We have had rain.

We have had a lot more rain this summer compared to last. The grass is beautiful and green and growing. We had a summer shower this afternoon and what could be better than a nice roll in the wet, tall grass.It's important I suppose to have a friend to watch your back while you are otherwise occupied.

Hey Sammy, you all right, man?
Woah......he's coming back this way. I guess Vantage wasn't expecting the double roll. Sammy's got talent.
There is just no privacy in the little boys' field. Chasing each other though is a major activity for the boys. It's almost as fun as chasing cows.
Because the grass is growing so well, the boys are sharing their grass with the cows with babies. Poor bulls have been separated out for now due to family planning issues. The momma cows have lightened up a bit but they still keep their eyes on the troublemaker.
I don't think the boys can resist trying to play with the babies. How can anyone resist this little face?
While Sammy was keeping the babysitter cow occupied, Vantage made an end run on the babies.
And off they scattered.
And look who's playing innocent!

Guest photographer and a reality check

We were honored to have my nephew in town this weekend and he's a much better photographer than I am. Here are a couple of pictures he took of Sammy and I. Unfortunately, too many of them included my fluffy, slovenly self so I'll only post the artfully cropped and staged ones. This one, you can see how close my hairdresser has gotten my color to Sammy's.And what better view to prove that the back end is currently a bit taller than the front end. At least you can better gage his current height with me sort of in the pictures......at least those of you who know how tall I really am.
And Sammy seems very nonchalant here. But he has learned a very hard and valuable lesson.
The cows were very cooperative in his herding practicing sessions........until one of these arrived.
And now, Momma cow is a bit less tolerant. Rumor has it Sammy was seen running across the pasture with Momma in full chase. Poor Sammy. But life's lessons are best learned at a young age.

A change of direction

It was cool and breezy and I was enjoying sitting in the ring waiting for Sammy to be cute. I might get pictures, I might not. But the cool weather was so wonderful I thought I'd at least try to look like I had a reason to just sit there and bask in the breeze. And then I saw him trot. This is not really a normal gait Sammy chooses so it was time to snap some pictures.
I love it when he trots. It gives me hope and makes me dream of the future.
I think this is the most trot steps I've ever managed to capture. But I know he'll stop soon because he's pretty easily distracted.
And trotting is not something he does endlessly. Already he seems distracted.
And look, the most perfect patch of grass I think has caught his eye.
Turning, and trotting and grazing all at once. Such a talent.
Or maybe he really just had an itch.
Do all horses like to eat Spanish moss? I know his mother does. And now he's tall enough to actually reach it.


He's looking rather pleased with himself. But somebody tell me, where did baby Sammy go?

My boy's a natural

We've recently had some rain which has allowed the grass to grow. The pasture in the kindercare field has grown a little faster than the kids can keep up with. So every once in a while, the cow herd is transfered to their field so the cows can have a treat. The boys are used to the cows but today, Sammy must have heard he is part Quarter Horse and is supposed to do something with the cows. Here, he has noticed them and wanders over.
He doesn't chase them but he does seem to have a purpose. He seems to have a plan. Perhaps he's watched some team penning or cutting on TV. Or read a good book. The herd has 3 black angus cows and the rest are, um, brown ones. Along with Sparky the red bull....who is very tolerant. You can tell he has raised several young ones and is forgiving of their antics.
Thank goodness because Sammy doesn't seem to have any fear of Sparky...who is rather large.

Sammy, do you think it's a good idea to get between a bull and his cows? Sparky is such a good sport and moves away from Sammy's herding.
Ah, so now Sammy has all the brown/red ones together. Notice Vantage tagging along. I think he was trying to talk Sammy out of this the whole way. He doesn't see any need to "work" cows, he's a Saddlebred for goodness sake. They are above such menial tasks.
Now Sammy turns his attention to the black girls. Notice Sparky appealing to me to put a stop to these shenanigans.
But Sammy feels the need to intimidate Sarah.....at least I think this is Sarah.
But just in case you think I'm going to turn him into my cow pony, he does still have this nice hunter trot!

Friends

Sammy has a good time out with his friends. Vantage is growing taller while Sammy seems to be growing out instead of up.
All 3 of the kids are growing up fast. Vantage is definitely going to be the taller one. He is all legs. Masquerade has slowed down her growth up now that she's a 2 year old. Why do they think that halters were made for them to play with. None of them survive very long. I wonder why.
Sammy and Masquerade are plotting something. Guess which one is Sammy.
Sammy has several places of no hair all over his body.....but mainly his neck. I wonder how that happened? I have no doubts that he is the instigator and it seems that they really make him pay for his picking.
But he's growing up fast and playing builds strong muscles and bones. His fetlock joint has absolutely no reminders of the surgery he underwent almost a year ago.
He seems to be growing in body more than in the leg department right now. But he has much more bone to his legs than Lily so I hope his legs will hold up his big ole body along with my big ole body one day.
Somehow this picture makes him look like a grown up.....and he's getting there.

I had a turn with the chair

The kids eventually tired of the chair game and so got down to business. I thought it was safe to reclaim my chair and get some other pictures.
uh-oh maybe not
what a face
uh - Sammy. I brought the chair!
really - the chair was mine to start with
Can you deal with that?
No - you cannot sit in my lap
Yikes - Masquerade - not you too!!!

Musical Chairs

Yesterday I thought it would be a good idea to just take a chair out into the pasture with Sammy and Masquerade. I could get some pictures if they would cooperate otherwise I could just sit and enjoy the breeze while I was waiting for Allison to finish her ride so we could have dinner together. These chairs are in the barn aisle, they pass them at least twice a day. Why is it that they are much more fascinating when they are in their pasture instead of in the barn? I put the chair down to latch the gate and that's the last I thought about actually sitting in it. The kids were absolutely fascinated.
Sammy said - Hey Masquerade, think it will do tricks?
Uh oh - it moves!
Oh the trauma of a chair turning over. They were mesmerized, not traumatized.
And anxious for more
Uh oh - did they kill it?
Why does everything have to go in the mouth? And then just like all kids, the fight begins...........Sammy tries to tell Masquerade that the chair is his.

She disagreed with him and she is the oldest so the chair should belong to her.
And then like a kid still, he decides to tell on her to his momma.
As if she cared!

And this was Lily's reaction. Just like all moms, she knows they'll work it out.
Much to Sammy's dismay.


And if this isn't a look exactly like Lily would give, I don't know what is.