Augustus has been with us for three weeks now and he continues to gain weight. His girth has increased by an inch from about ten days ago. The coat continues to shed heavily but he looks better as the old loose hair falls away.

In the last couple of days, we are starting to see some personality develop in him. He is more assertive both with Bonnie Blue and us, his humans. Yesterday, I was in the feed stall preparing the evening feed and Gus was outside with his head sticking in over the wall. I greeted him with a nose rub and turned to get another bowl. When I turned back, I see the first bowl in Gus's teeth and headed out over the wall. I grabbed the trailing edge of the bowl and tug of war ensued. I was able to get it back, but not without a struggle.
As I recall, Bonnie Blue's sassy Arabian attitude did not manifest itself until she had recovered in her body and had been with us long enough to feel secure. I hope Gus will continue to recover both in body and spirit.

Starting today, we have discontinued the light feeding in the middle of the day. They still have free access to both hay and grass at all times and get treats at noon. Gus looks much better and is probably about a three (3) on a Body Condition Score. I think he will be fine without the noon feed snack.

Rain is in the forecast for the next couple of days, but the stalls are clean and they have a place out of the weather if they choose to use it. I don't understand horses some time. Today the weather was fair with some sun and they spent much of the day in the stalls. A couple of days ago it rained and they grazed in the field. I don't get it but then I ain't much of a horse.

Gus and Bonnie Blue 2/23/2013

Late winter is south Mississippi is very wet this year. We are all a little weary of rain and mud but alas there is no end in site. We are hoping for some dryer days next month.

Bonnie Blue and Augustus continue to get along well. Things change almost daily. On Wednesday (Feb. 20 ) I was surprised to find Bonnie and Gus standing peacefully together in the same open stall. This was a first and indicated to me that they are continuing to bond.
On Thursday (Feb. 21) while I was moving feed into to stall area, Bonnie Blue pushed open the gate that was closed but not latched and got out into the open yard. Now this horse has been here for almost seven months and every time she has been approached she would allow us to catch her without hesitation. And since Gus has been here, she has not gone out of sight of him. However, today was a new day and she would not have any part of being caught and Gus could just cool it till she returned. She walked down a trail leading away from the stalls and toward the pond. She had never been on this part of the property before but she was exploring it now. I followed behind her until she cut through some undergrowth that was thicker than I wanted to push through so I went around and came out of the woods near the stalls to find Bonnie Blue standing near the the gate she had pushed open a half hour earlier. With only a little encouragement she reentered the gate. There is no way to know for sure what was going on in her head, but I suspect with spring near and her in good health she may be thinking of love and checking the neighborhood of possible suitors.

We have been in contact with The Hattiesburg American newspaper which carried a story about Bonnie Blue (then called Bones) back in June 2012. The nice reporter gathered some information and said they may do a follow up on her. The story in the paper was the starting point for us that lead to Bonnie Blue coming to be with us. I am very thankful for that story and the chain of events that have lead us to where we are today.
Hopefully, another article will start others down a similar happy path.

 Bonnie Blue and Rita 2/21/13 

Bonnie Blue feeling good and looking the same.

Bonnie Blue & Gus Are Pals

                                                   Augustus 1 week after Adoption

Augustus (Gus) has been with us for a week and already he and Bonnie Blue are close pals. Bonnie Blue is the leader and Gus is a good follower. Both seem to be content in their roles. Gus continues to gain weight and strength.

Gus has been getting groomed at least daily by his humans. He is still shedding heavily. As the old loose hair comes out, he is looking less shaggy, more shinny and healthier. He seems to like the human attention of brushing and scratching provided the jealous Bonnie Blue is keep at bay where she can not get to him. There is love and attention enough to go around but Bonnie does not see it that way.

For the past several months I have taken Bonnie, a couple of time a week, to our 30 acre unfenced field to run, graze, roll and be a horse free in a large open space. The mode of operation is always the same. We walk down a path across a neighbor's field and into our field. Then I release her to run and play. After about an hour, the lead is reattached and we walk home. Yesterday, I took Bonnie to field, but to my surprise upon release she turned and ran back home to be with Gus. I think the herd instinct is strong with her. One thing for sure, she had rather be with Gus than eat fresh rye grass with me standing around.

I am thankful that they have one another and that they are both here with us.

Bonnie Blue 2/8/2013

Augustus (Gus) 2/8/2013

Bonnie Blue has a Pasture Pal

Bonnie Blue has a pasture pal. His name is Augustus (aka Loverboy) but we call him Gus most of the time. Gus is about 20 years old and comes to us through the caring folks at Trails End Horse Haven and the Hub City Humane Society. Like Bonnie he had suffered neglect and was near starvation when the court ordered him and other to be seized about a month ago. The kind volunteers transported him to a vet, paid for his immediate care out of their resources, and then moved him to a caring foster family. His foster family fed and cared for him and he gained about 50 much needed pounds over the three to four weeks he lived with them. The world is a better place with people like these in it.

On Friday February 1, 2013, he moved from foster care to here and his new "forever home". with us and Bonnie Blue. He still needs to gain at least 200 pounds more to fill out his large frame. We have taken notes from the foster family and will continue the good work they had started with him, e.g. feeding twice a day with Alfalfa and a complete grain based feed, plus all the hay he wants. The pasture / orchard has a good bit of rye grass and he will be allowed to graze that also. However, we will start with a couple of hours a day and move to full access to the pasture over the next week or so. We don't want too much of a good thing all at once as his system might not respond well to that much fresh grass all at once. His mouth and gums seem to be in good condition now. When he was seized and taken to the vet they found his gums were covered is sores from wood splinter. The poor thing had been trying to eat wood to have something to eat. The vet removed the splinters and he has healed wonderfully. I feel great sadness both for the animals who suffer such terrible neglect and for the sad people with such poor spirits that they can not have compassion for another living creature. May they both find healing.

Bonnie Blue seemed to be very happy to have him in the pasture. They are getting along well with just a minimum of jousting to determine who will lead and who will follow. For now Bonnie seems to be dominate. However, when he fills out he will be much larger than she is, so there may be some more negotiating later on. For now, both seem content to be where they are and glad not to be hungry or in any immediate need. We are happy too. Horses are herd animals and need one another just like humans. And as much as I love Bonnie Blue, I am a poor substitute for a horse. These first days together have been good days for all of us.