Kent Maddock was after us for months and months to allow them to acquire Scribbles. If you’ve read the book you cannot help but remember Scribbles. One December Kent called and begged, saying he wanted Scribbles to be a surprise Christmas gift for his wife Laurra.
“Ohhh that’s so sweet,” Kathleen cooed, and my resistance shield was suddenly toast.
Laurra told us it was one of the best Christmases ever. And that made ours even better.
Laurra sent me this photo of Scribbles about an hour ago and it made my day. He is now living the good (and natural) life with Laurra and Kent at their Ortega Mountain Ranch.
Although I loved him dearly (still do) and loved to talk and interact with him (he’s very funny), when it came to time spent, he always lost out to Cash and Mariah (and soon after there would be Mouse and Noelle) and I knew he would be Laurra’s number-one squeeze. Check out their natural boarding ranch where Scribbles now resides, happy as a clam. Again, this photo made my day. He looks gooood! Thank you Laurra.
It always makes my day when Kathleen comes home… especially when she brings her camera. Over Easter weekend she not only brought her camera, she brought her mom Ann and our good friend Rafael Valle offered to treat her with a carriage ride pulled by one of the world’s most famous Tennessee Walkers, Ivory Pal. Famous because he has won major TWH competitions… barefoot and bitless (note the bitless bridle on the carriage rig). Mama (as I call Ann) and moi are in the carriage. Don’t know why Rafael missed being in the shot. There’s a wonderful chapter about Rafael and Pal in Melanie Bowles’ second book Hoofprints – More Stories from Proud Spirit. Ivory Pal’s website: http://www.ivoryknollranch.com/
Ivory Pal and spring flowers, no halter or lead rope,
outside of any fencing. Love it.
While Kathleen and her mom were there I decided to let the horses into the back yard for the first time. Kathleen, every-ready and armed, snapped this photo through the window of Pocket and some old guy. It was a brief experience because I suddenly realized I had not asked the former owners whether or not they had been fertilizing the back yard. We recently discovered that chemical fertilizer is one of the worst things in the world for a horse. Fertilizer has high levels of potassium. When grass becomes stressed for any reason (drought, cold, heat, whatever) it “reaches” for water to preserve life and sucks in a huge amount of potassium to help with the process because potassium attracts water. Horses eating said grass can send their internal potassium levels into the stratosphere causing all sorts of havoc. Dr. Dan (among others) has written an extensive article on the subject. We know our pastures have not been fertilized for at least eight years, but didn’t know about the yards… so back to the pasture went the herd. They hated that :) It was juicy.
I never heard of Ivory Pal here in Aussie until a few days ago when Rafael sent me a facebook friends request. Pal is such a stunning horse and so well trained.
Scribbles sure is a beautiful horse but my favorite is still Mouse..
You and quite a few others. Her light bulbs are definitely ON :)
Oh so sweet, and what a beautiful horse Scribbles is. I’m so glad he is so happy. I was very worried about him leaving you but knew you knew what you were doing.
I believe Scribbles is smiling in that picture! And I’m so jealous that you’re friends with Ivory Pal. I think I have a horse crush on him. He’s so gorgeous!
I’ll pass that on to Pal. He’ll appreciate it :)
What a great photo of Scribbles. I haven’t read your book yet, so don’t know the story about him, but that photo is a story in it’s self.
Thanks for sharing.
Nancy, Nancy, Nancy… you must if only to get up to date of Scribbles :) But yes it is a story in itself. You’re right. He’s so much calmer and with himself now than he was with us. Don’t know if it was me, or the other horses. But is you go to their website you’ll see Sophie who gelding Scribbled has gone head over heels for :)
Beautiful!