The Horses: Sunshine

Sunshine is Mr. Social. He’s the Paint horse on the right. He wants to know everybody. And to know him is to be loved by him.

Sunshine is what’s known as a “pasture pig” ~ he stands around and eats all day. He’s hard to ride for work because he doesn’t like breaking trail; he prefers to follow another horse and stick to a leisurely walking pace.

But Sunshine works in other ways. He brings light and love to those around him. He’s gentle. He’s happy. He loves getting attention and loves giving it. I’ve spent many an hour simply laying on his back, looking at the stars.

When I was riding Houdini regularly (pre-Ranger), I always brought Sunshine along on a lead because he would work himself into a lather if he was left behind (they are brothers, after all). When the three of us traveled the county road, we had to detour at every pasture along the way so that Sunshine could say hello (and sometimes even flirt) with each and every horse we passed.

He and the neighbor’s horse have had hilarious rituals across the fence, mirroring eachother, down to synchronized rolling. Give and take ~ it’s Sunshine’s way. But he’s never been afraid to be the first to give.

The Horses: No.1

Houdini IS horse No.1; Boss, king, head honcho ~ it pulses from his very being. This is the horse who, the first time I rode him, tried to decapitate me by running under the low end of a power pole guy-wire and, once I was off balance from leaning sideways to avoid the wire, started bucking wildly until I flew off. Then he peed on me.

It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Houdini is in his late 20’s, very old for a horse but strong and capable and he had always been Mike’s working horse. Sunshine, Houdini’s younger brother, is an angel but not fit for working ~ he refuses to go anywhere unless he’s following another horse.

Last summer, Houdini went blind in one eye. He spooked too much to ride after that, so Mike got another horse, Kota. Kota was cheap because nobody wanted him; he was young, green, and castrated late so he looks and acts very much like a stallion. Around that time, I was given a young mare, Flicka, by a neighbor who could no longer keep her.

Ranger, Kota, and Flicka became a tight little horse gang while Sunshine and Houdini remained a clique of two. But horses have a hierarchy within their herds, whatever the size, and Houdini, though the toughest, was the oldest and the most disadvantaged and he was beat up, pushed to the edge, and starved out as Kota, Flicka, and Ranger kept him from the hay.

Within weeks, Houdini was skin and bones. He was despondent and often stood alone, away from the others. I took it upon myself to get him back.

I moved him over with Daisy and Sir Baby where he could get special treatment and plenty of food. Horses have a natural air of superiority over cattle and Houdini immediately began bossing around Sir Baby, and nipping at him to keep him away from his food; Sir Baby idolized him in return. This did wonders for Houdini’s ego and general morale, and he regained his status as King of the corrals and looks better than he has in years. He has learned how to work with his blindness and is as comfortable when I’m on his blind side as the other.

Over in the other pasture, Sunshine became the one to be ostracised by The Younger Three. So, I brought him over to join the corral bunch as well ~ he and Houdini have spent their lives together, and deserve to remain together. They have the bulls to boss around and the best living conditions. Ranger, Flicka, and Kota run in the other pasture….. more about them, later.