Mustang Saga

 Well there wasn't really anything going on here today that's worth talking about.  The wind was cutting and it snowed all day, then started raining.  The donkeys hung out inside.  The horses, although they could be inside if they wanted, stood around outside looking miserable and wet. 

So I'll share some more pictures from the weekend.

This seems to be the natural order of the boys. 

 

 Pedro lets Scout drive him around, so he's in the lead with Scout behind, pushing him on.  Bob won't be driven, but he is a follower, so he brings up the rear.  Pretty interesting actually, and could be useful information in training.  For instance, you might not get as good results trying to urge Bob forward with a whip/training stick as you would trying to lead him into something. And I think Pedro makes a better prospect for any kind of work, because he is more active and willing to move.

You may notice Bella isn't included in the equine playdate.  I'm afraid she might hurt the donkeys. Eventually maybe I'll feel more comfortable trying them together.

Here we have Donkey Dressage (AKA Move Your Ass):

Scout isn't living with the donkeys all the time though, because believe it or not they get fed more than he does.  Not much more, but it is more.  I may change that in the future so I can keep them together and they can all get more exercise together.

 Pedro's sweet eye, on alert:

I noticed he doesn't have very big "hangy things" over the top of his pupils.  (If you enlarge the picture you can probably see the black cilia at the top of his pupil, hanging down from the iris.)  I know there's a technical term for the hangy things...  Aha!  They are called corpora nigra.  I had to look it up.  These things protect the pupil from too much sunlight, and can develop cysts, as Scout has in his right eye, that obstruct the vision.  BUT Pedro's are much smaller than a horse's normal sized corpora nigra.  I wonder if it's because of his large brow ridges and overhanging "eyebrows."  Maybe he doesn't need the extra protection inside his eye.

That's about it for me today.  Cross your fingers for me that the snow on our driveway melts enough for the propane guy to get in here.  I want to be warm!