Just wanted to add to last weeks post.  When you are putting the blanket on, fasten it front to back.  When you are taking the blanket off, unfasten it from back to front.  It’s a lot safer for the horse, you, and the blanket.

*****

In a way, winter is kind of sad for me, because when I was a teenager, a snowy Christmas meant horse-drawn sleigh rides, bells included.  So many horse owners have never had that opportunity.  Snow or no snow, you can still put bells on your horses.  When we were hunting in N.J., members of the Field did this,  staff did not.  No point looking for a Fox if you let him know you’re coming.  We did this so the hunters wouldn’t shoot us (especially if you are riding a Buckskin).  Here in Florida, we would wear neon vests.

I remember one Christmas when one of my friends got ski’s as a present.  Now here we were in Staten Island, no ski slopes there.  So what do horse friends do?  We tow people up hill with our horses, and let them ski down.  Now this wasn’t exactly safe.  We were doing this on a, somewhat, snow-covered busy street.  My horse had special shoes for traction.  It was going really well until my friend didn’t let go of the rope, and passed me going down the hill.  The rope wrapped around the backend of my horse and kind of took us with her.  Of course my horse had bells on, so we were cool, just sliding sideways.  She was a good safe, sane, mare.  Looking back, I think she was the only safe, sane, horse I had.  They were all wonderful, in their own way, but not necessarily safe, and sane.

Keep those wonderful memories tucked safely in your heart.  If my grandchildren went to do this now, I might discourage them, but I wouldn’t have missed those years for anything.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas, and hoping that Santa is very good to you this year.

My granddaughter once asked me if I still believed in Santa.  I said “Of Course!”, if I don’t believe in him, he might stop bringing me all those wonderful gifts.

The word this year seems to be “Believe”, please do.