Today I'll introduce you to all my animals here at Salsipuedes. Of course you have already met Bochica, my first horse. Here is the latest photograph of him--awaiting his bath at the wash rack--he loves the attention and getting clean. Sometimes he doesn't even roll for a day after a bath! :)
My next addition was Moe. He is a sweetheart--a 20+ something year old quarter horse. Actually, I believe he may be part thoroughbred, but who knows. Supposedly he was raised on an Indian reservation in New Mexico or Arizona and for years was used as a hunting horse in Colorado. He certainly looks as if he were bred for that-strong legs, high withers, etc. I went out searching for a small paint horse that the grandchildren could ride and one that would serve as a companion for Bochica. What did I buy? A flea-bitten gray! And a 15.2 hand one at that!! I think it was because he reminded me of the mare I had as a child. And he had such a kind eye. The very next day after I bought him, he dropped and I discovered he had cancer. So that entailed a trip to A&M. He was treated there, a few months later treated again by a local vet and finally had surgery. But it was all worth it. He has been a jewel. He was a great teaching horse for my two older grandchildren. They rode him at playday and took him to horse camp--he was the star of the group--fearless except when they needed to pour water from his back. For some reason he did not like water--he has finally learned to tolerate his occasional bath. Moe was retired this year due to arthritis. He leads a good life--all the pasture and hay he can eat, plus grain, plus loving. He nickers every time I go out and always comes to me--is a regular "treat hound". I can still let the young grandchildren ride on him at a walk, leading him. He loves the attention.
My next addition to Salsipuedes came from the house in town where I lived while building this house. A feral cat living under my house had kittens--two of them survived. So I trapped them and brought them to the country. The mother was wild and wouldn't let me get near her, so I took her to my brother's house to live. I named the kittens George and Lucky. Lucky because he was lucky a friend could catch him and give him medicine when he had a hurt leg. George because he was so curious. It took a few weeks, but the kittens decided I was their friend. They were meant to be barn cats, but instead have become front porch cats except in the dead of winter. They ride in my golf cart, jumping in and out while I'm doing my chores. They love Rufus and meet him at the door every morning. When he gets too rough, they just run out of reach, let him calm down and then come back to rub on him again. They keep my property clear of mice--I just wish they wouldn't torture them before they eat them!!
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| Lazy Boys! |
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| George |
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| Lucky likes to swing! |
The final feline addition was Mama Cat. She just appeared one day at the barn--extremely pregnant. I made her a little bed in the barn and fed her. She was friendly enough, would let me pet her, but never came up to me. She had the kittens in about a week. Sadly, something got into the barn at night and killed all but one of them. Nature is so cruel sometimes! The one kitten left was just so cute-I named her Snip. When she started eating food, she got sick--the food kept sticking. She developed pneumonia, recovered from that and then got worse again. The vet took an x-ray and discovered that she did not develop correctly. Her esophagus was wrapped around her heart--so I had to "put her to sleep." I was just heartbroken--but there was a silver lining in that cloud--at the vet that day I saw Rufus. And you've read that story. Well, after almost two years, Mama Cat has finally decided she loves me. She races to the porch every morning if she is not already sitting at the door and jumps in my lap. She still won't ride in the golf cart, but I expect that to happen any day.
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| Mama Cat playing with George |
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| Rufus guarding the golf cart |
So I'm surrounded by my loving critters when I'm outside. I go out to the porch in the early morning before dawn, Rufus at my side. The cats are waiting, glad to see us. The horses are dozing in the paddock, waiting for their breakfast. I sit in the rocking chair, drinking my coffee, and treasure the quiet. Slowly, one by one the sounds begin--the crows waking everyone up, a few tree frogs saying goodbye to the night, the birds singing, cows mooing in the distance. Another glorious day at Salsipuedes!
A future blog will celebrate a success I had training Bochica! Here is a hint!
