Howdy,
This is "Copper's" owner. My name is Lea Ann and today is a very, very sad day. Today our
beloved pony "Copper" passed away to pony heaven. "Copper" has been the icon of Down on the Farm for many many years and has brought so much joy and love to many many children including my own 2 girls, Becky and Jessie. Copper has taught us so much about life, love, and
what owning a special "pony" is all about. Copper worked most of his pony life doing what he
loved best, and that was teaching kids to ride. The last 2 years we decided to let Copper retire
and live out the rest of his golden years in sunny warm texas for the winter months and back
in Minnesota for the summer. He enjoyed his last days basking in the sun, sleeping most of the day away, occassionly getting up now and then to get a drinks of water.
This evening he just drifted off to pony heaven. I am very sad, but I realize that he has gone
to a better place and is probably running through lush green pastures and kicking up his hooves!!
We will all miss you our pony friend .............
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Summer is Over ~!~
Howdy,
Wow where has the time gone? I have been so busy that I totally forgot about blogging to share
whats been going on at Down on the Farm Inc. I spose you think that being a pony thats supposed to be retired would have all the time in the world, but I have managed to keep my self
busy just hang'n in the pasture and chatting with all my friends, and of course munching on that
good green grass!
Although this summer has been really dry and the owner had to buy us hay most of the summer
to keep us fed and happy. Usually we get a choice of 4 square bales to pick from. I overheard
that is cost's $200.00 a week to feed us! Whew........ thats a nice chunk of change. At least for now most of us are still working and bringing in income so that the owner can afford to keep
feeding us. Rumor has it though come late fall some of us are going to have to leave cause its to
expensive to feed us.
I hope that I wont be the one that gets picked....... I love living at Down on the Farm Inc. cause
everyone loves me and takes special care of me cause I am getting so old. I hope that I get
to head south again for the winter, that was a sweat deal! No cold, snow, ice, shivering,
it was awesome.
I still am getting my winter hair and how strange! I am getting a curly, wavy, fur coat!
I think it has to do with how old I am getting to be. I will be 32 this year and in case you
did'nt know thats really old for a pony. Ahhh but I have had so many fond memories of teaching kids to ride. I have to admit its been alot of fun.
I have been working a little lately, once again this fall I am at the apple orchard, walking in
circles on the "pony wheel". Last week end it wast all that busy so I got to stand and watch
all my friends work instead. (Sorry pals, but better you than me)
Well hope you keep reading about my thoughts and ideas
Haaaaay .......... till next time
Copper
Wow where has the time gone? I have been so busy that I totally forgot about blogging to share
whats been going on at Down on the Farm Inc. I spose you think that being a pony thats supposed to be retired would have all the time in the world, but I have managed to keep my self
busy just hang'n in the pasture and chatting with all my friends, and of course munching on that
good green grass!
Although this summer has been really dry and the owner had to buy us hay most of the summer
to keep us fed and happy. Usually we get a choice of 4 square bales to pick from. I overheard
that is cost's $200.00 a week to feed us! Whew........ thats a nice chunk of change. At least for now most of us are still working and bringing in income so that the owner can afford to keep
feeding us. Rumor has it though come late fall some of us are going to have to leave cause its to
expensive to feed us.
I hope that I wont be the one that gets picked....... I love living at Down on the Farm Inc. cause
everyone loves me and takes special care of me cause I am getting so old. I hope that I get
to head south again for the winter, that was a sweat deal! No cold, snow, ice, shivering,
it was awesome.
I still am getting my winter hair and how strange! I am getting a curly, wavy, fur coat!
I think it has to do with how old I am getting to be. I will be 32 this year and in case you
did'nt know thats really old for a pony. Ahhh but I have had so many fond memories of teaching kids to ride. I have to admit its been alot of fun.
I have been working a little lately, once again this fall I am at the apple orchard, walking in
circles on the "pony wheel". Last week end it wast all that busy so I got to stand and watch
all my friends work instead. (Sorry pals, but better you than me)
Well hope you keep reading about my thoughts and ideas
Haaaaay .......... till next time
Copper
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Its Finally Summer!!!
Howdy gang,
Well its been awhile since I last checked in, but non the less its finally summer!! Yep, along with
those nice warm or hot muggy days comes those nasty, pesky, biting flies ..... and boy are they
annoying. I am so glad for a long tail, so that I can swish it back and forth to slap those little
nasty bugs. Sometimes though no matter how hard I try I just cant seem to get them off. They
love to bite my legs, under my tummy, and around me ears. Lucky for me and the rest of
the herd we get sprayed with "fly spray" by the owner. Not really sure whats in the stuff but
it really seems to help.
