16 Days and counting!

Well, old sports, 3 days flew by. I only just got used to having Spode all to myself again, and now she's gone back to Toronto. This is a tragedy. She's even more like Daisy now. I guess my green light is in Toronto. Yuck, I don't like the idea of that. Does the CN Tower have a green light? Do you think I can see it from my pasture?

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my time with Spode. It just wasn't long enough. I was happily bouncing back into the routine of daily visits when she whispered that she'd be going back to school for a few more weeks. Clearly my best efforts at being adorable did not work as I had planned. I figured if I kept pulling my smiley faces, she'd call up the university and tell them she'd changed her mind.

Are you watching? You see this? Do you? Can you cancel your train ticket now??

Alas, she told me this would never happen. I need surgery again in 4 years and she claims she needs a job to keep me. Ok, I guess I can sacrifice some of my time with her right now if it means a better life in the future.

Instead of trying to convince her to stay, I moved on to being as cute as equinely possible to cheer her up. I think I did a good job. I gave her the perfect 3 days, actually. On Friday I was a complete goof, on Saturday I was an expert driving horse showing off all my training, and today I was simply dashing. I just stood there proving how handsome I was. I think I've given Spode enough pictures to gaze at adoringly to get her through 16 more days in Toronto.

Look at Toronto, now back to me. Now back at Toronto, now back to ME! Do you wish Toronto could look like me? Well, if you come over here and hug me, your tiny cement room in Toronto could smell like me! 

Lucky Spode. She got a horse with good looks and a sense of humour!

Tell me the truth, Spode. Your heart is going twice as fast just looking at this photo, isn't it. 

And I bet your head is swimming with Fitzgerald's Gatsby quotations. 

Does Greenhawk want to make me their next cover boy?

I'm feeling so mature these days. Spode says that having a break from training's good for my mind as I now have some time to myself to find my inner horse and reflect on what I've learnt. I certainly have a lot of time for absent minded reflection. I also have a lot more time for eating, of course. I have put on quite a bit of weight since Spode stopped exercising me. That's made me more mature too. I'm just a wee bit slower. My excuse to Spode when she wagged her finger at the extra weight around my extra girth was that I just wanted to giver her some more horse to hug. Worked like a charm. I even got a second apple for that line.

This face may have helped, too. 

Spode bought me a pretty new halter to match a dress she's wearing for some special event soon. I guess this means another photo op down the road, so I'm practicing presenting my devilish good looks. I don't have to try very hard.

Classic. 

I even look good with a sand moustache!

Of course, I don't have to be regal looking all the time. There was still room for some of my silly antics. I think Spode would be disappointed if I didn't! 

I'll take this, thank you very much. 

Let me make my crooked stripe even more crooked. You know you love it. 

Yeah, we made the best out of a rainy day. Spode says she will be much more focused on training the next time out. She drove my old friend Merlin through town yesterday for a wedding. He pulls a big old carriage and struts his way through CP making everyone gasp in awe. I guess this has inspired Spode to get in touch with my Clydesdale genes, because she's decided to teach me to drive too. I won't be doing any weddings, but she's got a training cart and harness lined up and plans in her mind. I think it was only a matter of time. Who knows, it could be fun. If there are treats involved, almost anything can be made fun!

I even look good with this stupid mask. That takes skill, old sports! Not just any horse can pull this off!

So although my weekend with Spode was far too short, it was well worth it. Spode has almost a whole week off the next time she comes, so she promises there will be more time spent with me. I can't wait. 

Until later, old sports.

Jay. 

I get back-logged treats, right?

Spode is home! That was the longest three weeks of my life, old sports. I gotta tell you, I was kind of annoyed when she first showed up. She called me over and I just looked at her and then went back to my grass. She laughed and said, "is this some kind of silent treatment, Gatsby?" Yeah, you bet it is! How could you leave me for a city! Meanie. I figured Spode might walk over to me, but no dice. Eventually I couldn't resist anymore so I came over to her. Okay, I missed you and I can't hide it--welcome home, Spode!! Now where's my apple?

