I think my mom is up to something

I can't quite put my hoof on it but things have been just a little odd the past couple of days. It started yesterday. She got to the barn but instead of getting me out for my hay snack, she just pulled out the bale of shavings that was in front of my stall and sat on it. She didn't talk to me or look at me or do much of anything. She just sat there.

Well, I was kind of mad. I wanted my hay snack and I wanted to come out and she was just sitting there like a bump on a log. I bounced around my stall a little bit, and kicked the wall a few times, and stamped, and snorted. She didn't even say anything or look at me. I finally got curious and poked my head out my hay hole to watch. It was just... funny. She was sitting quietly, with her eyes half closed, and she was all relaxed. I watched. And I watched some more. And then I started feeling kind of relaxed. It was actually pretty nice just being there like that.

By the time she got up, I was just standing quietly in my stall. She came to my door and I greeted her and we visited for a couple of minutes. Then she came in and opened up my duds closet. She pulled out my rope halter and asked for my nose. I haven't worn my rope halter in a long time. My mom told me that Sparky's Mom made it for me. That was really nice of her. I like Sparky's Mom. I just don't like it when she's mean to me.

Mom took me out then and gave me my hay snack. Sparky's Mom was there by then and she got Spark and he had one too. My mom cleaned my stall. It was an awful mess. It's been raining and raining and my paddock is just full of mud and water. It's too much mud even for me and I kind of like mud. I haven't been going outside much at all. Sometimes I go just outside the door to poop but mostly I'm staying in my stall. It makes it awfully dirty but I can't help it. Mom understands and she does her best to keep it clean.

I was pretty much finished with my hay snack by then and the hay truck was coming. Mom untied me but instead of putting me back in my stall, she led me out onto the road. That was kind of odd. She led me up the road just a little way and then toward the grass where she let me start grazing near the edge. That was really nice. Then she told me I could go up into it. I was really happy about that but I remembered my Manners and walked instead of trotting up the hill.

She let me graze for quite a while. It was really nice. Sparky's Mom had brought him over to where he eats his bucket dinner and then she put him back in the pasture but I got to eat grass. I felt kind of bad for Spark but the hay was out and it wouldn't be good if the other horses ate it all. We'll probably get to eat grass together sometime soon. Last grass time, we ate up there a bunch of times. Sometimes our moms would sit on us but we didn't mind. It was kind of nice.

After a while, my mom pulled my head up and told me it was time to go. She led me out onto the road on the hilly part by the pasture. I pulled a little bit as we left the grass but she made me whoa and reminded me to walk so I did. She led me down the hill and made me stop in front of my stall before going in. That's Manners too. I used to just barge into my stall and she didn't like that. Now I know I have to wait until she tells me it's okay. She turned me around and took off my halter and I waited nicely while she did it. Then I ate my hay.

It was kind of funny wearing my rope halter again but it was nice too. I like it better than that stupid chain. Even though the rope and the little knots kind of push on my face if I'm being bad, it's not uncomfortable and pinchy like the chain. Most of the time, it's nice and soft and comfortable. And it's pretty.

Today was really rainy again, and windy too. I'm kind of sick of the rain but I'm glad I have a nice cozy stall to be in. My mom got there right after the hay truck went by. She brought a chair with her and sat in that outside my stall just like she did yesterday. I didn't really pay much attention to her this time, though. I was busy eating.

After a while, she got up and went to get a one of those big buckets that roll to clean my stall. She just left me inside it while she cleaned because I was busy eating. Sparky's Mom was there by then and she got Spark out and dried him off and put his cooler on. He was soaking wet and his legs and feet were all muddy. He seemed pretty cheerful though. He ate a hay snack outside Cocoa's stall while my mom cleaned mine.

After a while though, my mom pulled the little box thing out of her pocket and handed it to Sparky's Mom. She opened up my duds closet and pulled out her head bucket and put it on her head. That was funny. She always wears it when we ride but I wasn't even saddled up or anything. Then she went out of my stall and Sparky's Mom stood in front of it with the little box thing pointed at my door. My mom opened the door and called me over and put my rope halter on.

I figured we were going for a walk or maybe out to the Round Pen. I walked out with her and she led me down the road. That was okay. I like walks sometimes. I heard Sparky's Mom call out for us to wait and my mom asked me to whoa so I did. Sparky's Mom caught up and I saw her standing next to us with that darn box so I pulled hard so I could go over to see her and Mom told me to whoa again but I kind of forgot to because I was really interested in what Sparky's Mom was doing. I finally did whoa and my mom made me back up a little bit and then she asked me to keep walking down the road.

I was starting to get a little mad. It just seemed stupid. My hay was waiting for me and everyone else was eating. And it was dumb and muddy on the road. Mom finally had me turn around by the Round Pen and I started hurrying back toward my stall but she made me whoa again so Sparky's Mom could catch up and then after we got going again, she asked me to whoa one more time.

This time, she just stood there. It was dumb. I waited for her to tell me it was okay to go again but she just stood there looking at Sparky's Mom so I got mad. I started fussing, and lifting my back legs to kick but there was nothing to kick. So I tossed my head, and pawed, and tried to bounce, and finally I reached out and tried to bite my mom. She told me not to so I did it again and she said something about showing someone she called Aunt Tracey how I behave. I don't know what she was talking about but it was stupid to just stand there doing nothing.

Finally she told me to walk again and she brought me back to my stall. She made me stop at the stupid door of course, and to hold still while she took my halter off. I was sick of it by then and I didn't really try too hard. Then she got mad at me and told me to back up and I wouldn't so she told me again and got mad and finally I did. It was just kind of a dumb day really.

I just don't know what she's doing half the time. If she'd just brought me to the grass or something it would have been fine. I don't see why I have to just walk back and forth. And then she didn't give me very much bucket dinner. It was only about two bites. She did bring me some more hay but it was grass hay and I don't really like grass hay that much. Maybe tomorrow she'll feed me right.

Ups and downs continued

I forgot to mention one funny thing that happened before the whole Riding Incident. One day last week, my mom brought a bag of stuff with her and started fussing around outside my stall. I couldn't really see what she was doing but when she got me out for my hay snack, I saw that she had hung a bunch of stuff on my door. Usually, the only things that hang on my door are my name plate and maybe a towel or some drying wraps. But this stuff is different. There's a rope of glittery, silvery stuff that has fluffy hairy stuff all along it (it tickles my nose) and hanging off it are some little colored balls and a soft little red pouch thing.

I was so curious about it all and I wanted to taste everything but Mom wouldn't let me. Then later she put my new halter on me and brought a piece of cloth stuff made out of the same soft red stuff as the pouch. She let me sniff it. It was really soft and felt nice on my muzzle. Then she rubbed it on my face and neck and that felt nice too. Then she put it on my head. Well, that seemed a little silly but my mom likes to do silly things sometimes so it was okay. She stood next to me in my doorway while Sparky's Mom held that little box thing they like to carry around and I knew that meant I was supposed to look at Sparky's Mom and put my ears up. So I did but I also took the opportunity to check out the stuff on my door.

Unfortunately, the next part of my post won't be so much fun. The day after our Bad Ride, Sparky's Mom came out alone. I guessed that my mom had finally gotten so sick that she had to stay on Stall Rest or whatever people call it so I didn't fuss. After all, I'm supposed to remember my Manners with everyone, not just my mom. But Sparky's Mom is dumb. She doesn't know anything and she makes me so mad! She didn't even give me my hay snack, she just put my lead on and started bringing me to the Round Pen.

I got a little sassy and bouncy as we walked because I wanted my hay snack and without a word, she just yanked on the chain on my nose! Hard! I couldn't believe it. My mom has given me a yank before but never like that so I just got even sassier and tried to bounce again. And she did it again!

Well, that got me in a very crabby mood but we got to the Round Pen and I figured I'd be able to run and that would make me feel better. Wouldn't you know it, she just slipped off the lead and put on the lunge line and started making me go in a little circle around her. I didn't want to go in a little circle. And she wanted me to walk and I sure didn't want to walk! It was dumb and I kept pulling and trying to trot and bouncing. She just kept making me go in that stupid circle.

Finally I got really mad and I twirled around and reared up and struck out with my front feet! I wasn't trying to hurt Sparky's Mom. That wouldn't be Manners. I was just trying to tell her that I didn't want to make dumb small circles and walk and stuff. But she just got mad and made me go some more.

After about forever, she took off the lunge line and told me to run. I did, too. I ran and ran. But then she made me keep running. I kind of wanted to stop running after a while but she kept pushing me so I kept going. I can run as long as anyone wants me to, after all. Then she decided she was going to make me go in the other direction. I didn't want to do that and I got sassy again and kept running the same way I was going. I knew it was bad - my mom has been really firm about making me change direction when she says - but I was mad and I didn't think Sparky's Mom was being very nice. But then she got right in front of me and put up her arms and looked kind of scary so I slid to a stop and finally turned. I didn't want to but she looked like she might do something crazy.

