FOLKLORE-L Archives

Archiver > FOLKLORE > 2006-01 > 1136575807


From: "Karon" <>
Subject: Re: 01-06-06 Karon's Horse Tales
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 2006 11:29:50 -0700


Because there are pictures in this Horse Tale, and I can't send them to the list, if any of you would like to see the pictures, or receive the Horse Tales in your regular mail, to get the pictures to, email me at and I will try to accommodate you.

Karon's Horse Tales
Diary of a Wannabe Cowgirl



01-06-2006 We have started out this winter with some winter weather.

Not everyone is real happy about that, but we need the moisture so we don't

have drought. Right now the pastures are a real wet mess.



Ron has moved away, but I see him a couple times a week I guess, he comes to feed the animals some days, and Rich, Ron's former son-in-law comes to feed them some days. I am glad. When it got real icy, I guess they recognized I didn't need to be out in that mess. I noticed the Llamas going to the round corral this morning, and looked, Ron was out there bringing some hay. He told me to be real careful, it is real slick.



He was here to feed the animals and tell me they had not been able to connect with the folks they were buying the hay from, so it would be today before he brought hay. He told me yesterday with a big grin that finally he was able to pet the biggest llama, Old Red. He said he had his hand on her nose and she was still until he moved his hand a little and she drew back from him. I told him Old Red and I have been almost nose to nose, her checking me out, but if I move she draws back.



Whitey was the most resistant llama, but even she is getting curious and friendlier. She got pretty close to me this morning. I have found Oreo loves to eat banana peelings. I was going to show Ron this morning, but he said he will see it some other time he was too cold right now. So I went out back and called the llamas until finally Oreo came, then Old Red and last, Whitey. Oreo was gobbling up the banana peelings. Old Red is curious, she sniffs them and had been almost nose to nose to Oreo, sniffing the banana peelings but I haven't seen her try one yet. I had apple peelings, banana peelings and orange peelings. I know they like the apples, and Oreo likes banana peelings. I didn't know if they would eat the orange peelings or not, but while Old Red and Whitey were trying to figure out what Oreo was doing, Oreo ate all the banana peelings, then she ate all the apple peelings, and finally ate all the orange peelings.



The llamas aren't fond of the horses, and I know they are hungry, but the horses move toward them and the llamas leave. Rich will carry hay a good way to feed the llamas on one end of my place while the horses are feeding at the round corral. But when the horses leave the round corral, they come and eat up what is left of the llamas feed.



Ron is very tired of winter, this is the first year I have heard him talk about not liking winter. He has repeated it quite a few times. I got the message loud and clear. He is tired of winter!



I don't have a picture of the pastures this year but I will send on I took a few years ago when Rich had his horses here. The Paint is Sage, the great grandson of Seattle Slew. A gentle horse, one I could walk up to and put my arm around his neck. He was out one day, and the neighbor said he didn't know what Sage would do if he walked right up to Sage. I said I can walk up to him and put my arm around his neck and he is good. I went to get him a rope and next thing I saw, here came the neighbor man with a piece of the rope they tie bales with, leading Sage. I liked him, but they said they used to try to run him, or use him to start races, and they never knew when he would blow and buck and dump the rider. Guess he didn't like that job!



The little one is Tawny, and she was becoming a brat. I finally told Rich you come and work with her, or she goes into lockup. She kicked me one day, scared Ron's daughter by raring up right behind Dawn, you never knew what she was going to do. Ron gave me a walking stick and said carry it with you when you are in the pasture and poke her with it if you need to, she will learn to respect your space. It worked.




That little Rubbermaid yard cart in the picture was sure handy, but recently when it was very cold, I offered it to Ron to move huge bales of hay. He went over a bump and we heard the cart break. I have it all taped together with duck tape, and haul my wood in with it. I tried to find a new one, but this time of year I couldn't find one.



Right now there is standing water in the pastures. Mud everywhere, it isn't pretty like this picture.



This next picture is Hobo, when Ron first turned him out in a big pasture. He was so happy, he ran and bucked and passed gas and rolled and repeated that over and over. Ron said if he will come to me when I call him, I will know he has decided he is mine. When he called Hobo stopped and looked at him for a while then slowly walked up to Ron.




I was born 11 miles from here, down at the foot of Mt Clemens, at the far left of this picture. I love living here and having the horses here. It has been a joy to me to be this close to horses and learn the things Ron has taught me.



I hope you enjoy this tale. I enjoy hearing from the folks who write. Karon


This thread: