Post by tierra madre on Jul 28, 2008 5:09:07 GMT -8
Ted-d-d: New Digs
Maui left yesterday. I've seldom written about Maui because he wasn't really one of the sanctuary horses. In heart & spirit, definitely. But in rules dictated by two-leggeds, he wasn't. He "belongs" to a woman who decided to move to California a few months after living here after living in California after living here. Right - a lot of backing & forthing. This time, she took Maui with her. At least I guess she took Maui with her. He left for California yesterday - a move she oversaw by phone from, I guess, California.
And all I'll say is that, in this world, there are givers & there are takers.
Maui was here for two years & I love the guy. I hope that one day our paths will cross again. Godspeed, Maui. May you be forever happy & healthy. You'll always be right here in my heart.
Anyway, Maui had been living in the in-n-out next to Moose, in the barn. Because Maui had some issues with being able to sweat properly & Moose has that long hair indicative of a horse with Cushings, we'd hooked up a "mister" between their two stalls. Works like a charm. Fifteen bucks. And works off the water line that fed one of the automatic waterers.
I've known for a while that Ted's round pen - even with that shade structure Dave & I built - was a really, really hot place to be. And a little lonely, too, even though it's maybe only 15 feet away from Sharena's stall.
Anyway, when I got back from the store at midday yesterday, a thought hit me.....I wonder if Ted-d-d would like living in Maui's old haunt. I know he & Moose get along okay. I know he respects Moose - he's shown it on a number of occasions & Ted doesn't have a great deal of respect for many. He's a tough old bird who's seen it all & doesn't suffer fools gladly. But everybody respects the Moose - hell, he's our Medicine Man & everybody knows it.
So I got Ted-d-d & walked him right into Maui's old house, pretty as you please. Moose said "Hey" & continued eating. Ted-d-d walked around & perused his new digs. Drank from the big bucket. Ate some from the flake of food I'd put there for him. Took a dump. Talked to Moose. Looked up at the mist coming down. I could hear him: "Hey, this isn't half bad! Nice & cool in here. I know the guy next to me. Food seems good. Okay! Jim, I'll take it."
Good, Ted. I kind of thought you'd like it.
I have to be careful in tossing the hay to Ted & Moose. As you know, Moose can't have alfalfa (the laminitis/Cushings thing). Maui couldn't have it either, because of his dietary restraints. So it was never an issue - just toss the hay to the guys. But Ted doesn't have a problem with it. And Moose will kill for alfalfa. So I toss Ted's alfalfa as far away from Moose as I can, so even when it gets pushed around in the dining process, it can't make its way as far as Moosie can reach.
I toss Moose his Timothy or Bermuda sort of near the fence separating him & Ted-d-d. And that's worked out as planned, too, because some of it gets pushed under the fence into Ted's space & the two of them share it. Builds camaraderie between the two of 'em.
Every night, I used to give Moose & Maui a bunch of treats just before going in the house around 7. So last night, you can imagine Ted's joy when I showed up as always with a pocketful to split between him & the Moose. "Wow! All this & treats, too?!?"
I've been careful to keeps my ears open to make sure there won't be any disputes between Moose & Ted, though I've never expected it & it hasn't happened. Moose doesn't go in for disputes. They interrupt an otherwise even-keel life. That's why he's our Medicine Man. Because he understands things like that.
Another thing...being where he is now, Ted's among the first to get his food, not the last like he was in the round pen. And he finds that pretty decent, too. At least that's what he told me when I fed everybody this morning. "Alright, Jim! Look! My breakfast - & I didn't even have to ask for it." (Usually, he was kind of vocal by the time I made it down the shed row to the round pen.)
I think this little arrangement is gonna work out just fine.
But I miss Maui.
Jim
Maui left yesterday. I've seldom written about Maui because he wasn't really one of the sanctuary horses. In heart & spirit, definitely. But in rules dictated by two-leggeds, he wasn't. He "belongs" to a woman who decided to move to California a few months after living here after living in California after living here. Right - a lot of backing & forthing. This time, she took Maui with her. At least I guess she took Maui with her. He left for California yesterday - a move she oversaw by phone from, I guess, California.
And all I'll say is that, in this world, there are givers & there are takers.
Maui was here for two years & I love the guy. I hope that one day our paths will cross again. Godspeed, Maui. May you be forever happy & healthy. You'll always be right here in my heart.
Anyway, Maui had been living in the in-n-out next to Moose, in the barn. Because Maui had some issues with being able to sweat properly & Moose has that long hair indicative of a horse with Cushings, we'd hooked up a "mister" between their two stalls. Works like a charm. Fifteen bucks. And works off the water line that fed one of the automatic waterers.
I've known for a while that Ted's round pen - even with that shade structure Dave & I built - was a really, really hot place to be. And a little lonely, too, even though it's maybe only 15 feet away from Sharena's stall.
Anyway, when I got back from the store at midday yesterday, a thought hit me.....I wonder if Ted-d-d would like living in Maui's old haunt. I know he & Moose get along okay. I know he respects Moose - he's shown it on a number of occasions & Ted doesn't have a great deal of respect for many. He's a tough old bird who's seen it all & doesn't suffer fools gladly. But everybody respects the Moose - hell, he's our Medicine Man & everybody knows it.
So I got Ted-d-d & walked him right into Maui's old house, pretty as you please. Moose said "Hey" & continued eating. Ted-d-d walked around & perused his new digs. Drank from the big bucket. Ate some from the flake of food I'd put there for him. Took a dump. Talked to Moose. Looked up at the mist coming down. I could hear him: "Hey, this isn't half bad! Nice & cool in here. I know the guy next to me. Food seems good. Okay! Jim, I'll take it."
Good, Ted. I kind of thought you'd like it.
I have to be careful in tossing the hay to Ted & Moose. As you know, Moose can't have alfalfa (the laminitis/Cushings thing). Maui couldn't have it either, because of his dietary restraints. So it was never an issue - just toss the hay to the guys. But Ted doesn't have a problem with it. And Moose will kill for alfalfa. So I toss Ted's alfalfa as far away from Moose as I can, so even when it gets pushed around in the dining process, it can't make its way as far as Moosie can reach.
I toss Moose his Timothy or Bermuda sort of near the fence separating him & Ted-d-d. And that's worked out as planned, too, because some of it gets pushed under the fence into Ted's space & the two of them share it. Builds camaraderie between the two of 'em.
Every night, I used to give Moose & Maui a bunch of treats just before going in the house around 7. So last night, you can imagine Ted's joy when I showed up as always with a pocketful to split between him & the Moose. "Wow! All this & treats, too?!?"
I've been careful to keeps my ears open to make sure there won't be any disputes between Moose & Ted, though I've never expected it & it hasn't happened. Moose doesn't go in for disputes. They interrupt an otherwise even-keel life. That's why he's our Medicine Man. Because he understands things like that.
Another thing...being where he is now, Ted's among the first to get his food, not the last like he was in the round pen. And he finds that pretty decent, too. At least that's what he told me when I fed everybody this morning. "Alright, Jim! Look! My breakfast - & I didn't even have to ask for it." (Usually, he was kind of vocal by the time I made it down the shed row to the round pen.)
I think this little arrangement is gonna work out just fine.
But I miss Maui.
Jim