She made me run around that way for a long time too. I was pretty tired when I was done. When she finally let me stop, I walked up to her and nuzzled her. I just wanted to be friends and do nice things together. I don't see why I have to do dumb things. She was nice to me then though and petted me. She let me cool down a little bit and when she led me out of the Round Pen, she even brought me up on the grass to graze for a little bit. So that was nice but it wasn't much fun other than that!

The next day, her and my mom came out late. It was already dark and I'd finished my alfalfa by then. They just gave me my bucket dinner outside my stall and Sparky's Mom held a little stick that made light while my mom gave my stall a quick clean. She smelled pretty sick to me so I was right about that. Then they put me back to bed and that was that.

Which brings me to yesterday. Yesterday was a really Nice day. My mom came kind of early. I was napping in my stall, just standing up. Horses do that, you know. Sometimes we lie down but we can doze standing up too. Anyway, I was all sleepy and comfortable when I heard her voice say, "Hi sleepyhead!" My head popped up and I looked out my door to see her in her car! She'd come from the other direction over by the pasture and snuck up on me! I let out a big whinney and she went to put her car over where all the cars go and then came to see me.

She gave me my hay snack and cleaned my stall and then she brushed me. I could tell she had some cookies in her pocket because I could smell them but she didn't give me any unless I was a Good Girl. She told me to whoa while she brushed me and when I stood nice and still, she gave me one. And she asked me to give her my feet nicely so she could clean them and when she'd done all of them, she gave me on. It was like doing my tricks. I started feeling pretty good because I understood what she wanted and knew nice things would happen if I did it.

Then she put my lead on and brought me to the Flat Arena. It was really muddy and wet but we found a part that wasn't too bad and walked around for a little bit, doing tricks. One trick she wanted me to do was to stop at her shoulder when she says whoa. Sometimes I stop and then swing my butt around so I'm facing her but that's not how it's properly done. It was hard but I started to figure out what she was asking for and by the time we left the arena, I'd gotten better at it.

I thought we might go to the Round Pen or even back to my stall then but we didn't. Instead we started down the road toward the Little Rolling Arena. I hadn't been that way since the day we had our Awful Accident but it was a nice day and the sun was shining and I still felt pretty relaxed from my nap so I went along. As we got further from the barn, I got a little nervous and started looking around but Mom asked me to do a couple of tricks and I got so busy thinking about them that I forgot about being nervous. We did that all the way - we'd walk along for a while and then she'd ask me to do something and it would give me something to think about.

Before I knew it, we were at the Little Rolling Arena. I felt pretty relaxed and I knew Mom was happy with me. She was telling me what a Good Girl I was as we walked. We just kept going past it and headed across the parking lot. That's where I started getting in trouble that day. I got all excited about being near the Pony Arena because I wanted a turnout and then Bad Things happened. This time though, my mom just kept asking me to do my tricks every time I lost my focus and it helped a lot. I got a little fussy going down the hill to the arena and she had to speak sternly to me but that reminded me and I settled down. I walked right into the arena nicely and then she slipped my halter off and told me to go play!

That was really nice. I ran around a little bit and then I came back and visited with Mom. Then I wandered off again and sniffed poop and played in puddles and checked to see if there was a good place to roll (there wasn't). After a while, Mom walked away from the arena a little way and I got a little afraid she was leaving so I started racing around. She came back but I was feeling frisky by then so I did some good running and bucking and playing. I got kind of hot and sweaty and felt really good.

She let me stay in there for a long time. It was nice. I haven't been out in a big space in a long time except for that one day with Spark in the Gremlin Arena. Sometimes it's nice just to be able to do whatever you want. I know that's one reason Sparky likes living in the pasture because he can run and play when he wants, and he can nap when he wants, and he doesn't have to wait for his mom to bring him somewhere to do it. I wish I could live in a pasture but my mom says they only let geldings in. I think that's stupid.

Finally my mom came in with me. She put my halter and lead on and walked around in the arena with me, asking me to do tricks. I was kind of excited at first from running but doing my tricks settled me down again and when we went out the gate, I was able to think about what I was doing. Mom asked me to whoa nicely at it and not barge through and I was good about it. I started dancing a little bit going up the hill and across the parking lot but she talked calmly to me and asked for a trick or two and I stopped. I walked all the way back nicely and by the time we got to my barn, I was cooled out. I wanted to go on the grass and I kind of pulled that way. My mom straightened me out and led me on but once I was walking nicely, she asked me to go on the grass! She made me walk instead of trot onto it but then she let me graze for a while. That was really nice.

So we had a good day and I think I learned something. It's really hard to pay attention sometimes but if my mom helps me, and I try really hard, I can be a Good Girl and she won't get mad at me.

Ups and downs

My mom's been sick. I can tell by the way she smells. Horses can tell things like that, you know, but people can't. Sometimes I wonder why people are in charge of everything because they really aren't that smart about a lot of stuff. They can't smell if their horse is sick. They have to poke you in the butt with that little stick thing, and put funny metal things up against you that are attached to their ears, and look at your mouth, and poke you, and all kinds of things. They can't tell what horse pooped in the road while I can tell you in a minute who it was once I smell it. They don't seem to know how to eat good things like grass or hay or leaves or dirt. I do sometimes wonder about it.

But anyway, that's not what this is about except to say that I probably knew she was sick before she did. Her and Sparky's mom came out a few days ago and I could smell it then. But she acted okay and cleaned my stall and stuff. Then she took me into the Round Pen. I was happy about that because I figured I'd get to run and play but then she told, "Oh, I forgot to put your wraps on." She want and got them and then we did a really, really hard trick.

She told me to whoa and then reached down to put a wrap on me. Well, I poked my nose down to see what she was doing and backed up a step so I could see better. She told me whoa again and tried once more but the same thing happened. So she put my halter and lead on but instead of holding the lead, she just dropped it on the ground. Then she said whoa again and got down next to my front foot.

Now I knew what she wanted. She wanted me to stand still. That's what whoa means but I kind of forgot because I wasn't wearing anything. Standing still is really hard. It's hard enough when I'm tied or when I'm in my stall, but when I'm kind of frisky and I'm in the Round Pen, it's even harder. But I did it! She put the wrap on my front leg and then she got up and called me a Good Girl lots of times and gave me a cookie!

Well, that was nice. So when she said whoa again, I figured I'd do it. And I did, while she put the other front wrap on. And I got another cookie. That was the easy part, believe it or not. My front wraps just fit onto my leg and attach with these little straps that stick to the wrap itself. They go one really quickly so I don't have to stand still very long. But I wear polos or stable wraps on my back legs and Mom has to wrap them around and around up and down my leg until they finally attach at the end. It takes a lot longer.

But she told me to whoa again and headed for a back leg. It was so hard not to turn around in a circle to see what she was doing! But I knew she wanted me to stand still while she put that wrap on. The whole time she was wrapping it around my leg, she was saying, "Good girl, Bella, you're doing great!" That helped a lot. I know when my mom talks in a nice low voice like that I'm doing the right thing. It was still really hard though.

She knew it. When she finished, she praised me even more than before and told me how proud of me she was. She gave me my cookie but having her so happy with me was just as good (well, almost). Then she said whoa one more time and put on the other back wrap. I stood still for all of them! It was so hard but I did it and my mom was really happy with me.

She let me run a bunch after that and it was lots of fun. Then we left the Round Pen and I figured we were done but she tied me back up outside my stall and started brushing me. That was kind of funny. Then she put my saddle on. I haven't had my saddle on in a long time and it felt kind of funny. I wasn't really sure about the whole thing and Mom seemed to be in kind of a hurry. I didn't like that either. She put my bridle on and started leading me toward the Flat Arena but then she led me back to my stall so she could get her head bucket thing. I was confused. First we left, then we went back, then left again and went back again. I just wanted to go in my stall and have my bucket dinner.

So I was kind of cranky when she got on me. It wasn't a good ride. I was sort of stressed and I felt awkward, like I didn't know what I was doing. Mom was patient at first but then she got after me to keep walking and to stay on the rail and all this other stuff. So I got mad and started to fuss.

When I get mad, it's strange. It's like I can't even think right. I just want everything to stop and for everyone to leave me alone. That's how I was. I wouldn't turn, and I wouldn't do anything - I just fussed and tossed my head and acted up. Mom finally got off me and took me into the Round Pen where she tried to lunge me. I think she was trying to get me to pay attention but I just couldn't at that point. I kept trying to run, and to buck, and to get away. It was awful. She was frustrated and I was frustrated and it just wasn't nice.

Finally she stopped me and walked up to my head. She took off the lunge line and talked to me and then she just got on me in the Round Pen and rode me in there, just walking around a little bit. I was still kind of fussy but she rode with a loose rein and didn't get pushy so I calmed down some and finished up by just walking a few circuits. Then she got off and took me home. It wasn't one of our better days.

I'll tell you about the next couple of days next time. I'm ready for a nap right now.

Remembering how to lunge

I had another nice day today. It was a little rainy off and on but not cold and I spent a lot of time out in my paddock. I like to stand in my paddock. I can see the Flat Arena really well from there and it's fun to watch other horses while they're working. Sometimes I see my neighbors working out there. Spencer's mom rides him a lot in the Flat Arena and Raz's dad rides him there sometimes too. I think it's especially fun to watch horses I know. When Kia lived next to me, I watched her all the time. She was so pretty and she knew how to do lots of stuff so it was interesting. Someday I'm going to do stuff like that.

