Draft Horse Crossing

Ben was the first horse I adopted.  I bought him as a 2 year old and this year he celebrates his 7th birthday.  Ben is a 17.2 hand high Percheron gelding.  He is the most loving horse I have ever met.  He may not be fast but if you want to ride bareback through a field, or lay down in the pasture to read a book, then he is the perfect companion.

 Hank was meant to be mine, we just didn't get together for a while.  My friend Melissa called me and told me about Hank shortly after I bought Ben.  Being a new horse owner, I wasn't sure I could handle the care of two horses, much less the one I already had.  I went and rode Hank and immediately fell in love.  Unfortunately  I was just not ready for that second horse.  Fast forward a couple years... Melissa had sent Hank to Nashville, TN to live with a girl that was into Hunter /Jumpers.  She called Melissa and said she couldn't keep Hank anymore.  Melissa went  to pick Hank up and bring him home.  It just so happens that I was boarding Ben at Melissa's farm.  When Hank showed up in my life for the second time I couldn't pass him up.  Hank is a prankster.  He's the kind of horse that can not only escape from his own stall but liberate all the other horses in the barn.  If you are trying to get work done in his field be prepared to chase him down when he steals your hammer, or whipe the slobber off of your Diet Coke bottle.

Ginger has been "in the family" for a long time now.  She originally belonged to Tammy Headrick.  Tammy kept her for a few years, then gave her to her sister Melissa (my best friend).  Melissa loaned Ginger to our friend Lori to act as a blind horse sitter, then Ginger came back to Melissa.  Ginger is 26 years old this year and her riding days are done, so when I got my farm I asked Melissa if it would be a good retirement home for Ginger.  Melissa thought it would be great, and I needed a third horse (ask me about the 3 horse theory).  So Ginger has made my home her new home.  She's been there and done that.  Nothing phases her.  These days she gets baths, gets brushed, eats Equine Senior horse food, and just hangs out in the pasture.  She's earned her R&R!

And here's a shot of all three horses on their first day on the new farm.  They were watching the neighbor's kids jump on a trampoline.  They'd never see airborne children before. I imagine it was quite shocking!