The grass in the pastures is finally starting to grow again! Its been so darn dry that we have chewed the grass down almost to nothing. All that is left is weeds that we dont like and dirt ....
so we have been eating hay again. After a long winter of the dry stuff it really is a treat to eat
fresh green grass. However sometimes it can be such a change to our diet we can get a belly
ache or something called "colic". This week Lucy got a tummy ache and wouldnt get up,
started to roll around cause her tummy hurt really bad. Just in case you dont know what can
happend when we roll around cause our tummy hurts, I will tell you. Our stomachs have ALOT
on intestines. If we start rolling around alot, our intestines can get " twisted" therefore we
can get them so twisted that we can die. Not a pretty picture!
Luckily the owner saw her and rushed to get her up, and gave her some medicine to relax
her tummy ache. It took about a hour of walking Lucy around and around so that she would
not lay back down, and the medicine to start to work. Lucy felt so much better.
Hay........ everyone is neighing to me ........ gotta gallop off
till next time
Copper
Well its been awhile since I last checked in, but non the less its finally summer!! Yep, along with
those nice warm or hot muggy days comes those nasty, pesky, biting flies ..... and boy are they
annoying. I am so glad for a long tail, so that I can swish it back and forth to slap those little
nasty bugs. Sometimes though no matter how hard I try I just cant seem to get them off. They
love to bite my legs, under my tummy, and around me ears. Lucky for me and the rest of
the herd we get sprayed with "fly spray" by the owner. Not really sure whats in the stuff but
it really seems to help.
The grass in the pastures is finally starting to grow again! Its been so darn dry that we have chewed the grass down almost to nothing. All that is left is weeds that we dont like and dirt ....
so we have been eating hay again. After a long winter of the dry stuff it really is a treat to eat
fresh green grass. However sometimes it can be such a change to our diet we can get a belly
ache or something called "colic". This week Lucy got a tummy ache and wouldnt get up,
started to roll around cause her tummy hurt really bad. Just in case you dont know what can
happend when we roll around cause our tummy hurts, I will tell you. Our stomachs have ALOT
on intestines. If we start rolling around alot, our intestines can get " twisted" therefore we
can get them so twisted that we can die. Not a pretty picture!
Luckily the owner saw her and rushed to get her up, and gave her some medicine to relax
her tummy ache. It took about a hour of walking Lucy around and around so that she would
not lay back down, and the medicine to start to work. Lucy felt so much better.
Hay........ everyone is neighing to me ........ gotta gallop off
till next time
Copper
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Observations from the pasture . . .
Howdy everyone,
Well I made it make to Minnesota from Texas..... whew what a long drive that was. It is so much
fun to get a chance to see all my old friends though. Frosty is doing great, he told me that it
was a rough winter this year and he wishes that the owner would take him to Texas next winter.
Doodlebug and Bubbles havn't changed either, except I was so surprised to see that they were
still shedding their winter "hair". Cee Cee sure has grown !! Wow what a cute "mare" she turned out to be...... ( if I was a few years younger I think I would ask her out)
I also noticed that the owner got a few new chicks herself. I counted 5 fluffy little beauty's
the other day. Yesterday I was quietly munching grass, and I saw Butter's and Paris having
the time of their lives chasing these small birds all over the barn and outside. Oh boy.......
troubles brew'n. I saw the owner come running to the rescue. Both Butter's and Paris got
a huge scolding for being so naughty.
Of course the dogs just thought that chasing the chicks was the best "playtime " game ever.
When it comes to pony/horse fun, we like to find the weakest link in the fence and then
charge through it and run everywhere. Our favorite place is to head next door into the
hay field. The owner gets so mad though when we do this........ but I understand why.
The field is next to a very busy road and lots of traffic. If anyone of us really wanted to take
off and run across the street to the neighbors we could possibly get hit by a oncomming car.
I know that when our "herd" instinct kicks in we dont really care if there is a car comming
we just want to RUN!!!
Time to hit the hay
Till next time
Copper
Well I made it make to Minnesota from Texas..... whew what a long drive that was. It is so much
fun to get a chance to see all my old friends though. Frosty is doing great, he told me that it
was a rough winter this year and he wishes that the owner would take him to Texas next winter.
Doodlebug and Bubbles havn't changed either, except I was so surprised to see that they were
still shedding their winter "hair". Cee Cee sure has grown !! Wow what a cute "mare" she turned out to be...... ( if I was a few years younger I think I would ask her out)
I also noticed that the owner got a few new chicks herself. I counted 5 fluffy little beauty's
the other day. Yesterday I was quietly munching grass, and I saw Butter's and Paris having
the time of their lives chasing these small birds all over the barn and outside. Oh boy.......
troubles brew'n. I saw the owner come running to the rescue. Both Butter's and Paris got
a huge scolding for being so naughty.