In the afternoon my mom came with Sparky's mom and she put me right out in the Round Pen for a turnout without even giving me a hay snack! That was kind of strange. Then I saw Sparky's mom get him and tie him in front of my stall and my mom brought the hay bag over and he got a hay snack! I didn't really think that was fair and I was a little mad about it. But it was nice to be turned out. I kind of like it when I go out and get to do whatever I want to do. I kind of wanted to eat a hay snack though.

Pretty soon my mom came to see me and she brought the lunge line and her whip. She put my halter on and clipped the lunge line to it and asked me to go around in circles. I could smell that she had cookies in her pocket so I tried acting all cute and nuzzling up to her but she just kept pushing me away and telling me to go around her so I finally did. I fussed a little about it but once I was going it was kind of fun. She had me go around the way I don't like first and then made me change direction and go the way I do like. I did some trotting and cantering along with walking and she seemed pretty happy with me. I don't really mind lungeing. Sometimes it's pretty fun.

When we were done, she dropped her whip and took off the lunge line and praised me. She gave me a cookie too. Then she stepped next to me and stretched out her arm like she does when she's asking me to pivot on my forehand. Usually though, I have a lead rope on and she holds onto it to keep my front feet still. I didn't even think about it though. I've been practicing my tricks so much, I know exactly what it means when she does that so I just pivoted right around without her having to touch me at all. She was really proud and gave me another cookie and lots of praise.

Then we did more tricks. She asked me to walk forward by just following her instead of her leading me and I did it. I even whoaed nicely when she stopped and said whoa. Then she turned to face me and said "back" while she walked toward my shoulder. Well, I know what "back" means. It means I'm supposed to back up and I just dropped my head and backed up nice and straight. As soon as she stopped walking, I figured I could stop too and that must have been the right thing to do because I got another cookie and more praise.

We played all my tricks like that, even the hard ones like sidepassing. For that one, she held my halter lightly at first while she put her hand by my side but as soon as I realized what she wanted and started going, she let go and I kept doing it. And I did a nice pivot on the hind with her just putting her hand up and walking toward my shoulder. She said it was just like a showmanship class. I don't know what that means but she sounded happy about it.

It's funny. I really love to do my tricks now. A long time ago, she used to ask me to do those things and I'd get mad and swish my tail and try to bite her. Now I love it when she asks me. I'm always ready to do my tricks. It's not just because I get cookies either because I don't always get cookies. Sometimes she just pets me and calls me a Good Girl and that's almost as nice. I just think it's fun. I guess it's because I understand what she wants now and before I didn't. I think it must be part of growing up.

I've seen some horses do tricks like mine when they're being ridden. That's pretty neat. I'd kind of like to learn how to do that. I think my mom will probably start riding me again soon. I feel all better and I think she does. I'm going to really try to behave and do what she asks me but it is hard sometimes. I do get excited easily.

So that was my day. It wasn't a hard day or anything but it was fun. And when we were done, she brought me back to my stall and gave me a nice hay snack so I did end up getting one. So that was good.

Another fun turnout

The last few days have been really nice. I feel like life is getting back to normal and I really like that. Two days ago, my mom came out and worked me in the Round Pen. She really worked me instead of just letting me play on my own. It was fun though. She free lunged me still instead of putting me on the lunge line but she stood in the center with her whip and asked me to do what she said.

I was having a good time. I was frisky and wanted to run so I did a little bit and then I trotted when she told me to. Everything was nice and then she told me to walk and then whoa and then she told me to change direction. Well, I really don't like to change direction. There's one way I prefer to go and I don't much like going the other way. Lots of times when we free lunge, I'm bad about it. Sometimes I won't do it at all and even when Mom gets right in front of me and cracks her whip, I'll get sassy and give her a hard time about it. Sometimes I rear and make a big fuss.

This time though she wasn't in any mood for my fussing. She's been like that ever since she got hurt. She's really been firm about Manners and about being a Good Horse. It was wet in the Round Pen and there were some big puddles and she got right in front of me with her whip and snapped it at me. I tossed my head and pretended I didn't know what she wanted and she dipped it in a puddle and then snapped it at me all wet so it splashed my face. I didn't really like that but I held my ground and sassed back.

And then she got really firm. She flipped that whip so that it hit my chest, then did it again and again, all the while telling me, "Turn Bella!" I was really mad but you know what? I didn't quite dare rear. She's been after me so much about behaving and I know it was rearing that got me into trouble and hurt her and I just didn't want to do it. So I finally took a step back and she stepped right toward me and kept insisting with that stupid whip. Then she reached out and pushed me around with her hand. So I finally went the other way.

She immediately told me I was a Good Girl and asked me to trot. I did but once I was about halfway around, I tried to turn quickly and get past her before she could stop me. She was ready for me though and stomped right toward my head fast making the Bad Girl sound and cracking that whip and I quick turned around again and went the right way. I tried a couple more times but every time she was on to me and I got sick of arguing about it. She made me work a good while in that direction then asked me to stop and turn back the way I like.

I was happy to do that. She worked me that way for a while and then wouldn't you know it, she asked me to turn back the bad way again! I tried to do my stubborn thing but since I'd already caved in once I knew I didn't have any chance of getting away with it and sure enough, she insisted and I gave up. It's really not so bad. I don't know why I don't like going that way but I guess I have to do it now.

It was a good workout and it ended up being a lot of fun. I did some nice running and I got all hot and sweaty. Mom gave me another Vetrolin bath and cooled me out and that was nice. Yesterday I didn't do any work. She came out at dinner time so she just cleaned my stall and gave me my bucket dinner. I was happy about that. It was kind of rainy and I was sleepy and relaxed. Sometimes it's nice to do nothing.

But today I was frisky. Sparky's mom got here first and I figured she was going to take care of me because my mom wasn't with her. I waited for her to get me out and give me a hay snack but she just stayed outside my stall and began talking to Spencer's mom. I was mad! I bounced around my stall and kicked my walls and cantered in and out of my paddock to try to get her attention but she just called me a silly horse and kept yakking. I didn't think I'd ever get out! Finally though, I heard my mom's car and I knew she'd take care of me. She always does. And sure enough, she came along with my hay snack and got me out and petted me and made me feel lots better. Sparky's mom just doesn't know how to do it right, that's all.

After my stall was all clean, Mom put my wraps on so I knew we were going to do something. Sure enough, she put my chain lead on and we started walking up the hill by the pasture with Sparky and his mom following. I was kind of excited. Since I hadn't been out yesterday, I had some extra energy and it was muddy and there were some funny noises going on so all that was enough to get me sort of snorty. Mom made me walk nicely and every time I started to jig impatiently she told me no, that I had to walk with her. It was hard.

We got about halfway up the hill and I started hearing this strange pounding sound. It was coming from one of the stalls along there. I think someone's dad was building something or fixing something the way dads do but it was kind of scary because I couldn't see what was making the noise. I kind of got jumpy as we were going past and then I got really jumpy when it kept up from behind me. I'm afraid I danced quite a lot and even sort of kicked out one time. There was a person on a horse going by at the time and Mom was very angry with me for being so bad when a rider was nearby. It was hard for me to calm down but I finally managed it. Mom was firm but she was also petting me and telling me it was okay, and she gave me a cookie to settle me down. That helped a lot.

Once we were at the top of the hill, I was better and she brought me into the Gremlin Arena. I was happy then because I knew I could run there. Sparky's mom brought him in and closed the gate and then they let us loose. I was excited! I started running really fast up and down the arena, kicking my heels up and racing. Mom wasn't real happy with me a couple of times because I kept running really close to her and Sparky's mom and my flying heels were coming kind of close to them. I wasn't trying to hurt them - I was just excited. And I like to play with people. Sparky's no fun. He doesn't run hardly at all.

I ran and ran until I was out of breath and sweat and steam were coming off me. I felt so good! Mom petted me and praised me for being so good and she gave me some cookies too. Then Sparky's mom decided to make him work and she chased him around with the whip a bit and made him trot and canter. I was glad to see it. I shouldn't be the only one who has to work.

The wraps on my back legs were all soggy wet from running through the puddles and one of them was kind of loose and falling down around my ankle. After Sparky's mom finished working him and we were both just standing with our moms getting petted, my mom told me to whoa and then she went to my back leg and began unwrapping it. I knew she wanted me to stand still while she did it so I tried really hard and I managed to do it. It was really, really hard. I was loose with no halter or lead rope on and I'd just been running around a lot but I was a Good Girl and stood perfectly still. My mom was so happy with me. Once she had that wrap off, she praised me and praised me and gave me a cookie. Even Sparky's mom praised me. Sparky tried to horn in on the attention but I flashed my teeth at him. I deserved to get fussed over.

