Bliss

When I was a little girl, and I asked mommy for a horse, I pictured a tall, sleek, muscular stallion. I imagined his nostrils would flare with exhilaration, his skin would twitch with excitement, his feet athletically jigging beneath him in anticipation of whatever may lie ahead. I imagined a horse well over 16h, giant, intimidating, a Goliath I would have to climb up a ladder to mount. I imagined a steed with fire sprouting from his nostrils, with strides that swallow up the Earth, my own personal Man O' War.

Instead of Man O' War, I have my Derby boy.

My sickly, 14.2h pony, with a baby face, ulcers, and tapeworms.

And I could not be happier. (:

He may never be an actual "horse" (14.3h is the smallest a "horse" may be - otherwise, they're classified as ponies); we may never look very elegant together, as I can wrap my legs around him; but he is my hearthorse. He is the "one" God sent to me to teach me a good, solid lesson about expectations.

While Derby may never be the huge, powerful thing that dwells in every little girl's dreams, he will always be the sprite little pony in my heart, fleet and light-footed and quick-tempered and smart-mouthed and always there in my time of need. 

Derby Day Ticket: therapist extraordinaire

..and you never know; he just might surprise us all.

As for my sickly little pony's weekly health update:

We had his blood run again to verify last week's test, and we have concluded that last week's test was faulty, as his levels are completely normal! No anemia, no nothing. Just a perfectly healthy little boy. So, we're hoping that after a few weeks of UlcerGard and when he finished his Powerpac, he'll start to put on weight and be healthy and fat again.. I miss him being pudgy and actually looking like someone loves him!

We put him out his dirt lot the other day; and he has become the farm hussy. He flirts with all the girls around him, rotating as they each go off and do their own thing. He'll hang out first with Harley, then Honey, then Bluejeans, then Roma.. Is there no end to his trivial pursuits? It's a good thing he's not a stallion.. or, as my barn manager put it, 

"there would be little black bastards running around everywhere."

You have to admit; that would be awfully cute!

Updates and pictures to come. I found some old pictures that I'm adoring. (: and SPRING is finally on it's way, hallelujah. I'm getting to ride a little more frequently, so I'm feeling more like myself. I can't wait until my friend's mare, Joy, is in shape enough that I can start doing stuff with her. colt is finally healthy enough that I can start messing with him again. I still have to teach him to pull a cart, play fetch, play soccer, and pony before this summer! Come on, D. Get healthy!

Oh - and my friend's mare, Joy, needs to get in shape, too. (: I'm going to pony Derby off of her this summer for some initial exercise to get his fitness up before his fifth birthday (May 05, 2012), when I start riding him and actually working his butt out! I plan on riding him and getting him fit in his fifth year, and then when he's six, we'll start to explore disciplines that he might enjoy, going to shows to try our hand at different events.

(Derby and his momma, Missy)

Also - congratulations, Derby. A month ago, I had $1,500 in the bank. Currently, I have a vet bill for $85 to pay, and $80 to my name. You better be glad I love you, little boy.

Money CAN buy happiness;

Happiness is the horse of my dreams,

Happy, healthy, warm, and safe.

-AO