Biscuit A Lonely Horse

It’s hard to believe that horses (likes Elephants) have friends, but our mustang named Biscuit, was definitely missing his friend and was lonely. His usual companion, Dundee, had been moved out to the ranch to guard the Lusitano filly, Jacinta.  Biscuit had also been through two stressful events in January and February when 2 different wind storms had knocked tall Eucalyptus trees down on his stable! Luckily he wasn’t hurt either time, but both times was “stuck” in the corner of his stable for a few hours until we could get all the debris away and take him to a neighbor’s stable while we fixed the fences and got a tree trimmer to cut up and remove the tree. After the first storm, we were going to cut the second tree down to prevent it falling too, but the second storm came before the tree cutters did! We were afraid Biscuit thought we were trying to kill him  – and was going to run away!  He was definitely moping. We increased his riding time and free time in the corral. He was still lonely. Should we find him a friend?

A Horse, A Goat or a Banty Chicken for Biscuit?

Friends suggested we get a goat. We really didn’t want a goat. We’d had one at another house and yes it was good at keeping the grass down but it also ate everything it saw – most of which we didn’t want her to eat. Another friend, who’s father had been a professional thoroughbred horse trainer, suggested we get a couple Banty chickens!  She said thoroughbred horses loved Banty chickens and trainers always had them. We talked about that for a couple days. We finally decided what we’d really enjoy and would be happy to care for was a Shetland pony! It took daughter about 4 days to find a family that had one that was looking for a new home.

Cupcake gets her first bath at the Horseshoe Road Inn

Welcome Mini Pony Cupcake

Cupcake is about 10 years old and had been with a family that provided pony rides for Farmer’s Markets and children’s birthday parties.  They were “retiring” the business and Cupcake was looking for a home. She came to visit on Friday the 13th which is now our “Lucky Day!” Everyone loved her immediately. Biscuit was happy to have a new friend so once the vet checked her out she moved in. The interesting thing is she was kind of used to walking in circles instead of straight across the stable yard. When we took her to the corral to exercise and she figured out she was “free” to run, she took off like a speeding bullet. Daughter said we should rename her Turbo! Granddaughter had a funnier question: “Are we getting a bakery?” she wanted to know.  What?!  “Well, we have a Biscuit, we have a cat named Muffin and now we have a Cupcake!”

Biscuit and Cupcake in the Corral.