Oreo

We have a new addition to our furry family. No...it's not another cat. It's a pony! When Winter, our old gentle mare, died this winter, I realized that the kids wouldn't have a horse to ride when spring and summer came around. Abby has already been asking about riding the horses at Grandma's house. I don't believe you can explain to a two year old that the horsey died, so I went with another route. My mom has been wanting to get a pony for all the grand kids to ride when they visit Grandma and Grandpa's house. That, combined with my hope to have land of my own in the future, made me realize it was time for my wee ones to experience the joy of a pony. I didn't get that joyful experience quite nearly as early as they are getting it. But I figure, what the heck!

So let me introduce you to my recent purchase. His name is Oreo.


Not very original. I know. But that's the name he came with and Alex and Abby already know him by that. I bought him this past weekend. My sister-in-law, Heather, told me that her three girls enjoy riding horses when they visit Aunt Jessie. Well, I couldn't very well disappoint them, now could I? Abby is already smitten with the cute little furball. He is a Shetland cross pony and they are fuzzy little butterballs in the winter. When we went to see him for the first time, my heart went out to him. He wasn't exactly living the high life. He was in a smaller pen with cockelburs from head to toe and overgrown hooves.

Look at those cockelburs! Insane, I tell ya.

So I talked the guy down slightly from his asking price and we picked him up the next morning. He's a sweet, gentle creature and was more than delighted to be groomed and pampered for the three hours it took us to get the cockelburs out. Of course, my camera died before I could take an 'after' shot, but trust me. He's even cuter now that's he's all cleaned up. I'll update pictures when I go back and see him this weekend. I saddled him up and let the kids take him for a couple rides. They, much like their mama, are hooked!

Abby kept giving him hugs and kisses. She was absolutely fearless. Chip off the ol' block, I'd like to think. :-)

They already want to go back and ride some more. He's about 12 years old and you couldn't ask for a sweeter pony. He's the perfect addition to our furry family. Welcome to you forever home, Oreo!

Here's a little video I got right when we pulled up to my parents' house. Abby couldn't get unbuckled from her car seat fast enough. She even beat Alex out to the barn.