It has been a little over two months since Socretes (Sox) came to live with Bonnie Blue here at the farm. His coat is good and he has steadily gained weight and is now estimated at 755 lbs. His Body Condition Score is about a Four (4). His ribs are slightly visible and the spine is still somewhat above the back. Another 50 to 75 pounds would be good and we are working on that. His hips and shoulder are fairly well filled out now.

His confidence and personality are growing even faster than his body. He and Bonnie Blue are really good pals. It is very rare to see one of them without the other very close by.

Based on how Sox reacted to us when he first came here, I don't think he had a lot of close interaction with humans. When we would visit with him and brush or stroke him he seemed nervous and a little anxious. But those days are gone. When we call to him and Bonnie Blue, Sox is the one to come first to see what is going on. He like to be brushed and rubbing and kissing is great too. New things are more curious than threatening now.

 We introduced him to the garden hose this week. Bonnie was first and she love to be wet down on these hot Mississippi days. Sox watched her and then it was his turn. We started slow, letting him smell and lick the small stream from the hose. Then it was lightly sprayed on his neck and chest. That was a little intense but he was nervously ok with that. But when the water started on his back and legs, that was too much and he moved away. We did not force the issue at that time.

 Today I took the hose to the paddock and Sox was there to see what was happening. I offered him a drink from the hose and he sniffed, than lapped and then took the end of the hose in his lips. He was able to get a couple of swallows before his mouth over flowed. He seemed to enjoy the experience. Next the water was sprayed up into the air and it came down on him like a very local rain shower. This was fine with him. He got good and wet on the top side then walked over to his favorite dirt wallow and applied a thick coat of dirt to himself. He them got up and came to me and washed off his nose in the stream. With a good coat of mud and dirt and a clean nose he was off to graze.

He is a very different horse than he was two months ago and we are all thankful for the change. He is so much fun to watch as he develops. We are all blessed by his presence here.