Then she told me to whoa again and went to get the other hind wrap. This time it was a little easier because I knew how happy she'd be and I figured I'd get another cookie. And I did. My mom was really proud of me and I felt pretty proud of myself. That's a hard trick to do for me. I'm not very good at holding still.

After that, we left the arena and walked back to the barn. I was a little bratty going out the gate but Mom made me behave and I settled down after a little bit. I was still a little excited about all the running but she just kept talking to me and asking me to do tricks. That takes my mind off being fussy, you know. She's pretty smart that way.

She gave me my Vetrolin bath and put Sparky's cooler on me because I was soaking wet. The walk had cooled me down a lot though so I wasn't so steamy but she left me in my stall to rest and relax for a long time before she brought my bucket dinner. She doesn't want me to get a tummy ache. and neither do I. Now I'm nice and relaxed and I think I'll go to bed. Tomorrow should be another good day.

Walk around the farm

Last night was so wild and windy, I was glad my mom closed my paddock door. All my neighbors got wet and uncomfortable but I had a nice comfy bed and shelter from the wind. By this morning, the weather had calmed down but I didn't really have a chance to get bored or restless. First I had my breakfast hay to eat and then it was my nap time. I always take a nap after breakfast. It's a nice time to do it. I curled up in my shavings and took a good long one and I had just woken up and gotten to my feet when I heard my mom's car arrive.

I had shavings all over me and she laughed when she saw me because she said I looked cute. I had them all over my back, and in my mane and tail, and even on my ears. But I didn't care. I love to snuggle in my shavings. She got me out and gave me my hay snack and cleaned out my stall. She just pulled out the whole thing because I'd been in all night so it was kind of a mess. Normally I do most of my business outside but I can't if the door is closed.

I had a new bag of shavings outside my stall though so I knew I'd have a good bed. My mom makes sure I'm comfy. I like that. Sparky's mom was there too and she got Spark out. He had a hay snack over near Cocoa and Spencer and then when my mom was done with my stall, she put on my polo wraps and bell boots and asked if I wanted to go for a walk.

Well, I did. I feel really good now that I can get out and do something besides be cooped up in my stall all the time. Sparky's mom untied him and we set off with out moms. We went up the hill by the pasture and walked all the way up to where I used to live. We didn't go in the Gremlin Arena this time, though. We kept going all the way down the hill and past the Rolling Arena. It was fun. I was a very good girl all the way and my mom was proud of me. She gave me cookies now and then when I was being especially good.

I did get a little excited when we reached the hay barn and the Little Rolling Arena and I realized we were heading back towards my stall. I started dancing and prancing a little bit but Mom was firm with me and told me no so I settled down. It was hard. It was the first time in so long that I've gone all the way around the farm. It was almost like doing it for the first time. There were so many things to see, and horses to smell, and exciting things going on. But I'm really trying to be on my best behavior.

When we got back to our barn, our moms put us in the Round Pen to play. That was great! I love to just go out with Spark and do whatever we want to. We didn't run around today but we did play a lot of bite-face. Spark is really good at bite-face. It's so hard for me to get him and I get frustrated sometimes. He gets me all the time and then I try to get him but he's so quick! And he knows how to duck down and snake his head up from below and take me by surprise. It's so exciting when you get a really good game of bite-face going! Sometimes we rear and strike but we don't hit each other. It's all just play.

We stayed out there for a long time and then our moms came and got us. I was really good and stood nicely while my mom put my halter on but Sparky was bad, and tried to buffalo out the gate, and wouldn't whoa nicely. His mom got very firm with him and made him play the whoa game and back up and stuff. I was sorry to see Spark be bad but I was happy not to be the one in trouble. My mom praised me because I was being good even though he wasn't. That made me feel really good.

He was good after that though and my mom put me in my stall and went to lead Spark a little bit while his mom rode him bareback with just a halter and lead. My mom just led him a little bit and then let go and Spark was very good and let his mom tell him what to do. He even backed up nicely with just a halter and lead which was pretty good, I thought. And then his mom had my mom take the lead right off and rode him back to his tack box without anything but a halter. Well, I have to admit, I wouldn't have done that. I probably would have run off to the grass or something.

It was a nice day anyway. I love spending time with Spark and his mom and my mom. Maybe soon we can go riding together.

Blustery day

It's a windy and rainy day today. At least it is now. Earlier it was kind of nice even though it was raining a bit. I don't mind rain - in fact I like it most of the time. So I spent most of the morning in my paddock enjoying a light rain and watching horses working in the Flat Arena. It smelled nice, and it wasn't really cold, so it was quite pleasant.

I heard my mom's car just about when it started to come down harder and by the time she got to my stall, it was pouring. She brought me out and gave me my hay snack and then went to get Sparky out of the pasture. I wondered if we might go out for another turnout together. Yesterday we walked all the way up the Gremlin Arena and had a turnout. That was wonderful! I wasn't sure about it at first. It's been kind of a long time since I was up that way and I'd sort of forgotten things. I was a little excited and jumpy but Mom kept petting me and giving me cookies and that kept me distracted.

When we got to the top, I remembered because I used to live up there. I was happy to go in the arena and when Mom and Sparky's mom let us loose, I wanted to play! Spark wasn't really in the mood to run but I made up for him because I raced around for a while. It was so fun! I was able to really stretch my legs and gallop because the arena is lots bigger than the Round Pen.

After I was done running, me and Spark played some bite face and then our moms put our halters on and led us around. I did my tricks and my mom reminded me again about manners. I was really good. Now that I can exercise, it's easier for me to remember how to behave. And I was perfect all the way back to my stall - she said. I even did some of my tricks on the way and that was fun.

But today it was just too wild. The wind started blowing and it was coming right in the door from my paddock and blowing my shavings around. Mom just closed it so she could clean and she put Sparky's cooler on him to dry him because he was all wet. We both had a nice big hay snack because Mom knows how important it is for us to eat when it's cold and nasty.

By the time Sparky's mom arrived, the rain was just pounding down and the wind was whistling. Poor Cocoa was shivering in her stall and getting excited by the wind. I felt sorry for her. The hay truck had already gone by so I was back in my stall with my alfalfa but Spark was tied in the aisly still. His mom gave him his bucket dinner and put on his rain duds. He has a rain blanket like I do now, only his is light so he wears a warm blanket under it. Spark likes to wear a blanket when it's cold and rainy but I hate it. They feel funny and I can't roll properly. It's stupid. I roll but I can't really FEEL it because the blanket is in the way.

Mom knows how I feel so she almost never makes me wear a blanket. Instead, she closed the door to my paddock so the wind wouldn't blow the rain in and get my bed all wet. I don't really like having my door closed either but I suppose it's better than being blanketed. And I don't like having a wet bed. I'm one of those horses that likes to lay down in my bed so it's important to me that it's comfy.

So we didn't do much of anything today except eat but that's okay. I like to eat, after all, and it wasn't much of a day to do anything else. Now I'm just hanging around in my stall listening to the wind rattle the doors and the rain on the roof and feeling pretty cozy. I have a pretty nice life when I think about it.

I don't have a rainy day picture to post so I'm going to post one of me in the Round Pen.

Fun, fun, fun, FUN day!

I got to run today! Oh, it's been so long since I was able to really run! It felt so good and my mom was happy with me and I feel lots better now. And my leg that I hurt before was fine.

I also have a beautiful new halter which you can see in the picture. My mom got it special for me because she knew it would look so nice on me. It's red like my other halter but it has all these pretty glittery things on it that shine and make me look so fancy. I love it. It's soft and pretty and it matches all my other red stuff. Mom put it on me today when she came to the barn and then she gave me my hay snack and cleaned my stall.

After that, she groomed me. I made kind of a fuss about it. Mom hasn't been thoroughly grooming me much lately - just a quick brush and she always picks out my feet - but lately she's been doing a good job of it and I hate it! I have to stand still and I have tickly parts and I don't like to be touched much. Mom is gentle and she only uses soft brushes but I've gotten used to not doing it so I'm afraid I'm a little bad. She got mad at me today because I got fussy about moving over and swished my tail at her so she made me move over both ways a bunch of times. I was sorry I fussed after that.

But it was okay because I did look nice when she was done. And she did brush my face with my little soft red face brush. When she does that, she talks quietly to me so only I can hear, and she tells me how pretty I am and how much she loves me and sometimes she kisses the tip of my ear. It's nice. It's like our special little quiet time.

After all that, she put my wraps on. First she put soft puffy wraps around each leg and then put a polo wrap around it. I felt like I had big round legs but I suppose it protects them from getting hurt. She also put my bell boots on. Then she grabbed a lunge whip and brought me to the Round Pen. She let me loose and asked me to walk and I did and then she asked me to trot and I did. I trotted around a little bit and then I just took off and RAN! And she let me!

I ran around that Round Pen about a million times. I was running so fast I was almost sideways because I was going in a circle. I wasn't kicking up my heels or bucking or anything like that because I was running so fast - about as fast as any racehorse, I bet. Oh, it felt good! My mom just stood in the middle watching me and letting me go. Every once in a while she'd say, "Carefully, Bella" or "Easy, girl" but mostly she just let me do what I needed to do and that was run my heart out.

