I May Not Be a Paint, But I Do Have Colour!

Well Old Sports, life has been pretty dull these past few days.  I haven't learned anything new.  Just same old, same old.  I did finally make it past the barn, which Spode is pleased about.  She's happy I'm getting brave and she's happy that I don't rely on the other horses so much.  Meh, Spode makes a good substitute for a horse anyway....

I'm starting to get real shiny these days, which Spode is just thrilled about.  My coat is a little bit coarse and she worries I won't get really shiny and soft, but we noticed a difference today.  She says with regular grooming, my recent diet change, and a good deworming schedule I should get better and better.  

My mane flipped over again today though, so I expect I shall have some more braids coming soon.  Sigh.  Believe me, if I had control of my mane, it would be on the right side.

Luckily I didn't have to stand for braiding today.  Instead I got to play with garbage.  Literally. 

Yeah, I'll just shake this around and see if I can fit it allll in my mouth. 

After I finished playing, I went out to eat before a storm rolled in.

Eating was cut pretty short today because of that storm, but a small snack was nice. While I was eating, Spode searched for white hairs.  She told me that I'm a sabino, which is the colour I inherited from my clydesdale side.  Sabino, apparently, is the reason for my stockings that end like an overo paint, and my big old blaze.  It's also why my flanks are speckled. 

There, I'm speckly! 

Spode looked for white belly spots, but just like every other time she's searched for them, she didn't see any. My tail has quite a lot of grey hairs, but no belly spots for me. We'll have to wait and see how my colour continues to change.  I'm betting on more greys on my flank! Spode agrees.  Bring on my spring coat next year!

Sorry, all.  That's all the excitement I have for today.

Until later, Old Sports.

Jay. 

I'm Just Trying to Get Your Attention!

“She didn’t like it,” he said immediately.

“Of course she did.”

“She didn’t like it,” he insisted. “She didn’t have a good time.”

He was silent, and I guessed at his unutterable depression.

“I feel far away from her,” he said. “It’s hard to make her understand.”

-Chapter 6, The Great Gatsby

My namesake was in love with a girl named Daisy.  Poor Old Sport.  I'm pretty happy with my Spode, too, and so I was reminded of this scene from The Book today.  Spode has been so busy theses past couple of days I've barely been able to see her.  So I decided to try some things...

I put my plan into action as soon as she came in the driveway.  I was looking pretty good--fairly clean, and my pink rag of a suit/fly mask was on properly.  But, when she came to get me, it was on like this!

Yes? What??

Spode laughed and snuggled and said, "silly Jay, the point is to stop you from getting sunburn! Stop trying to tan!"  We went walking and did some more work on trotting (I got this!! I do!)  I had a brief time in the barn with her but it was a super fast grooming.  She put hoof moisturizer on me (yes, I am a fancy boy)

And then she discovered my second trick.  I have brought something back from her past....Oh god, I can't resist: hehem, "Can't repeat the past? Why of course you can!" Here's to you, Fitzgerald.  Anyway, what was I saying? Oh yeah, my second trick. 

Hock sores.  Exact same kind as her Zoodles used to get.  Cue Spode's stress.  She's started pacing (again) and worrying herself that she was doing something wrong to cause sores for both of us.  She's still pondering about it right now, if I know Spode.  That was the plan.  I'd force her to worry about me so she'd spend more time with me! Except my plan did not exactly pan out. 

She put me straight back into my paddock after my time in the barn, and she knows that I hate that. Ugh.  I like to do things. I like to eat or go for walks, or check out the weird stuff we find around the farm.  But no, she said she had to go and I needed to go home right away. I put up a fuss but that didn't change her mind. 

Today she found me like this:

Yes?  What??

Spode sighed again and just fixed my mask.  She doesn't want a golden boy, obviously ("Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold." Oh wait, wrong book. Sorry Fitzgerald)  I admit that I do have a slight tendency to burn as soon as the sun comes out.  I just want attention!

Spode left me after she adjusted my suit, and then she went to play with that other crazy beast, Willie.  By the time she was done with him she had no time left for me.  So sad.  "It's hard to make her understand." Oh Gatsby, how true.  Let us share in our sadness and extraordinary gift for hope. All she did today was give me a hug and some treats, and then she said that she'll be gone most of the day tomorrow, and next weekend she's gone again! This sucks! And in a few weeks she said she's going back to school.  I don't know what it means but it doesn't sound good.