Of course the dogs just thought that chasing the chicks was the best "playtime " game ever.
When it comes to pony/horse fun, we like to find the weakest link in the fence and then
charge through it and run everywhere. Our favorite place is to head next door into the
hay field. The owner gets so mad though when we do this........ but I understand why.
The field is next to a very busy road and lots of traffic. If anyone of us really wanted to take
off and run across the street to the neighbors we could possibly get hit by a oncomming car.
I know that when our "herd" instinct kicks in we dont really care if there is a car comming
we just want to RUN!!!
Time to hit the hay
Till next time
Copper
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
"" Packing to come back to Minnesota"
Howdy Ya'll !!
Well I havnt been very good about keeping everyone updated lately about whats happ'n
around here, but I decided to take a minute from graz'n and catch up and fill you in. In a few
short weeks I will make the long trip back up to Minnesota along with my friends Kiwi and
Mango ( Kiwi's) new foal) Sparkplug, and Barcardi. I have to tell you, ever since Lea Ann left
(the owner of Down on the Farm Inc.) Barcardi has been giving Jessie (Lea Ann's daughter) a
royal headache ........
Boy that mare is one smart horse!! ( or doesnt seem to mind getting zapped!!) She has'nt
really shared her thoughts with me on this one, but she goes were ever she feels like it even
if there is a electric fence to try to keep us in the pasture. Now personally I totally respect it ....
cause nothing hurts worse than getting zapped from a bolt of electricty when you press
your luck and touch the fence. The jolt doesnt last long .... just a few seconds but it really get's
my attention!!! I prefer to graze peacefully and stay in the bounderies that the fence has.
Needless to say, Barcardi just does not care!!! I can see Jessie getting so mad and frustrated
as she tries a different idea everyday to see what will work to keep this mare in the pasture!!
First she tried to put Barcardi in a stall, well that didnt last long, Barcardi tried to jump over
the top and managed to get her legs all caught up on the poles of the stall. I saunter over to
have a look and there she is ....... on leg hang'n over the top and stuck. I nickered and
told her if she would just behave and stand still and enjoy her own personal "bedroom"
she wouldnt be in this predicament. Lucky for her she wasnt hurt, but she told me she
was very uncomfortable...... hmmmmmmmm ( ya think?)
Not long after, Jessie discovered her, and helped her get her leg untangled. Not a easy task
that is for sure. I could tell Jessie was really upset, and worried Barcardi hurt herself, but
Barcadi was fine and of course thrilled for the help to get untangled.
Jess then decides to make a smaller pen with 3 wires of electric fence and brings plenty of
hay and water just for Barcadi, thinking that will keep her happy and in the pen ........
NOPE, I could'nt believe my eyes!!!! She sticks her neck between the wires and makes a
made dash and out she goes!!!
I have to tell you ...... I think Barcardi is rather stupid!!! If I had my own personal space with
all the hay to myself, all the water and grain ....... hmmmmm it's a no brainer for me.
By now Jessie is about to pull her hair out . . .
Barcardi has shared with me that she loves eating the bark off Lea Ann's tree's in her yard,
so that is maybe why she keeps wanting to get out and into her yard. I overhead Lea Ann
telling Jessie when she left not to let any horses in the front yard because they eat the trees
and it will kill them ...... Jess is trying her hardest to keep everyone out of the yard, but
Barcardi just does not care!!!
Boy wait till she gets in the pasture back in Minnesota!!
I dont know if any of you remember a horse named "Teddy" but he behaved the same way.
Although he respected the " electric fence" Back in Minnesota there are 3 different pastures
that we are put in. The normal one ( for all us good ponies and horses that stay in)
the "naughty pen" for the ones that know how to sneak out the regular pasture .... (he-he)
(the neighbors grass is so much tastier!) and then the "Penitentery"(sp) which consists of all
around electric fences. Well to get back on the subject ... "Teddy" was one of the horses that
learned how to get out all the time. He was very, very smart about it though ..... he would
walk the fencline and step on the cattle panel bottom and slowly and surly bend it little by
little so that in a few hours he could jump over the top !! Guess what? He ended up
spending all his pasture time in the "pen" so to speak. After a few years of this behavior,
Lea Ann got so tired of trying to keep him in, and he wrecked so many fences that she
gave him to a new owner.