Finally I started to slow down and she started saying, "Trrrrot, Bella.... trrrrrot..." I didn't trot for the longest time; I just wasn't ready yet but finally it seemed like a good idea and I dropped down into one. She praised me for it and then gradually asked me to walk and then stop. I walked up to her then and put my head in her hands to say thank you because I was so happy she let me run.

She put her whip down then and walked around with me just loose with her. It was nice. Then I found a good place to roll and had a really good one. After that, she picked up her whip again and asked me to trot some more. She had me walk and trot and canter both ways and when I was a little fussy about changing direction she got really firm and reminded me that when she's holding that whip and telling me what to do, I have to be a Good Girl and do it. So I did.

I got all hot and sweaty and it felt really nice. Then she put a cooler on me and walked me around in the Flat Arena to cool down. When she brought me back to my stall, she washed me all over with warm water with Vetrolin in it. Vetrolin is this good smelling stuff that makes your muscles feel good after they've been working hard. She let me roll in my new shavings and then put my warm blanket on so I could dry off and not catch a chill and then she gave me a carrot and let me rest for a while.

I felt so nice. I was all relaxed and I had a clean stall and my mom was happy with me. She let me cool off all the way before she took off my blanket and gave me my bucket dinner. I was hungry by then and it tasted wonderful! And she said my leg looked fine with no swelling and no heat so I was glad of that. Looks like I'm getting better and better!

Pretty things

My mom likes to get me pretty things. I like that. I like to look nice. It makes me feel special. I have lots and lots of pretty things in my duds closet and my mom puts them on me lots of times. People always notice and say nice things about my pretty saddle pads or my wraps or my jingly beads. I have the prettiest jingly beads that my mom sometimes puts around my neck. They're all different shades of red with pretty silver bits and a big silver medallion hanging down in the middle of my chest. All along the beads are little silver bells that make a pretty tinkling sound when I walk or trot. They're so pretty! And I have a little string of beads to wear in my tail to match.

I love the color red. It's my favorite color because it looks so good on me. I have a nice red halter with a pretty red and white lead rope. I have my red leg wraps with the red bell boots. I have lots of red saddle pads. And yesterday my mom brought out a set of brand new polo wraps that are black with red hearts all over them. They're so nice! They're soft and pretty and they make my legs look so nice.

We had a nice day. She came out with Sparky's mom and while she was cleaning my stall, Sparky's mom started poking around on me and feeling all over my body. She does that to Sparky all the time but he doesn't seem to mind. I don't like it. It feels funny and bugs me when I'm trying to eat. She says she's looking for ticks which are little bugs that bite you. I don't much like ticks but I don't like being bothered when I'm eating either so I kind of bit her leg. She and my mom both got mad then and they made me stand still and behave while she checked me all over. She even checked under my belly and between my legs and all kinds of places. It was stupid. But then she checked my tail and I guess there were some ticks there because it felt pretty good when she got them out and then scratched my tail really well. It's hard to scratch your own tail. You have to back up to something and rub on it or get another horse to bite in just the right place. Sparky's mom seems to know just where to do it though and it felt pretty good. I was sorry I bit her when she did that.

Then my mom groomed me really well. I was a little fussy about it. I don't much like to be groomed even though I like to be pretty. It's just so boring to stand still! But she was firm with me and made me do it so I did. She didn't even let me play games with her with my mouth. She's gotten really strict on Manners since we had our accident. I guess I don't blame her.

Even so, it felt nice when she was done. She combed out my mane and forelock, and brushed my face which I love. She put some nice smelling stuff in my tail to make the tangles go away and brushed it all out so it looked really pretty. She cleaned my feet and brushed my legs and when she was done, I felt really special. Then she put my new polo wraps on and took me for my walk.

It as nice. Sparky and his mom were already in the Flat Arena riding and we walked around while they rode around. I tried to be a Good Girl and my mom seemed pretty happy with me. I got excited one time when Raz and his person came in the arena and started to trot around. They took me by surprise kind of and I got a little bouncy but Mom was very firm and told me no so I calmed down again. Later when Spark did some trotting, I was good as gold and just kept walking nicely.

I did all my tricks while we walked and that was fun. It makes it more interesting to do my tricks when we take a walk. I never know what Mom is going to ask for so I have to really pay attention. She likes it when i pay attention. And then when Sparky and his mom finished up and went to take his saddle off, my mom walked me up the road a little way. I was kind of excited about it but tried to behave and I did pretty well. Mom praised me and told me I was a Good Girl and then she turned me out in the Round Pen. That was nice. After behaving so much, I was kind of frisky so I did some bucking and playing and running around and Mom told me that was good. I guess it's okay when I play durning a turnout but it's not when I'm on my lead. That makes sense, I suppose. I could hurt someone when I play on my lead.

Mom left me out there for a long time so I had a good time playing and bucking and then walked around and sniffed poop and made nose trails in the dirt. She took some pictures of me in my new wraps which I was glad of. I like it when she takes pictures of me in my pretty things. Then she took me out again and I thought we'd go back to my stall but we didn't. Instead she walked me up and down the road a few more times.

I was a little excited from being turned out so I bounced a little bit and she was very firm and told me no. That made me a little nervous but she stopped me and calmed me down and let me know she wasn't mad at me, she just wanted me to behave. I felt better then. I'm not used to my mom being so strict. Usually she lets me bounce a little bit but I think she doesn't want me to do it at all anymore. Well, I can't blame her. I did hurt her after all.

I settled down then and walked nicely and she took me back and forth a few times and then let me visit with Chip. I was glad. I love Chip so much. He's such a nice boy and we nuzzled and gently bit each other and I kind of sucked on his lower lip for a little bit because it felt good and he seemed to like it. He's one of my favorite friends. We don't ever get mad at each other or bite hard or anything. We just wind our necks around each other and do gentle things. It makes me feel nice.

Mom brought me to my stall after that and took off my wraps. I had a little cut on one foot near the hoof - I'm not sure how I did that. Mom says I have to wear bell boots from now on. But my bad leg wasn't swollen or hot or anything so that's good. I'm getting better every day.

All back to normal

Today was just a regular day and I'm glad of that. I don't think I like it when things get all different and unpredictable.

My mom came out by herself today. I think that means that she feels better and doesn't need help anymore. She still looks kind of strange and people keep asking her what happened. I feel bad every time because she has to explain that I did it. She's such a nice mom though - she always makes sure to tell people it was an accident and that I didn't do it on purpose. Even so, it makes me feel like a Bad Horse.

Today Misty came by carrying her mom. I like both of them and so does my mom. Misty's mom stopped to talk and she noticed my mom's face of course so my mom had to tell her the story. Misty meanwhile nosed around looking for treats. My mom likes Misty a lot and always gives her a treat when she's not wearing a bit but she had one in her mouth today so she couldn't have one. Mom petted her a lot though. I don't mind if she pets Misty because Misty is my friend.

Misty's mom was really nice about it all though. She said she had a horse on Stall Rest one time that got really frisky and reared and scared her once or twice. She said it's hard when you have to keep your horse cooped up and it really is. So it's nice that people understand. I would never hurt my mom on purpose.

Mom got me out and gave me my hay snack like always and cleaned my stall. It was nice. I felt really good today after having a nice long turnout yesterday. I really needed it and I was so happy to be out with Spark even though he really didn't want to play as much as I did. I missed him though so even just being able to hang around with him loose was nice. And I was able to bounce a little bit and run just a little so that made me feel better. My mom felt my leg first thing and said that it felt fine. It wasn't swollen or hot or anything so she was really happy about that. I'm happy too. It means it's getting better so maybe we can even start riding again soon.

She cleaned out my stall really good and then put the big wheeled bucket thing out in my paddock and put my chain lead on. Then she took me for a little walk in the Flat Arena. That was nice. I was on my best behavior, walking nicely and not bouncing at all. Mom was happy with me and praised me for being a Good Girl and remembering my Manners. She led me around a couple of times and then started asking me to do my tricks. Even though she didn't have any cookies, I did them all and did them really well. She was proud of me and petted me lots. It felt good to have her pet me and tell me I'm a Good Girl. I was kind of surprised because that was almost as good as getting cookies though you wouldn't think it would be. But when your mom is happy with you, it really does feel special.

I did my Backing Up trick, and all my Pivot tricks and I remembered them without any hesitation, even though I haven't done them for a little while. I even did my Sidepassing trick perfectly and that's a hard one. I didn't just do a few steps of them either - I did Pivots all the way around, and I Sidepassed for lots of steps. Mom didn't have to touch me at all for any of them - she just put her hand up in the spot that told me which trick she wanted and I did them. I wanted to show her how Good I could be and she was so happy with me. Chip was watching too, from his paddock and I think he was impressed as well.

Mom brought me back to my stall after a while and she tied me up and went to get some cookies for me. That was nice. She had me do the Touch trick for my cookies and I did that one too. I like that game. It's fun and I know how to do it really well. Then she brought me in my stall and kissed my nose and gave me some more hay snack while she cleaned out my paddock. And just when she was done with my paddock, Pedro and Rafael came with my alfalfa dinner. Pedro asked my mom if she was okay and she said she was. I was afraid he might be mad at me for hurting her but he was his usual self, talking nice to me and telling me to move my head so he could give me my dinner. And he gave me a nice big dinner so I know he still likes me.

