March horses

The first part of March was all about NaMoPaiMo...

and my most recent trip to California.

Since then, however, it's been mostly horses, most of the time.

I'm not complaining. The barn truly is my happy place.

Mine and everyone else's.

Heh.

No surprise, most of this month's barn time was focused on Sage.

We've been working hard, building...

and refining skills.

I've also spent some hanging out with her in the field, watching her interact with her friends.

Sorry, Sage. Doodle is never going to be your friend.

Hey, look! There's Luna.

She's your friend.

Heh.

Speaking of Luna, she got her first set of shoes this week.

Look how big they are in comparison to Olive's!

On a sadder note, this month we said goodbye to Allie and her sweet boy, Stingray.

I'm going to miss both of them a lot.

Best wishes in Texas, my friends!

I am hoping for another mostly horses, most of the time month in April.  

This is my happy place. It's where I want to be.

Bad Ideas Coordinator™️

Sage inherited Olive's Breyer semi-rearing mustang.

She has not taken good care of it.

Girl! Why?

Yesterday, Angelo came to the barn to take pictures of the two Sages and I.

When we were done, Angelo said, "Now put it on her back." 

I did.

That wasn't good enough. Angelo wanted me to put the model on top of Sage and then let go of it.

"Absolutely not," I said. "Have you seen what she did to her Breyer?!?"

But Angelo was persistent, and somehow, I got talked into this.

OMG so scary.

Funny, but also scary.

I'm relieved to report that both Sages survived the photoshoot unscathed.

Thank you, Angelo, I think. You are officially my official Bad Ideas Coordinator™️.

Sage meets Sage

If you're lucky enough to own a real horse that gets turned into a model horse, you need to take a pictures of the two of them together. 

It's actually a requirement.

As everyone who reads this blog knows, my new girl, Little Colorado Sage, was the inspiration behind this year's Stone Horses NaMoPaiMo prize horse.

My Sage model arrived last week.

Yesterday, I packed her up and took her to the barn.

I gave big Sage an extra good grooming. Then I got out the Stone Horses bow that came with little Olive so long ago. 

It's a little worse for the wear, but still useable.

I tied it into Sage's forelock.

Then it was time to introduce the Sages.

Predictably, big Sage didn't care at all.

"Look, Sage. It's you!"

'Whatever, Mom. Give me some treats."

"Whatever yourself, Sage. Just stand there and look cute."

Thank you so much to Erin Corbett and the entire Stone Horses team for their continued support of NaMoPaiMo and the plastic Braymere portrait mustang herd. I feel so, so privileged to call both Sages my own. 

No kings, just dogs and people

Yesterday, millions of people took to the streets across the U.S. and the world for to protest the Trump administration and its policies at the the third No Kings mobilization.

Seth, Piper and I attended a local rally in Aurora, Colorado.

Ryan and Sarah were also in attendance. 

Turnout was good, 

the mood was optimistic...

and everyone - including the dogs - was well-behaved and friendly.

I always enjoy reading the signs.

This was mine.

Piper may be invisible at a zoo filled with dogs, but at the No Kings rally, she was a star.

She wore her signs proudly, and posed for lots of pictures.

I'm glad we took her.

I'm glad we went.

While I know it takes more than peaceful protest to effect real change, events like this are good for the soul. For a couple hours, the world felt a lot less terrible. It's not enough, but it's definitely something.