Greetings, my faithful readers, and welcome to another installment of life at Mercy Spring Ranch, as witnessed by Gimli Black.
The week got off to a rough start, as my beloved Ladyhawke came down with pigeon fever. Given that she needed to be quarantined for a while, I offered to move to the far paddock to give her some more breathing space. While I was not thrilled to leave the comforts of my own paddock (and my recording studio), I felt that the needs of Ladyhawke took precedence over my own personal preferences. It’s what quality horses do for one another.
Little did I know that I was putting myself into a temptation zone. My new paddock has me placed closer to the storage area for hay. I can smell every strand of that sweet feed calling out to me. This is a test of my fortitude, but I shall rise to the occasion and triumph over this adversity. But if the wind accidently blows a little hay into my paddock, I will be happy to clean it up with my teeth and stomach!
My temporary paddock has my feeder right next to Connor. He is becoming more assertive when seeking out food (he must be copying some of my tricks of the trade). He has even pinned his ears when challenging me to see who gets to eat first. I didn’t think that he had it in him! For a horse his age, he still has a lot of spunk.
With Ladyhawke convalescing, it has given more time for Connor and me to hang out together in the arena. I won’t go so far as to say that a bromance is forming, but boys will be boys. With the absence of any female presence, we tend to get a little mischievous. I would go into specifics; but since Miss Mo reads this blog, I need to be careful. If she remains unaware of our playful antics, this will allow them to continue until Ladyhawke fully recovers.
Mr. John and Miss Mo have been busy preparing Christmas decorations for sale at the ranch, so Connor and I have been able to get away with more pranks in the arena that would otherwise have been observed and rebuked. I don’t feel neglected. Their time is being well-spent. If you look at the MSR Facebook page, you will see pictures of their horse wreaths, as well as horseshoe Christmas trees and ornaments made from nails. All of these items are available for purchase this holiday season. Proceeds go toward supporting the ministry of Mercy Spring Ranch.
Well that’s all for this week. Please pray for Ladyhawke to get better soon. The whole place isn’t the same without her active presence on the ranch.
Happy Trails,
Gimli November 14, 2022