So I'm a bit glum today, Old Sports.  I want my Spode all to myself.  Soon, I hear, I'll be moving house and she promises that I'll be her one sole focus when that time comes. That's what Fitzgerald's Gatsby wanted from Daisy. “Your wife doesn’t love you,” said Gatsby. “She’s never loved you. She loves me.”  An American Dream. 

Until later, Old Sports.

Jay. 

Fitzgerald's Gatsby drives fast, but I run fast!

Well, I'm not sure about Spode, but I know that I had fun today!

First, I tricked Spode because I had my left side facing her when she drove in the driveway.  Sure, I looked pretty clean from that side, but once she finally got a view of my right side... Spode's jaw actually dropped.  It was the best mud layer I had ever built up.  Must have been 2 centimetres thick all the way across.  I laughed all the way to the barn until Spode immediately dragged me into the wash stall.  Ah, okay.  Joke's on me.

Yeah, so I was hosed off and curried thoroughly.  Grr.  Here I was thinking Spode would just groom me and get mud all over herself as a result. The next barn doesn't have a wash stall, I hear, so I'll have to try my stunt again in a month!

After my unexpected bath, I went out for a walk in the "grand prix" ring.  It was only my second time in there because being alone makes me nervous.  I trust Spode more every day though, so it's okay.  Yesterday she made me walk in the water jump, which was absolutely terrifying.  We fought over it for a good 20 minutes and, as usual, Spode won. Sigh. I actually felt a bit silly when I finally stepped down into it. It really wan't that scary.

Today Spode made me climb the big hill.

Hey, if I can eat grass, I'm cool with whatever. Going down the hill was hard because Spode wouldn't let me run down it.  I had to walk slowly and it made my, um, well... my butt muscles work. Heh. 

I did have a few runs today though.  Spode decided it was time for me to learn to trot beside her on the lead line.  I didn't understand it for a while.  First Spode had to drag me around and I just kept walking. I finally trotted and she made a big fuss of me.  I thought to myself, "ok.  I got this.  I'll do exactly as you ask, Spode..."  She clicked her tongue and started to run.  So did I.  I cantered, in fact.  And then I bucked.  And then I hopped into the air.  Oh boy was Spode angry. We tried again and got a similar result.  I still didn't get it.  I cantered a circle around and tried to take Spode with me.  We tried again, but this time Spode made very slight speed adjustments at the walk first.  Super slow, super fast walk, super slow, whoa, super fast... and eventually she eased me into a trot.  Ok, I think I got it! Spode says she'll see if I understand the concept tomorrow and will work on it if not.  I get it, I promise!! 

Because I was so speedy and silly on the lead today, Spode decided to let me rip in the sand ring. 

Yeah, baby! Let's go, go, go! 

For my literary friends, I've taken after Fitzgerald's characters and have a penchant for careless driving. Oh boy, I'd better make sure Spode NEVER EVER lets anyone called Daisy ride me! We'd crash for sure.

So much fun.  I hope Spode will let me do that more often. I know she worries about my legs though.  I  circle too tight and she gets nervous. It's worse now that she is 90% sure I do have a small splint.  Letting me run occasionally is just fine though! I swear! Please??

After that, Spode let took me back to my paddock and gave me my dinner.  Good day... for me, at least!

Until later, Old Sports.

Jay. 

Turns Out Humans Come in Size Small, Too.

Spode brought a miniature human with her today.  Her name is Ally.  The first thing she did was feed me grass, so I knew we would get on pretty well, but I was a little wary nonetheless.  

I was initially pretty disappointed because they took my next door neighbour, Merlin, out instead of me.  Ugh. Not fair. But later I saw the little one standing on his back.  Er, okay.  Maybe hanging out in my paddock isn't so bad after all.

After they were done treating Merlin like a jungle gym, they came and got me.  Ally won me over again here because she took out my braids that have been making me itch. Literally.

Stretch those arms, Ally! Get em out!!

Ahhh, feels so much better. And I always wanted curls!