S0 I better warn Barcardi that if she doesnt straighten up an behave she will probably
be hauled back to the auction barn, and she may really get a rotton owner who will not treat
her as nice as she has it at Down on the Farm Inc.
As for now, I think Jessie is just counting the days before she brings her back to Minnesota ...
then it will become Lea Ann's problem!
I am going to miss Texas .... but I cant wait to see Frosty, Doodlebug, Bubbles and the whole
gang!! Although I will miss my new girlfriend Addie ( she is going to stay in Texas and
work while I am gone) but I can still hangout with my old girlfriend Ms. Daisy, so I wont
be to sad .......
I'm such a stud ... (lol) I got girlfriends in both states!! Not to bad for a old geezer huh!
Time to head over the the water tank for a drink .....
See ya soon....
Copper
P.S Rumor has it that "Paris" Lea Ann's chihauha has 2 new babies!! Cant wait to see them
when I get back!~ Perhaps I can convice her to put some pics on the next blog!
Well I havnt been very good about keeping everyone updated lately about whats happ'n
around here, but I decided to take a minute from graz'n and catch up and fill you in. In a few
short weeks I will make the long trip back up to Minnesota along with my friends Kiwi and
Mango ( Kiwi's) new foal) Sparkplug, and Barcardi. I have to tell you, ever since Lea Ann left
(the owner of Down on the Farm Inc.) Barcardi has been giving Jessie (Lea Ann's daughter) a
royal headache ........
Boy that mare is one smart horse!! ( or doesnt seem to mind getting zapped!!) She has'nt
really shared her thoughts with me on this one, but she goes were ever she feels like it even
if there is a electric fence to try to keep us in the pasture. Now personally I totally respect it ....
cause nothing hurts worse than getting zapped from a bolt of electricty when you press
your luck and touch the fence. The jolt doesnt last long .... just a few seconds but it really get's
my attention!!! I prefer to graze peacefully and stay in the bounderies that the fence has.
Needless to say, Barcardi just does not care!!! I can see Jessie getting so mad and frustrated
as she tries a different idea everyday to see what will work to keep this mare in the pasture!!
First she tried to put Barcardi in a stall, well that didnt last long, Barcardi tried to jump over
the top and managed to get her legs all caught up on the poles of the stall. I saunter over to
have a look and there she is ....... on leg hang'n over the top and stuck. I nickered and
told her if she would just behave and stand still and enjoy her own personal "bedroom"
she wouldnt be in this predicament. Lucky for her she wasnt hurt, but she told me she
was very uncomfortable...... hmmmmmmmm ( ya think?)
Not long after, Jessie discovered her, and helped her get her leg untangled. Not a easy task
that is for sure. I could tell Jessie was really upset, and worried Barcardi hurt herself, but
Barcadi was fine and of course thrilled for the help to get untangled.
Jess then decides to make a smaller pen with 3 wires of electric fence and brings plenty of
hay and water just for Barcadi, thinking that will keep her happy and in the pen ........
NOPE, I could'nt believe my eyes!!!! She sticks her neck between the wires and makes a
made dash and out she goes!!!
I have to tell you ...... I think Barcardi is rather stupid!!! If I had my own personal space with
all the hay to myself, all the water and grain ....... hmmmmm it's a no brainer for me.
By now Jessie is about to pull her hair out . . .
Barcardi has shared with me that she loves eating the bark off Lea Ann's tree's in her yard,
so that is maybe why she keeps wanting to get out and into her yard. I overhead Lea Ann
telling Jessie when she left not to let any horses in the front yard because they eat the trees
and it will kill them ...... Jess is trying her hardest to keep everyone out of the yard, but
Barcardi just does not care!!!
Boy wait till she gets in the pasture back in Minnesota!!
I dont know if any of you remember a horse named "Teddy" but he behaved the same way.
Although he respected the " electric fence" Back in Minnesota there are 3 different pastures
that we are put in. The normal one ( for all us good ponies and horses that stay in)
the "naughty pen" for the ones that know how to sneak out the regular pasture .... (he-he)
(the neighbors grass is so much tastier!) and then the "Penitentery"(sp) which consists of all
around electric fences. Well to get back on the subject ... "Teddy" was one of the horses that
learned how to get out all the time. He was very, very smart about it though ..... he would
walk the fencline and step on the cattle panel bottom and slowly and surly bend it little by
little so that in a few hours he could jump over the top !! Guess what? He ended up
spending all his pasture time in the "pen" so to speak. After a few years of this behavior,
Lea Ann got so tired of trying to keep him in, and he wrecked so many fences that she
gave him to a new owner.