Spode's pockets did not disappoint, and after I had my treats and she had her hugs and kisses, we headed to the barn.

Right back to routine, huh?

Spode started working on my very sun burnt, bleached, dirty coat. She was most frustrated by my mane. 

Haha! Looks neat and tidy doesn't it? But it annoys Spode to no end that it's on the wrong side! All a ploy. 

After a decent grooming and a whole lot more kisses, we went to the arena for some play time. 

Can't you just let me stand here instead of running?

Or we could just hang out, you know.

We did end up hanging out quite a bit. I also played follow the leader with Spode. I like to see her trot too. She's too slow for me though! I kept getting ahead of her once we had been running for a bit.

After a while, she stopped and I discovered a smelly spot. It made for a good photo op, and I think I totally made Spode's week by being so goofy. You're welcome, Spode!

Do I have the world's best smile or what? I have quite the toothy grin. 

Say cheese! 

Once Spode stopped giggling, we went out for some more hang out and running around time in the sand ring. 

Spode also wanted to see the Gypsy Vanner baby. Um, Spode! Hello! Yeah, I suffer from equine jealousy... 

It's not that I want to play with Spode. I just like to know she's there, ya know?

I did a bit of running too. Only one buck today!

Maybe one day I can be a jumper!

Or maybe not...

After all that, Spode and I just hung out in the barn for a bit longer, just enjoying each other's company. Three weeks was far too long, and a huge adjustment after seeing her everyday for 4 months. I'm a happy horse.

We're both very happy that today is my first day off oral anti-inflammatories. My eyes still have a bluish tinge, but they've been great. My pupils are constricting and dilating normally. I'm still on some stomach meds but by this time next week, I will be getting nothing but plain grain for the first time in forever. It's an exciting time for us!! It's been a long time coming.

When I was sick all the time, Spode used to ask herself, "why me?"  So soon after losing Zoodles to a seemingly endless barrage of illness and hoof diseases, she bought another horse who then succumbed to a bunch of different health problems that also piled on top of each other. She wondered why she was being challenged in this way. I wondered why too, but not for the same reasons as Spode. I wondered why I was so lucky to fall into the hands of this kid who would probably sell her own organs if it meant she could make my life even a tiny bit better. Why me? How did I start out as a practically nameless horse in a pen and turn into someone's whole world? I don't ask why I got uveitis because we all struggle with one health problem or another in our lives. That is guaranteed. What is not guaranteed is love. That goes for love of any kind. Only the lucky truly get to love and be loved in their lives.  For horses, the difference between those who are loved and those who aren't is more stark than in the human world, I believe. If you are a horse who is not loved, your chances of being abused, neglected, or killed are much more likely. I know this. We all know this. The fact that Spode just drove up to my paddock from out of nowhere is astounding to me. How did that happen, and why? That's what I wonder about, because getting an autoimmune disease and receiving the treatment for it is one of the best things that could happen to a horse, really. When you look at the horse world and see all the terrible things that can happen to my fellow equines, I am the lucky one. She didn't give up on me. That's my "why me?" question. It's all about how you look at the world. I don't have the clearest vision anymore, but that doesn't stop me from seeing the sun and feeling the love. I am the luckiest horse.  And I am so happy to be with Spode again after this long break. I think it's a good sign that she came home on day one off meds since my surgery. Maybe it's a sign that it's time for a new chapter that doesn't revolve around my eye sight. We're hoping.

I was pretty sad to see Spode go today. I didn't want to let her leave, but she promises we have two more days together before she heads back to school. It's not nearly long enough, but it's better than nothing!

I'm just going to keep following you and herding you away from the gate until you get the picture that I'd like you to stay, Spode. Please?

Until later, old sports.

Jay.