Whisper Sweet Nothings

Last night friends came out to ride. It was so nice to get away and not have to worry about anything. Talking horses always lifts my spirits. Thank you ladies for making my day. We rode until dusk and then I had to get to chores. While we rode, M and A played with the horses for a little while. They visited Sahara, Savanna, and Prize.

I’m not sure what those ladies whispered to Savanna but I hope they return and continue whispering those sweet nothings to her. I was finishing up chores and headed for the house when Savanna popped her head over the gate. She’s not done that since Prize was born.

I walked over to check on her and Prize. She was standing so near. So I asked her if she would allow me to touch her. Lo and behold, she did. She stood perfectly still while I scratched her neck and shoulder. I’m guessing the mosquitoes had gotten to her earlier. She even let me touch her face, which she didn’t really like even before Prize was born. I guess when Savanna needs some loving, she’ll let me hug her head. I scratched her neck and then gently touched her head. She stayed exactly where she was, only moving her tail. Savanna let me hug her again. Only three times has she let me touch her face and each time she seems to want to affection of a hug. The first time was at the auction (which almost brought tears to my eyes), the second time she came over and put her head in my chest just before Prize was born (again brought tears to my eyes). And then last night (which filled my heart with joy).

She then backed away and I scratched/petted her other shoulder and neck. I could have stayed there for hours had I not been falling asleep while standing. Yesterday was so hot that she had sweat marks all over her back where the winter hair hasn’t come completely out. I think she would have loved a good grooming had I not been falling asleep.

Savanna and Prize have been out on the lawn pasture during the day since Monday. I’m not sure Savanna totally loves it but I know Prize does. He’ll run and run and run and run. He always runs back in to the leanto instead of to momma. So then Savanna has to trot into the leanto to check on Prize. It’s a funny scene to watch but Savanna immediately goes back out to eat more grass. Savanna is an amazing mother.

I need to rearrange the fence again so that they don’t eat down the lawn to dirt. There’s plenty of grass but the mosquitoes are terrible. I’m hoping that whatever sweet nothings M and A told Savanna, that it’ll last until tonight when I can try petting Savanna again.

And on an even brighter note, Savanna lost that yucky auction tag. It was so stuck on when we first brought her home and then I couldn’t touch her after Prize was born. It’s disappeared somewhere in the pasture. Savanna is picking up weight but still looks tough. I’m betting that now that she’s on pasture for a good 12 hours a day, she’ll pick up weight even faster. She’s also very demanding of her morning and evening grain.

Silly little Prize has figured out how to eat too. He’s learned that his neck is too short for his legs. So instead he bends his legs to reach the grain and grass. I need to sneak a few pictures of Prize while he’s grazing, which is a hard feat to do because he prefers to run all the time. Hopefully this week I can sneak a few pictures of Savanna, Prize, and Sahara so you can see the improvements from 1 ½ months of proper feed and a little bit of TLC.