Animals

Here’s all the animals that currently live on our place and their stories

Horses

Ponti- 1988 Registered Arabian mare, Crabbet/Polish bloodlines
I got Ponti just after Mike and I got married as a trade for a horse I had tried to rescue but then couldn’t handle. Ponti was within my abilities, so we made the deal, though I can’t say we really saw eye to eye at first. She had had her own misfortunes, some local rumor about her old owner being in a mental hospital. And then she’s a steriotypical arab- barely bigger than a pony, dainty as a toothpick, highly opinionated, every inch the drama queen, and can lock on to that bit and gallop for miles. She wasn’t quite what I was used to, but over the years I’ve had her, and after debating over selling her, I have finally come to appreciate the flip side of that unique arab personality. I have never had a fall from this mare (and it doesn’t take much to shake me). She takes care of her rider and seems to know how to tailor the ride to their ability. She always at least tries to do whatever I ask, though it may be with flaire. She’s not so ditsy after all, just so smart you have to keep her interested- we’ve just discovered trick training and she loves it. And its not so bad having a little horse, it makes trailrides easier. She may not win any prizes for relaxation and rythm, but she is a horse I know I can trust with my life, and in the end I think that’s what I want in my backyard.

Phantom- 1984 registered half arab (mom was QH/Trakhener)
I’d been missing old man Quinn who just died, so I sent out some emails that I’d like to take in an old horse in his memory. So we were given this guy. I wasn’t expecting much for a 22 year old, but he’s in pretty good shape. He was schooling 2nd level dressage when he pulled a sesamoid ligament and was retired. He’s been doing nothing for 5 years now, so he should be pretty healed, and as long as he stays sound some light riding should keep him in shape. Nothing like a sweet old horse for introducing kids. Unfortunately he’s not quite a pale enough gray for playing unicorn. Oh well.

Dogs
Cooper- lab mix
Mike got Cooper from a rescue. He was shot in the shoulder and then turned over to the rescue where he lived for two years. He was a little skittish when he first came home but now he’s a great dog. Prefers to listen to Mike than me though, but that’s ok.

Hunter- English Pointer
I saw Hunter at the shelter and took him right home. I just love the sporting breeds because they have such a gentle quality to them. He’s not the brightest dog I’ve ever owned, but he is sweet and silly and gentle with the baby.

Cats

Katie

Katie hung around the appartment we were staying at before we found our farm. The owner threw her scraps now and then, but she mostly just hunted and had kittens. She was so sweet that once we started feeding her we couldn’t leave her behind. She’s a spayed, contented house cat now.

Salem

Salem wandered in as a stray.  He loves playing with Maggie and being held.

Avalon

Mike had to have a white cat to go with his black cat.  She took a little while to adjust to life as a house cat, but she’s starting to become very sweet.  She supervises the kitchen.

Others

Gilbert
Gilbert’s an amazon parot- I have no idea which species. Gilbert is actually a female, but her old owner didn’t know. I was told Gil was given up when her owner went into a nursing home. I had seen the bird at the store and liked her, but didn’t decide I wanted her until after the store brought her to the vet I was working for with health problems. I made a deal with the store owner and got Gil for free, but had to buy a very expensive cage. Gil’s healthy now and a cool bird, very laid back and never a problem, with a good vocabulary. She’s more likely to put on a show for a man than a woman. Oh, and that sign behind her does in fact say Beware of the Bird (but she’s not really that bad).

Poultry

I have 6 Rhode Island Reds, Mabel, Henrietta, Bob and the triplets, and one guinea left that we just call Guinea