Then Mom got my bucket dinner like always and gave me my carrots and said good night to me. I'm glad things are all back to normal. Mom says we're going to concentrate really hard on Manners and I'm ready to do that. I'm going to be a Good Pony from here on out. I'm going to try anyway.

Thanksgiving

My mom came out to the barn yesterday. I was so happy to see her! I didn't hear her car because she came with my dad but all of a sudden I heard her calling my name. I whinnied happily and she came to my stall and was just the way she always is. Her face is all bruised and swollen, and she has two black eyes. She can't talk as well as she normally can and I could tell she was in pain but she's still my mom and she loves me so that's what matters.

She got me out and gave me a hay snack and my dad cleaned my stall while she checked my leg and the rest of me carefully to see if I was hurt at all. Well, I'm fine - I just feel so ashamed of hurting my poor mom. Still, it was good to see my daddy. I haven't seen him in a long time and I got to show him some of my tricks, like the one where I touch my nose to his hand and then he gives me a carrot. My daddy thinks I'm cute and he doesn't seem to hate me for hurting my mom.

One thing my mom told me yesterday is that today is Thanksgiving. That's a special day when people get together with the ones they love and think about all the things they're thankful for. Me and Spark decided that's a good idea so today we're going to post about all the things we're thankful for. We're going to take turns and we'll use our names so you can tell who's thankful for what. Spark says I should go first because I'm a girl and because it's my blog so here goes.

Bella is thankful for her nice cozy stall.

Sparky is thankful for his mom who always takes good care of him, keeps him safe and always loves him.

Oh, yeah! That's a good one! Bella is thankful for her mom too! Her mom does all those things plus she gives me hay snacks which I'm also thankful for!

Sparky is thankful for his wonderful sister Bella who welcomed him so nicely to California and who plays with him and is so pretty and nice.

Awww! Bella is thankful for her nice brother Sparky who says such nice things about her and stuff.

Sparky is thankful for his other family members, like his Grammy who takes care of him when his mom is working, and his Grampy who brings him carrots and gives him scritches.

Bella is thankful for those people too! For her Daddy who likes to bring her treats and for Sparky's mom who takes care of her sometimes.

Sparky is thankful for all the guys at the barn who make sure the pasture is well fenced, and who bring us our hay, and keep things running right.

Yes, Bella is thankful for all the guys too! They bring me my grass hay in the morning and my alfalfa in the afternoon and Pedro always talks to me and calls me Baya.

Sparky is thankful for his herd who are all Good Ponies and good friends. They don't fight or cause trouble and every one of them is a productive member of the herd.

Ooh, Bella is thankful for all her friends like Chip, and Indian, and Cocoa, and Mickey. They're all nice and they don't try to eat my food too much.

Sparky is thankful for having a nice home, with good food to eat, and a big pasture. I feel safe and comfortable all the time and even when it's cold and rainy, I know I'm okay because my mom or my Grammy will put a nice cozy blankie on me.

Bella is thankful for a nice home too, and my ball toy and my water bucket and my duds closet and things.

Sparky is thankful for all his wonderful horse friends, like Favre and Poco and Misty and Spencer. It's important to have friends.

Ooh, I already thanked for my friends. Um... Bella is thankful for her bucket dinner which is so yummy and good, and which I don't have to share with anyone else. My mom makes it special for me every day. I like that.

Sparky is thankful for all the dedicated professionals who keep him healthy and happy, like the vet who made him feel better when he had colic and who makes sure he gets his shots, even though he doesn't like shots. And the chiropractor who made all his aches and pains go away like magic. And the farrier who keeps his feet trimmed so nicely and who is gentle and understands that I get a little nervous.

Bella is thankful for all those people too. I especially like the Carrot Doctor because he gave me lots of carrots but the Horse Doctor gives me cookies and I like that too. The Shoe Man doesn't give me any treats but that's okay because he pets me and makes my feet look pretty.

Sparky is thankful for being strong and healthy and well trained which enables him to take his mom for good rides, even on the trail. Some ponies can't do that sort of thing. Poor Vern has problems with his feet which keep him from being sound and rideable and Jet has never learned to be a riding horse so they don't have the fun of going out with their moms and their friends for rides.

Yes, that's a good one! Bella is thankful for being... um.... well... sort of sound some of the time. And I kind of know how to be a riding horse except I'm not really good on the trail yet but I'll learn. I am still young, even though I'm five now. But anyway, I'm thankful that my mom takes care of me when I hurt myself and I WILL be a good riding horse someday!

Sparky is thankful for sunshine and grass, and wind in his mane. He's thankful for the birds and the deer and for dogs and kitties. He's thankful for all the interesting sights and smells that every day brings. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Bella is thankful for all that too. And for all her loyal readers of her blog. Happy Thanksgiving!

Horrible, awful day!

I've barely been able to think since it all happened and I don't even want to write about it but I have to. I hurt my mom, really badly. I feel so awful and I don't know if she's going to be okay or not.

She and Sparky's mom came to the barn together. I was so happy to see her. I'd just gotten my dinner alfalfa but she put my halter and chain lead on so I knew we were going for a walk. I was excited. I love going for walks. We went over to the tack boxes where Sparky was and his mom untied him so I knew we were going to walk together and that made it even nicer.

We started down the road. It was just a regular walk. I was sniffing poop, sniffing mud, looking around. It was fun. I started dancing a little bit and my mom calmed me down and led me on. Everything was okay.

Then we got to the place where people park their cars. I could tell we were headed for the Pony Arena and I was so excited! I thought I might get turned out and be able to run and I couldn't wait. I started dancing and twirling and Mom talked to me and tried to keep me calm but I kept getting sillier and sillier. I couldn't help it. It's been so long! But there's no excuse for what happened next.

Sparky was already down in the grass near the Pony Arena. Mom tried to lead me there but I kept twirling and backing up. Then I reared. I reared up really high and all of a sudden I lost my balance! I don't know how - I was kind of on a hill and I started falling over backwards. It was scary! Mom tried to help me with the lead - she was pulling a little bit to try to balance me but I kept on going and finally crashed down to the ground.

And as I went, I pulled her forward. She tripped on one of my hind legs and fell and my front foot which was waving around trying to get some balance smacked her right in the face!

Oh, it was awful! She was curled up on the ground and there was blood everywhere! I was so scared! I jumped to my feet and ran but I didn't know where I was running to. Sparky's mom ran to my mom and I could hear her saying, "Oh god mom, get to the office now!" and my mom saying, "I have to catch Bella. Poor Bella!" Even though I hurt her, she was worried about me.

Sparky's mom just yelled at her. "GET TO THE OFFICE NOW!" and then another lady ran down the hill and helped my mom walk away. I was still rushing around but Sparky had stopped running as soon as he heard his mom whistle so I got closer to him and his mom caught me. I was happy to be caught! I was so scared and worried. Spark's mom led me back to my stall and I tried to be really good. A nice man came with us in case she needed help but I wasn't going to be bad anymore.

And now I don't know anything. Sparky's mom came out to take care of me yesterday and I tried to be really good for her. She told me that my mom would be okay but that she's pretty badly hurt. I guess she has some broken bones in her face.

What if she hates me? I would hate me if I were her. I'm just a Bad Pony is what I am. I don't deserve to have such a good mom. What kind of horse hurts her mom like that? I couldn't blame her if she sold me or sent me away. But I hope she doesn't.

I've really screwed up this time. :(

New shoes

I got to see my Shoe Man the other day. That was nice. I like my Shoe Man. He pets me and plays with my feet and he smells interesting and has fun toys. He has this big metal thing that he puts my shoes on and then he pounds on them with a big pounder thing. It's kind of exciting. And the metal thing smells kind of like my bit. Sometimes I lick it.

My mom got there and instead of getting me out she just gave me a hay snack and petted me real quick. Then she got Sparky out. I was a little confused about that but I had a hay snack so I didn't mind too much. Later I realized that she must have taken Spark to see the Shoe Man first. Spark is a little afraid of having his feet played with. He told me one time that he's not even sure why. He just gets tense and is afraid something bad will happen. He thinks maybe something bad did happen one time when he was small or something and he just can't seem to relax about it, even though our Shoe Man is nice and pets him and stuff. Poor Spark. It's not fun to feel nervous and not be able to do anything about it.

It must have gone all right though because it wasn't long before they went back past me. Spark's feet were all nice and trimmed and he looked pretty happy because he was going back out to the pasture. Mom came to get me then and I was excited to go out. She put my halter on and my chain lead, and then she put my regular lead on too. That seemed kind of funny but I realized what was all about later.

We started walking over to where the Shoe Man likes to work and I saw Spencer ahead of us walking with his mom. Spencer is weird. He can be nice enough and then all of a sudden he can be nasty. He's always kicking at his neighbor - not Cocoa but his neighbor on the other side. Razuli. Razuli is weird too and he kicks back and the two of them make an awful racket kicking at each other because they have big boards on the fence between them, probably to keep them from hurting each other while they're kicking. It's really dumb. I sometimes kick at my neighbors but only when I'm mad, or waiting for my dinner or something. They do it all the time.

