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.