Then things got a little weird. She started making noises and...dancing.  It was most strange. I've never seen anything like it.  It was quite the little entertainment show I had going on while Spode brushed me.

This was my attitude before the dance show...

And this is after.  Even Spode was enjoying the show!

Little humans are odd.  But in a good way.  It was a great grooming session in the barn today because of it, plus Spode was pretty generous with the scratches.

Oooh, that's the spot.  Yeah, yeah--right there!

Ooh, yeah, there's another one! Ah, heaven.

 Unfortunately the fun stopped there.  When Spode had brushed all she could brushed, she glared at my stockings and said I was dirty and should have done my laundry. She then dragged me into the wash stall.  This can only mean one thing, and it's a thing I do not like...

OH NO! NOT THE BUCKET!!

IT'S TOUCHING ME!!!

You really need to bathe my feet? You humans are all odd, be you big or little.

As always, I had to put up with her eventually.  I still don't see the point though.  My legs will be just as dirty tomorrow.  Sorry to disappoint you. I don't know why you do this to yourself, really.
To top off the indignity, I then had to wait inside for my legs to dry so that I didn't get hideously dirty. While we were waiting, Spode decided to make me wear a bridle again.  I was only saved from the boots because my legs were wet.  Small miracles.  Spode would also like me to get well used to bridling so that I can do showmanship next year.  Next year!! So why do I need to wear it now?

Sigh, okay.  Whatevs. 

Dance for me, Ally?

After that, Ally's mum came and they all stared at me for a while.  I was reminded of the day Spode came to look at me in Richmond.  She stared and stared.  Weird humans. For my literary friends, I was also reminded of chapter 3 of The Great Book.  Fitzgerald is always relevant.  Didn't I tell you that?  Of course I did.  Pay attention, or Spode will pull a Miss. Wolff on you and start blabbing on about green lights. Yes, yes.  We're all "borne back ceaselessly into the past".  I know, Miss. Wolff.  Sheesh, sometimes you're as repetitive as the colour grey in chapter 2! Oh dear, Spode's obsession is starting to rub off on me... Next thing you know I'll be getting a degree from Queen's.

Until later, Old Sports.

Jay. 

I'm Too Gorgeous For My Own Good.

Seriously, mum?  I thought we were done with dress up.  Argh.  Hide me.

Oh, but it gets worse.  The other day she also played with my hair! I can't believe this girl. All this fuss. I am not a Breyer, I tell you.  I am not!

I hate my life.

She said it was all part of the process.  She wanted to see what I would be like to braid.  Apparently I'm going to have to do this a lot in life.  In fact, she said her goal for next year is to take me to a small show or fair and enter a showmanship class so I can learn the ropes for the future.  Apparently showmanship is about leading.  I protested this goal by trying to spin and run away when we were headed back to the paddock.  Today I even added an attempt to rear to the mix.  She was not thrilled.  I had to give in both times though, so she's still adamant that I'm going to venture out next year and see what a show is like.  Shucks.  Gotta try harder.  I'm too gorgeous for my own good--that's the problem.  How can she resist taking me out in public with a face like this?

Oh baby! Even I want to take that face to a show!

She might also want to take me to a show so that she can buy me my very own bridle.  I don't know...

Spode was pretty happy with me today (ok, aside from my mini rear) because I left my hair in her braids.  She promised to take them out tomorrow.  I'm beginning to feel rather effeminate with my white braided hair and my pink suit of a fly mask. And everyone on the highway can see me! 

In other news, Spode is still adamant that I stand for fly spray. How annoying.  She also insisted that I stand still to be measured and weighed from now on.  The result: still 16.2 hands and 1050 lbs.  Spode says I'm a whole 6 inches bigger than her previous horse (I'll have to write a post about everything else I've learned about him, too) but he was sometimes 200 lbs heavier than me. Phew. 

Spode has a week off this week so she promised she'd spend even more time with me.  Can't wait.  The reason I didn't want to go back to the paddock for the past two days is because it's SO BORING.  Spode is good company.  I like learning new things.  Maybe if I had a horse buddy I'd feel differently. Apparently that's coming! I'm moving next month and will have some horse friends.  Finally.

Until later, Old Sports.

Jay. 

If You Just Wanted to Play Dress Up, Maybe you Should Have Gotten a Breyer Model.