Anyway, they were walking along and were kind of in our way so my mom led me sort of behind them. We weren't close to them at all - I've been lots closer to other horses that I didn't even know. Sometimes when you ride in an arena with other horses, you pass them or catch up to them and you get really close. Most horses just keep doing what they're supposed to because that's all part of Manners. You have to behave when your mom is leading or riding you, even if you don't like having other horses close to you which most of us don't unless they're friends who we're used to. It's not comfortable having strange horses right near you. But Manners are more important than anything, that's what I've learned.

Spencer doesn't have any Manners at all though. As soon as we got behind him, he started swishing his tail and putting his ears back and then he kicked out with both heels really hard! Luckily we weren't close and I just jumped aside so I didn't get kicked but I was pretty mad! I don't care if I get kicked - I can give as good as I get if I have to - but he could have hurt my mom! His mom got all fussy and kind of yelled at my mom for getting too close and my mom said she was sorry but I don't see what SHE had to be sorry about. Spencer was the bad one and his mom didn't even yell at him. My mom would have made me sorry if I ever kicked at anyone while she was leading me! I know better than that and I even admit that I sometimes forget my Manners.

My mom petted me though and told me I was a Good Girl for just getting out of the way so that made me feel nice. She notices when I behave myself and always lets me know it. So I didn't care about old Spencer anymore. You can bet though that if I get close to him, I'll bite him good. As long as my mom isn't leading me, that is.

My Shoe Man was glad to see me and he petted me and started playing with my feet. Mom tied me using my cotton lead but she kept my chain lead on too and I realized that was just in case I forgot to behave. She also had a riding crop with her. She does that sometimes because I get tired of standing still and sometimes I get cranky and bitey so she smacks me with the crop so I remember to behave. But she also had a lot of cookies in her pocket. I could smell them and I tried really hard to be good so I could have some. Mom gave me lots of pets and stuff while the Shoe Man worked and every once in a while she'd give me a cookie. So it made the time go by faster. She also asked me to do my trick where I touch her hand with my nose and that took my mind off the fact that I was standing still.

I just don't like standing still. It's dumb. I like to be moving around. You can see lots more that way and it feels good. My muscles get bored when I'm just standing. If I HAVE to stand, I need to be doing something with my mouth. Like playing with the riding crop. Mom lets me do that and it helps. I bite it and mouth it and wave it around. It's fun. I used to try to play with the Shoe Man's clothes. He wears this thing made of leather around his waist and it has a hanging strap that I used to try to grab. But Mom won't let me so I don't do that anymore. I guess it's not Manners.

I felt lots better when he was all done and I had new shoes on. I love getting new shoes. My feet feel really good and it makes my legs and everything feel nice. Even my sore leg feels better. Horses feet grow, you know. And when they grow, it changes the way you stand and move and everything. Once they're trimmed up and level and even and stuff, your whole body feels better. I always want to run after I get new shoes but Mom wouldn't let me this time. I still have to be careful of my leg, after all. Instead she brought me back to my stall and gave me a nice bucket dinner and cleaned my stall. She got Spark out again too and gave him his bucket dinner. Spark is so nice. Even though he had just had his feet done, which he doesn't like, he came right to the gate nickering when she went to get him. He's always happy to come out no matter what. He's got really nice Manners.

It's raining now. I like the rain. It smells nice and it's kind of cozy to just nap in my stall door and watch it come down. I hope we can go for a walk today. Mom came out kind of late last night and just fed me without really doing much of anything. She did feel my leg though and said that there was no heat or swelling at all so that's good. Hopefully that means we can start doing a little more.

Bad day then a good day

Sometimes you have a day you think is going to be just awful but then it turns out to be really good. That's how today was.

I was in kind of a crabby mood because my mom never came to see me yesterday and I didn't get my stall cleaned, and I didn't get my bucket dinner, and I didn't get my carrot or cookies or anything. You can understand why that would make me upset. But then Sparky's mom came this morning. I was happy to see her and I whinnied at her. She stopped to say hello to me but then she went to the pasture and got Sparky out!

Well, I got mad. It's not fair. Sparky gets all the attention and I was waiting so patiently in my dirty stall with nothing to eat. Oh, she did give me a hay snack but it was small and besides she didn't do it right. I'm supposed to come out of my stall and get tied up in the aisle while I eat my hay snack. And then she's supposed to clean my stall and talk nice to me and call me Belly and give me cookies and things. Instead she had to go get stupid old Sparky.

She came in my stall and started rummaging around in my duds closet and I poked my nose at her and tried to be cute so she'd give me cookies and be nice to me but she was just mean and told me to go away. So I bit her. I know Mom will be mad at me when she finds out but I couldn't help it. She said, "BELLA!" and I tossed my head. She's not my mom. I don't have to be good for her. And besides, what was she doing in my duds closet if she wasn't getting something for me?

She took some funny box thing out of there and left me and I could hear her and Favre's mom talking and laughing. And then they just left! She saddled Spark up and I saw them riding in the Flat Arena with Favre and his mom and then they left and went up the hill and were gone for the longest time. Spark said later that they'd gone on a trail ride. How do you like that? I'm left in a messy stall while they're out having fun on the trail!

Spark got groomed. Spark got fed. What did I get? Nothing. Well, I got that hay snack. And a carrot. But still!

So the day wasn't shaping up too well for me. But then it got better. Later in the afternoon, I heard my mom's car! I let out the biggest whinny you ever heard and by the time she got to my stall I was nickering and pacing and being cute. She opened the door and petted me and called me a Good Girl and gave me nose kisses and stuff. All the right stuff that she's supposed to do. Then she put my halter on and tied me outside just the way I like it and gave me a nice big hay snack and cleaned my stall right up. She even scrubbed out my water bucket.

I felt lots better. My mom knows how to take care of me. She went to say hi to Spark but I don't mind that, as long as she takes care of me properly. Spark's my best friend, after all.

Well, when she was done with my stall, she groomed me and cleaned my feet and put fly spray on me and then she began putting on my boots. I was excited. Boots usually mean a turnout! I haven't had a turnout since I hurt my leg and I sure could use one. She put my front boots on and then she put the back ones on too. I hate those stupid old back boots! They feel funny on my legs. They have special padding on them - Mom says it's to keep me from getting all scuffed - and it's all stiff and strange. It makes me want to kick my legs out.

Mom made me stand still for them though so I had to. Then she put on my chain lead and took me out for a walk. I was kind of disappointed that she wasn't turning me out but I was happy to walk down the road instead of just around and around in the Flat Arena. Mom let me walk along with my head down so I could sniff all the poop on the road. Horses like to sniff poop. It tells us who else has been that way. I sniffed all sorts of horses' poop. I even found some that was Spark's! It was really interesting and fun and Mom took pictures of me as I poked along.

We got to the Little Rolling Arena and suddenly something made me jump. It was a little windy and the leaves just there are dry and rattly so when they blow, it sounds funny. I don't know, maybe it was that, maybe it was the horse being led down in the arena but I got really jumpy all of a sudden. It was as if I all of a sudden remembered that I was frisky. I started snorting and staring and sniffing the air and that made me even more excited. All of a sudden I'd bolt and try to race around Mom and run back toward my barn!

Mom was as calm as she always is. She just holds my lead and talks to me. She seems to understand just how I feel. I kept suddenly bursting into these fits, rearing and striking, or bolting, or kicking and she'd just stand still and talk quietly. Then I'd settle down a little bit and we'd go on walking until suddenly I couldn't take it and I'd start bouncing around again. It was lots of fun and very exciting and the more excited I got, the more bouncy I became.

Mom finally got me turned toward home and we started walking but I kept exploding every few feet. I just have so much energy inside me! When we finally got back to the Flat Arena, she led me in there and started walking me around in it. That settled me down a little - I'm used to walking in there now. Then she began asking me to do all my tricks and pretty soon I forgot all about being silly and started focusing on what she was going to ask me next. I did all my tricks and I did them really well too. Mom said so and she gave me lots of cookies for doing them. So that was really nice. Then we went back to my stall but we stopped so I could sniff noses with Chip on the way.

I had a nice new clean bed to pee and roll in, and a tasty bucket dinner too. Mom checked my leg and said it was just a little warm but not swollen and she put some medicine on it but no bandage. So it must be almost better. I'm glad about that. I hope I can really run soon. I miss it a lot.

Thinking about the future

Lately I've been thinking about what kind of stuff I want to do with my mom when I'm all better again. Horses have Jobs, you know. It's not just carrying your person around - there are different types of riding that people like to do with horses. I've heard my mom talk about it. Sometimes her friends will ask her what she wants to do with me and she usually says that she wants a nice trail horse and that beyond that she'll see what I like to do. So I've been thinking about that.

I've learned a lot about that sort of thing since last year when I was just four. I was kind of a baby then and didn't really understand much. I learned a lot from Kia, and from Sparky, and from Mickey. All of them are a lot more experienced than me. I still don't know everything of course, but I'm learning.

