The geriatric ladies

Since I was hanging out at the farm so much this weekend, I took pics of horses I usually do not take lots of pics of. That may be due to the new length of the pasture--since I bushhogged the middle pasture- about 8 acres- I could actually see them.

Anyway, I am pretty pleased with how they are looking.
This is Rock, who is usually known as Big Fat Rock. She is 25, and the last two winters have not been her best, so I am thrilled to see her in this condition. She has been having a ball toting Madison around. I thought about breeding her one last time this year, since she is the only daughter of Docs Hickory I have, but just never bothered. I enjoy riding her so much, it is no great loss. Her three year old son by Haidas Little Pep is doing great in cutting training with Dale Dodd in Canada.

On the right is Playmate, who is 26. Her last foal is Haida Girl, the Haidas Little Pep daughter that Barry has been riding for the past two years--he loves that filly to death. Play gets lots of comments, because her papers are so funny- her dam was born in 1959! She still has Pretty Boy On her papers, for Pete's sake. Play is the most competitive horse I own, and is tough as nails. She literally shakes at the sight or smell of cattle, it is wild. She is also the fastest horse I have ever ridden--it feels like an earthquake but is a lot of fun. This was her first year to have weight issues, so to see her looking this good is a huge relief, considering that we have had no pasture at all this year. It has been dried up since June, due to the drought.
Finally, this is Nita, who had such a close call in the last couple of weeks. She is also 26, and sired by Peponita. Her last foal is High Brow Gypsy. Nita is just a classy chic, and was the first big time broodmare I ever bought. I have had her forever. She has always been swaybacked but usually pretty round, until this year-she has taken the heat and drought harder than anyone. She is gaining it back slowly but surely. The best part of the series of pics I took of her today was the sheen to her coat. It is virtually impossible to take a decent picture of a horse this dark, but I think this shows how shiny and healthy she looks. There is more weight to be gained of course, but this is a marked improvement.

These are my oldest ladies here, and all are retired from the broodmare band, but we still ride Rock and Play a lot. We have never ridden Nita as she was alwasy swaybacked from so many babies since we first bought her, but I can imagine she was something in her day.