

Little Cricket came in with Lucky, but never got really sick.

Lucky has made a full recovery.

Callie was a little "off" when I left but is fine now.

Tory was coughing this afternoon. We will keep a close eye on him.

It's always fun to visit some place else, but as they say "Home is where the heart is" and my heart is at the sanctuary.
We still are contagious so be patient with us. We will continue to be closed until we get the OK from the vet. Strangles has been a real problem with a great number of our horses getting sick- some critically and one fatally. We do not want to be responsible for spreading this to other horses.

Since so many of our middle aged and older horses have been affected, I can't help but feel that maybe this is a new strain. Usually it is the young, previously unexposed horses who come down with strangles, but so far that hasn't happened. Let's keep our fingers crossed that no one else gets sick. I miss our volunteers. Don't forget about us, Helen, Leah, Carly, Tina, Sue, Laura, Joanna, Emily, Jenny, Amalie, and all you others. See you soon, I hope.

NorCal Equine Rescue has a lot of horses who need homes. Please, check them out and see if you can give a horse a forever home.

Our vet bill is overwhelming. We can use all the help you can give. Thank you.