Post by Synthia on Apr 13, 2009 16:31:28 GMT -8
Monday, April 13th... We recently had a horse called Easter, so yesterday a different name was needed. From the feed lot in Wilton came a dark bay thoroughbred with a racing tattoo. He is skinny and lame. Just 5 years old. Cathy and I mulled. Always liked that word. Mulled. At our front gate Jenny Hartman with Easter dessert. Delicious marble cheesecake Jenny made herself. Jenny talks about a dish she created with cheese and tater tots. And there you go. The new gelding is now named Tater Tot. We are clever in Woodland.
So Tater Tot is dewormed and vaccinated, and he dives into his Easter supper like I dive into cheesecake from Jenny. A gorgeous Sunday. Blue skies, 71 degrees, with Alicia Keys on the barn cd player. Flies arriving from Fresno. Wasps the size of a small plane. Total count is lost, but we estimate there are six thousand horses on our ranch. Several race horses at Golden Gate Fields waiting for our No Vacancy sign to come down. Three thoroughbreds at a home in foreclosure hoping we say yes. Three thoroughbreds living in terrible conditions also hoping we say yes. An old mare from a breeding farm needs a new home. A young mare has her board paid until May 1st, and then she must be gone. A lame thoroughbred gelding at a fancy ranch needs a new home by April 15th. A ranch in foreclosure wants to know, have we placed any of their thoroughbreds yet? A college student not far away, and she can no longer afford board on her gelding. The student phones to ask, would it be okay if she dropped him off in our driveway?
And then later, after dark, barn horses now listening to 95.3 on your FM dial. Horse killer Manny Phelps phones to say he has two more thoroughbred geldings, exactly like Tater Tot. Young and neglected. 35 cents a pound, plus shipping.
It is Monday, and chores are forever. Six thousand hungry horses making noise. Dave Clark Five on the oldies station. The blind mare Gracie waits for her morning banana. Extra strong hot coffee is from Starbucks. The last piece of cheesecake made by Jenny. Enjoy your spring has sprung Monday, and be sure to hug your horses. Jack Bauer only has a few hours remaining to rescue America on 24. The tension mounts. Also there is Doctor House. We love Monday night TV.
Joe
So Tater Tot is dewormed and vaccinated, and he dives into his Easter supper like I dive into cheesecake from Jenny. A gorgeous Sunday. Blue skies, 71 degrees, with Alicia Keys on the barn cd player. Flies arriving from Fresno. Wasps the size of a small plane. Total count is lost, but we estimate there are six thousand horses on our ranch. Several race horses at Golden Gate Fields waiting for our No Vacancy sign to come down. Three thoroughbreds at a home in foreclosure hoping we say yes. Three thoroughbreds living in terrible conditions also hoping we say yes. An old mare from a breeding farm needs a new home. A young mare has her board paid until May 1st, and then she must be gone. A lame thoroughbred gelding at a fancy ranch needs a new home by April 15th. A ranch in foreclosure wants to know, have we placed any of their thoroughbreds yet? A college student not far away, and she can no longer afford board on her gelding. The student phones to ask, would it be okay if she dropped him off in our driveway?
And then later, after dark, barn horses now listening to 95.3 on your FM dial. Horse killer Manny Phelps phones to say he has two more thoroughbred geldings, exactly like Tater Tot. Young and neglected. 35 cents a pound, plus shipping.
It is Monday, and chores are forever. Six thousand hungry horses making noise. Dave Clark Five on the oldies station. The blind mare Gracie waits for her morning banana. Extra strong hot coffee is from Starbucks. The last piece of cheesecake made by Jenny. Enjoy your spring has sprung Monday, and be sure to hug your horses. Jack Bauer only has a few hours remaining to rescue America on 24. The tension mounts. Also there is Doctor House. We love Monday night TV.
Joe