S0 I better warn Barcardi that if she doesnt straighten up an behave she will probably
be hauled back to the auction barn, and she may really get a rotton owner who will not treat
her as nice as she has it at Down on the Farm Inc.
As for now, I think Jessie is just counting the days before she brings her back to Minnesota ...
then it will become Lea Ann's problem!
I am going to miss Texas .... but I cant wait to see Frosty, Doodlebug, Bubbles and the whole
gang!! Although I will miss my new girlfriend Addie ( she is going to stay in Texas and
work while I am gone) but I can still hangout with my old girlfriend Ms. Daisy, so I wont
be to sad .......
I'm such a stud ... (lol) I got girlfriends in both states!! Not to bad for a old geezer huh!
Time to head over the the water tank for a drink .....
See ya soon....
Copper
P.S Rumor has it that "Paris" Lea Ann's chihauha has 2 new babies!! Cant wait to see them
when I get back!~ Perhaps I can convice her to put some pics on the next blog!
Monday, April 6, 2009
"Way up North" . . . .
Howdy Y'all! Just wanted to keep ya'll updated on whats going on around here. Well the other day I noticed all this comotion and as I sauntered on over to the other side of the pasture I noticed that the "owner" of Down on the Farm Inc. was running around trying to get Socks, (he-he) "No ponyrides, birthday parties, or having to share myspace with the petting zoo animals!" at least for a few more weeks. Hmmmm...... thats right I am now retired!
|
Monday, March 30, 2009
The "Neigh"bors and other thoughts ...
Howdy Y'all. Yep its me "Copper" starting to pick up on the southern twang that is so common
in texas. Well the other day I was keep'n a eye on the owner and check'n out the new fillies in the
neighbor's pasture. Whew..... they sure have some pretty cute ones. Anways I happened to over hear a conversation ( I really wasnt eaves dropping ... just munch'n on grass) and I heard
the owner Lea Ann talking about "strangles" with the other neighbor over the fence line.
Well that certainly got my attention!! I'm sure that many of you folks are not familiar with "strangles", so I will tell you a little about it and why it makes me real nervous to even be near the fenceline next door.
Strangles is a highly contagious virus that can settle in your throat and actually "strangle" you so that you can not breathe. It starts with a runny nose, a slight fever, and then gets worse and worse. You get huge bumps( kinda like mumps) under your jawline and neck and that fills with
fluid and yucky stuff. After a few days if your lucky this burst opens and then you start to heal and get better. However when you have all the yucky stuff draining that is when your the most
contagious and it can spread to every horse that comes in contact with other horses, it can be
transferred from when another horse that was sick and took a drink out of the local watering hole....... boy I am so glad that I heard Lea Ann and KD talking about it because now I can
tell the rest of the herd to stay clear of the fence line of my neighobrs and whatever they do
not to touch noses over the fence either!!!!
What a scary thing!!
Well its time to hit the hay for now, got a big day ahead. Guess I have to go out on a job
tomorro to visit with at least 200 kids that are at a daycare near Austin Texas. Sure hope they
have some treats like apples and carrots to give me. Cause after all that work I will be for sure
hungry!
Till next time
Your friend
"Copper"
in texas. Well the other day I was keep'n a eye on the owner and check'n out the new fillies in the
neighbor's pasture. Whew..... they sure have some pretty cute ones. Anways I happened to over hear a conversation ( I really wasnt eaves dropping ... just munch'n on grass) and I heard
the owner Lea Ann talking about "strangles" with the other neighbor over the fence line.
Well that certainly got my attention!! I'm sure that many of you folks are not familiar with "strangles", so I will tell you a little about it and why it makes me real nervous to even be near the fenceline next door.
Strangles is a highly contagious virus that can settle in your throat and actually "strangle" you so that you can not breathe. It starts with a runny nose, a slight fever, and then gets worse and worse. You get huge bumps( kinda like mumps) under your jawline and neck and that fills with
fluid and yucky stuff. After a few days if your lucky this burst opens and then you start to heal and get better. However when you have all the yucky stuff draining that is when your the most
contagious and it can spread to every horse that comes in contact with other horses, it can be
transferred from when another horse that was sick and took a drink out of the local watering hole....... boy I am so glad that I heard Lea Ann and KD talking about it because now I can
tell the rest of the herd to stay clear of the fence line of my neighobrs and whatever they do
not to touch noses over the fence either!!!!
What a scary thing!!
Well its time to hit the hay for now, got a big day ahead. Guess I have to go out on a job
tomorro to visit with at least 200 kids that are at a daycare near Austin Texas. Sure hope they
have some treats like apples and carrots to give me. Cause after all that work I will be for sure
hungry!
Till next time
Your friend
"Copper"
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