The winter solstice is near but some of the days are still clear and cool and just right for a run in the open field. Yesterday when the photo was taken, Bonnie Blue felt so good she could not resist the urge to run, kick and buck in the cool wind in the hay field.

The last few days Bonnie Blue has been testing the social order of the creatures here at the farm. Without question she is above all of the dogs and cats and she chases them around at will. She also has been testing the humans. So far, the humans have held their ground and refuse to be scared off by her running near them on occasions. In fact they  stood their ground and even make horse frighting gestures. But a horse has to check occasionally just to make sure she is not missing a chance to be the leader of the farm herd.

At now almost five months after she came to live with us, it is hard to believe the wonderful recovery she has made in both body and spirit. She continues to be a blessing to us every day.

At just over four (4) months after Bonnie Blue came to share her life with us she hardly resembles the horse she was when she first came here. The bones that were so pronounced are now all covered with beautiful coat and flesh. Her spirit is good and some times a bit sassy. She seems to know that she is safe and loved here and even the dogs do not seem to concern her anymore. She moves as she pleases between her stall and paddock near the house and her orchard / pasture a few hundred feet to the east.

This past week George Lupper the farrier and Vernell Falgout the trainer both came to she her. Her hooves are in good condition and all of the small cracks have grown out and been trimmed away. Both noted that she had filled out nicely and was at or rapidly approaching ideal weight. Bonnie Blue may be facing a new reduced diet after the holidays with the rest of the family. We have just completed her transfer from the "Senior" feed to "Safe Choice" standard feed this past week. For now she is still enjoying a bowl of alfalfa twice a day and two (2) cups of feed twice a day. I am sure you know that we would never spoil her, but she does get several carrots each day and an occasional corn muffin.

                                          Bonnie Blue 4 months after Adoption.

Bonnie Blue has been and continues to be a source of joy and wonder to us every day. She is a wonderful sentient creature. She may lack some of the function of the human brain and will never write her own blog, but she still posses a wonder spirit and communicates her sense of curiosity, trust, loyalty, joy, fear and so many more feeling common to all of us mammals. I have had many dogs, cats and other animals close to me in my life, but none have I developed such a caring relationship for so quickly as with this wonderful Bonnie Blue horse. There is no way to know what the future hold far any of us, but I am thankful every day for the opportunity that I have had to work with this magnificent creature. She is a joy and a delight.

This should be titled Bonnie Blue acts out.  Yesterday Robin took her across to the pasture.  She was perfect - no pulling -no moving to fast -did not have to turn around once.

After we got to the pasture Robin as I started to walk.  Bonnie looked up and saw us and started running toward me. She has done this before but always stops about 10 or 15 yards before me. I turned away just in time.  Playing Chicken with a 800 pound horse ain't my kind of fun.

Today,  we had high hopes of having a picnic in the pasture.  Robin packed a backpack of coffee, cookies and a blanket to set on. If I say she acted like a fool I would not be exaggerating. She slung her head back and forth. Tried to rear up and bucked.  Robin turned her around about 5 times and  as punishment we decided to take her  back to the stall. After she went through the gate to the paddock and the orchard. Robin unhooked her and she cut up again.  Would run off bucking and kicking and turn around and charge me. She did this about 3 times and each time I would yell and wave her off.

Having totally ruined our picnic, we decided to recoup and go sit under the pecan trees and try to drink our coffee and cookies. She came over like, "What are you doing?"  Acting as though she wasn't the reason we failed to have a nice picnic in the pasture. Finally we gave up and came in the house. Being good was just not in her game plan.

Bonnie gets a C- for her lessons today.  Maybe she can bring her average up with good behavior.
  . 
We will have to talk to Vernell when she comes in on Wednesday.