Micky is a Western horse mostly. That means he wears a different kind of saddle than I do, one that's bigger and heavier. When I lived with the girl who took me from the track and then sold me to my mom, she rode me with a Western saddle. It was okay. It was big and heavy but it didn't feel bad or hurt or anything. It was pretty comfortable. Spark told me he's worn one before and he felt the same way. It's just another kind of riding.

I've seen Mickey and his mom riding in the Flat Arena. Mickey does a lot of Western Pleasure. That's when you go really slow all the time. When he canters, you can hardly tell he's cantering. I could beat him back to the barn at a walk when he's cantering like that. He says that's what the Judges want. Well, I don't know what Judges are but I like to go fast and that just looks stupid to me. I didn't say that to Mickey though. It's hard enough to get him to talk to me without getting all grumpy.

He said that Western horses do lots of different things. Some of them chase cows. That sounds a little more fun but both Kia and Sparky told me cows are scary. I mentioned to Mickey that Kia was afraid of cows and he just snorted. "Kia!" he said kind of nastily. "She was an English horse." The way he said English made it sound like an insult and I was kind of irritated but Kia's gone now so it doesn't really matter what Mickey thinks.

"Spark said so too though," I pointed out and he just muttered, "Oh, Sparky!" like it was a bad word. I got mad then and bit him and then kicked at the fence and went to talk to Cocoa. Stupid Mickey!

I think there are other things Western horse do besides chase cows and do Western Pleasure. I've seen lots of horses on the farm in Western saddles and they weren't going slow and they looked pretty happy. So maybe it would be all right but I don't know much about it.

Kia did Eventing. I'm not really sure what that means but she said she does Dressage and Jumping. Jumping is when you go over fences instead of through gates or around them. I found out from Spark that all the little fences in the Little Fence Arena are actually jumps for horses to jump over. Well, that makes a little more sense I guess than just having fences all over the place. I don't really know why you'd bother to jump over something when you could just go around it but Spark says it's fun. He says he's jumped a few times over smallish jumps and he likes it a lot. He says it's exciting and makes him feel all wild and stuff. Plus you get to go kind of fast so you can get some momentum going. I do like to go fast and I like things that are exciting so maybe I'd like Jumping. I don't know. I did jump one of those fences once by accident when I was turned out. I was running and there it was right in front of me so I just jumped without really thinking about it. And I have to say, it was pretty exciting and kind of fun. I don't know if I could do it with my mom on my back though.

Dressage is different. Kia used to try to explain it to me but it didn't make a lot of sense then. Now that I'm a little older and learning more things though I think I understand it better. Dressage is when you have to do exactly what your mom tells you to when you're riding in the Flat Arena. Like if she tells you to trot, you have to trot right away. And if she tells you to turn, or go in a circle, or walk or something, you have to do that. But it's not like regular everyday riding work. You have to be perfect at everything, and extra good, and you have to be all balanced and pretty looking. I used to watch Kia - she always looked so fancy out there, all collected up and stuff.

I used to think all that work in the arena was dumb. I didn't really like doing it. But once I learned the boring stuff like staying on the rail and not slowing down and speeding up all the time, it got more interesting. I kind of like it now because we do a lot of different stuff and every time I think I know what my mom is going to ask for, she changes it and takes me by surprise. I like surprises. They're fun.

So of all those things, I think I might like to do Dressage. I like to look pretty, after all, and it's sort of like learning my tricks. Kia used to do some of the tricks I do with my mom when her mom rode her. I saw her do pivots and things, and sidepasses. I've never done those things with my mom on my back but I bet I could. They're easy and they're fun. So maybe my mom will let me be a Dressage horse. That would be nice.

Bella's weekly update

That's what it's beginning to be. It's just that I don't do all that much so I save it all up to make a good post.

I'm still mostly hanging out in my stall but my mom has been taking me out for walks about every 3 or 4 days. That's nice. I really like it. For one thing, I get to roll in the dirt. I love to roll in my shavings but there's nothing like rolling in some nice, soft dirt. It feels so good! A couple of days ago, Mom came out with Sparky's mom and I got to walk with him in the Flat Arena. That was really nice because I haven't been able to do anything with Spark for a long, long time. We sniffed noses lots and visited and then I started sniffing him all over and he started sniffing around my tail and then I had to squeal at him. I don't think it's very nice when boys sniff around my tail.

Then we walked around and Mom had me do all my tricks for Spark and his mom. I showed them how I back up, and do pivots on my forehand (that's when I move my butt around in a circle but keep my front feet in one spot) and pivots on my hindquarters (that's when I move my front end around and keep my hind feet in one spot) and sidepasses (that's when I move my whole body sideways). And I showed them how I know how to touch anything Mom asks me to with my nose, and how I back up and all kinds of things. It's fun. I love to do my tricks.

I also got to visit with Chip for the first time in a long time. We were so happy to see each other. We sniffed noses and nibbled each other's necks and stuff. I love Chip. He's such a nice boy. He's always really gentle with me. I can't wait until I'm all better and we can get turned out together. My mom and his mom were talking about doing that when I had to go and get hurt.

That day me and Spark went out together, our moms were visiting and laughing and walking us and all of a sudden they started talking about what time it was. I don't really know what people are talking about when they say that. I mean, I know that my breakfast hay comes at a certain time, and my alfalfa comes at a certain time, but people talk about it all day long and I can't figure out what they mean. It wasn't any special time when they got excited about it. It wasn't even my morning nap time - I'd already had that. But suddenly they got all rushed and took Spark back to the pasture and me to my stall. Mom put a quick bandage on my leg and then off they went.

Well, I waited patiently for my mom to come back with my bucket dinner but all of a sudden, I heard her car start up and drive away! And there I was, stuck in my stall with NO bucket dinner! I thought, "Maybe she'll come back" and went out to my paddock to wait and look but time passed and no Mom. The guys came with my alfalfa and I ate it and still no bucket. I was mad! How could she go off and leave me without my bucket dinner? I need that dinner.

I was hungry all night. I searched around my stall for any little scrap of food I could find but there wasn't much. It was hard to sleep. What if she never came back? What if I never got another bucket dinner? I started thinking that maybe I should try to save a little bit of my hay every feeding just so I'd have something to live off of but when my grass hay came in the morning, I was so hungry that I ate it all. I just couldn't help it. I tried to take my nap but I couldn't stop thinking about my bucket dinner and whether or not I'd get one again. It was pretty awful.

Finally I heard my mom's car! I was so happy! I whinnied loudly so she'd know I was in my stall and she came and saw me and acted like nothing had ever happened. She gave me a nice hay snack which I eagerly devoured and put some nice cubes on my leg. My leg was a little swollen again - I'd been pacing and kicking in frustration. Well, I couldn't really help that now, could I?

Then she got to work cleaning my stall. I finished my hay snack and asked to come in and she let me but she soon got aggravated with me because I kept trying to play while she was cleaning my paddock. I couldn't help it. I wanted to know she still loved me so I kept following her around and nipping at her gently trying to get her to play the bite-face game. She did a little bit but then told me she had to clean but I just couldn't stop, so I tromped right up in front of her and stood on the pile of poop she was trying to pick up and reached over her shoulder and nipped.

She got mad then and told me to back up, so I nipped again thinking that maybe I'd get her to start playing but she just took my halter and put me inside my stall and shut the door to the paddock so she could finish up. That wasn't much fun at all. I was kind of mad and hurt and when she finally opened the door, I wouldn't even look at her. But then she petted me and asked me to do some of my tricks so I cheered up and we had a nice session of play with cookies. I felt a lot better then.

Spark's mom had been working him in the Round Pen all this time and then they put him back and got Jet out of the pasture. I was interested. Jet's not part of our family, after all. He's actually Cocoa's foal (well, he's not a foal anymore but she's his mom and she calls him her foal). Cocoa is a very nice mom horse. She's had lots of babies and she talks about them a lot. She loves having babies. Sometimes I wonder what that would be like. I can't imagine having a baby horse following you around all the time and having to take care of it. I wouldn't know how. And what if it ate my food? I wouldn't like that at all.

Anyway, my mom and Sparky's mom took Jet over to the tack boxes and groomed him and then I saw them in the Round Pen with him. It looked like they were teaching him how to free lunge. He just walked around a little bit with my mom walking with him and Spark's mom in the middle with the whip. I guess he's kind of dumb. I know how to free lunge. It's easy. You just go around and do what your mom says.

Well, they finally finished with him and brought him back to the pasture. I wasn't really anxious about my bucket dinner at that point because I knew my mom was still here. And sure enough, she came to my stall with a nice big bucket dinner, with lots of carrots in it. She'd given me an apple earlier and that was a nice treat. I don't get apples as often as I do carrots so they're kind of special. I sort of grabbed the whole thing and chomped it up and it was nice and juicy and tasty and I got juice all over the place. It was fun.

So I had a nice bucket dinner and Mom put a good wrap on my leg with medicine and I felt a lot better. So it was a good day.