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Winter Wonderland
Maybe it's the crispness of the cold, clear air or the effect of everything
shrouded in a white blanket but wintertime with horses really makes you feel
alive. Their snorts and whinnies seem to echo farther, their breath steams in a
dragon-like cloud after they race around the pasture during a new snowfall. They
line up when it's grain time at the same time every day and they're not too
proud to let you know they're waiting when you're running late - whether it's
banging on a gate or calling out until you come.
Winter time means grappling with frozen hoses trying to keep water tanks full -
the same tanks that you have to check morning and night and attack with an axe
when the arctic temperatures have worked their magic. It means picking ice out
of their noses when temperatures have dropped below zero and as you and your
steed endure this indignity you realize that city-folk are more than likely
still in bed hitting their snooze bars right now. You wonder if the long hours,
the freezing fingers and toes, getting your feet stepped on, watching your grain
supply dwindle and knowing that soon you'll need to buy another backbreaking ton or so
to haul back and unload, as well as knowing the joy of having to trudge through the snow to go get your faithful
steed who has suddenly forgotten its name is all worth it. Your mind will be
wandering to other tasks as you go about your chores when suddenly you'll realize
there's a presence standing right behind you, maybe looking over your shoulder
or trying to help. And once more, you've been reminded that yes, it is all worth it as you
feel warm breath on your face or neck. Yet again you've been shown that
horses are proof God loves us. Yet again we won't be selling the entire herd and
moving to an apartment... You city folk just don't know what you're missing.
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Click picture for close up view
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Home, home on South Range
Proud and loud - Don't Tread on Me
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TWH Stallion Simmer kissing MAE under the mistletoe
Simmer has the sweetest personality of any of our horses
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Cowboy Rain rider
Me and Rain climbing a snowy trail.
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'Rain'deer games...
Rain, Grace and Shania racing around in the fresh snow.
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Bareback in the snow
Sometimes to stay warm you just plain climb on 'em and hope they don't take off!
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Race ya!
Rain and Grace make a beeline for the gate.
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Guard dog
Skidder stopping the horses for a routine traffic check.
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Back pasture
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Away in the manger...
Hollywood and Sender take a break in the hay.
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