You know, I'm beginning to think that the only reason Spode decided to keep me was in order to play dress up. Also, this is the problem with behaving.  It means that you have to do more things the next day. Can't a guy get a break around here?

Yeah, so Spode arrived earlyish today because she wanted lots of time to play with me.  Never a good sign.  We went through our usual grooming routine, plus Spode made me stretch my front feet out in front of me to practice for my next foot fairy day.  Not too bad so far.  But then she brought out the big guns: a saddle.

My next door neighbour Merlin told me all about the saddle one day, because he was laughing about how Spode could barely get his "girth" done up because of his extra weight.  The saddle is used for the humans to sit on us.  I was a little nervous of this.  Spode said before that she wouldn't sit on me until next August at the earliest, so why does she want to put a saddle on me!?

Spode can practically read my mind at this point, and she likes to talk. A lot.  So she explained that I have to wear a saddle to see what it feels like while she can still reach my back easily.  She said that I will keep growing and she'd rather deal with an issue now than in a year from now when I'm even more of a giant.  I think she means when I fit into the "Great" part of my full name.

Right now, she sees this from her point of view:

Ok, I can see her point.

Anyway, so she put that funny saddle pad on my back again and then let me smell a saddle all over.  That was all okay, as was putting it on my back.  The girth was pretty scary though.  It jingles.  It does not suit my jazz age music.  Do they have jazz girths?
I also didn't like it dangling down near my legs, but Spode told me to stand still and ignore it, so eventually I did.  She went around to my other side and brought the girth around me.  Huh.  Not so scary after all.  She tightened it slowly and I didn't make a move (told ya I know how to make her day).

I borrowed Merlin's girth.  I cannot believe how fat my neighbour must be if it didn't fit him! 

So, saddles are not too bad! I was pleasantly surprised.  Maybe this packing around humans thing won't be so bad either... Or so I thought.  Unfortunately because I was so good and didn't bat an eye about moving around with a saddle on my back, Spode decided to add to the dress up game by putting jumping boots on my front legs.  Ick.  I didn't like those very much.  Tried hard to get them off but to no avail.  And then I refused to move with them on because they felt funny.  Spode said "fine, just stand there then" and went and got another thing out of the dress up room.  A bridle.  Also Merlin's. Merlin didn't tell me about this part though.  Spode came over with it and stood beside me.  She opened my mouth, and before I knew it, I had a bit in my mouth.  It was not the most comfortable thing in the world.

What have you done to me!? I cannot move. 

I chewed and chewed but I could not break it.  Argh.  Spode kept feeding me treats but I had to mush them with my front teeth in order to eat them! How does she expect me to eat with metal in my mouth!?

Spode ignored my chewing and told me that I should go outside.  That meant moving my feet.  I had to take GIGANTIC steps to get out of the barn.  Stupid boots. Once I got outside I realized I could take normal steps, which was a big relief (for Spode too, it seems). The bit was still annoying though. 

Blech. Tastes of Merlin.

 I managed to ignore it eventually and even figured out how to eat grass with it in to a certain extent. Life isn't so bad.  I'm still convinced Spode just likes having me around to dress me up, because she wouldn't stop trying to get me to stand still so she could snap a picture. 

Why must you drag me away from the grass? If you really loved me...

After she had had her fill of photos (I unfortunately did not have my fill of grass.  Hmph.) we went back to the barn and she removed her game of dress up.  Except she left on the front boots and put on hind boots as well, which REALLY sucked. 

Seriously? Did you put these on just so you could take a photo, AGAIN?!

 Now hind boots are hard to walk with.  I had to take extra gigantic steps out of the barn this time.  When I was allowed to eat grass again I stood like a flamingo for a while, but it didn't help.

Oh for the love of Fitzgerald, get it off!!

Only when I walked normally and stopped holding up my legs did Spode bring me back in and take them off.  Ah, relaxation at last.  Unfortunately, she then said, "come on Gatsby. Fly spray time."  I warned her.  Yesterday I was good but today I put my foot down and said enough with the spray again.  She still got it on me everywhere but I made her fight for it.  Sadly she's not one to give up, so I guess I lost that battle anyway.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Until later, Old Sports.

Jay.