Wednesday - 7/29/09

Not much to update about, Bonito is doing great. Since it's so hot out here I havn't been able to ride as much, but I plan on ponying Bonito behind Romeo tonight. I hope Romeo doesn't get too annoyed, after all, we had the mini trailing after us the whole time we rode last night! The poor guy was getting so tired but still trooped on! They both got a well deserved bath after our brief workout though.

(Will add some pictures later)

Wednesday - 7/22/09

Today I bathed the dude for awhile, scrubbing until he ALMOST looked black again! Only you can't wash his faded coat to reveal a new, glossy, sparkly one. Wish I could! Well, after his bath I turned him out in the pasture, it's been bone dry out here, so no chance of him getting dirty, right? WRONG! When we came back he he COVERED in mud! Don't ask me how, but he managed to do it!

Also I learned a valuable bit of information about him! He's very protective of his food! Yes, you'd think I would have realized this when seeing him try to kill the donkey and dogs for coming up to him while he was eating, but I didn't! Nope, I gave him his food, walked around him and I was a bit shocked when I was somehow hitting the back of his stall! Turns out I was too close for his hooves to reach me, and he didn't put a mark on me, but it is nerve racking knowing that he will kick!

(Remember to click the picture for a larger view, he's getting pretty photogenic!)

Wednesday - 7/15/09

Today me and my mom went on a late trail ride to Brazos Bend State Park, but you can read all about that on her blog, I guess! When we got back it was already dark, so I couldn't do much with Bonito, though tomorrow I plan on leading him around the arena while on Romeo to give him some much needed exercise! But tonight all I did was hose him off, brush him a little bit then turned him out in the pasture for the night.



I don't know what it is about him, but I just absolutely love him. He just has the prettiest face, the look in his eyes just reminds me of a sad puppy from the pound. I don't know how to describe him, like when he's being rude and you correct him he just looks. . I don't know, sad! Its just like he's given up. I'm no professional about this, and he may not be sad, he has no reason to be! Like I said, I just don't know. But I do know that he is just adorable!

Sunday - 7/12/09

Well, we went and got Bonito and it was HOT. Funny how every time we go there they are always on the other side! We thought that we would have to get Dusty to come rope him for us, he was very skittish about us touching him, and he didn't trust my mom anymore after she tried to slip the halter on him! But we did get the halter on him eventually, and walked all the way back to the barn. He's actually very responsive when being led, you'd think he'd be wild after spending so much time with so little contact, but I think he may have gotten better!


I also measured him, and he is 14.2 hands, it'll be interesting to record his growth, I wish I had thought of it when we first got him. But after a quick bath and playing with his long mane (Gotta love it!) we turned him out in the pasture for the night, since he'll be staying in during the day. He doesn't need to get any more faded, he's almost all white!

Wednesday - 7/8/09

Well, we are officially bringing Bonito back today- later this evening, to be exact! Me and my mom stopped by his pasture to get a look at him, and my god! He is officially not black anymore. . He's somewhere between a grulla and bay! It's scary, really. Not to mention I did not think it was possible for a horse to get that FAT in a couple weeks. It's not just a grass belly, his ribs are completely gone! It's hard to think he was the scrawny little rescue just before we left for vacation. My mom seemed to sum it up by not calling him fat, nope, he's morbidly obese!
Check back later tonight for some pictures, and updates!

Monday - 6/6/09

Well, I plan on bringing Bonito back to the barn soon, even though my mom insists he's happier there, roaming the acres like the wild boy he is! Romeo took a beating from another horse when he was at the trainer's while we were out of town, so I haven't been able to ride, though I guess since my mom doesn't have a horse we couldn't go on any trail rides anyways! Speaking of her horse, she bought a mare online, and she is being shipped down here! She should be here in the late afternoon or early tomorrow morning.

And you bet I'm exited about getting Bonito back, I can only imagine how sun burnt and faded he is. .

Wednesday - 6/24/09

Still on vacation, still without Bonito! We have someone watching and feeding him in that big pasture he's in, though with all that grass that is in some places taller than he is, I don't see how he'll need it! I plan on grabbing lots of shampoo and conditioner when I get back and giving him a big bath, I'm sure he'll need it!

I also made a new picture thing for this, there isn't much to do here when it's high tide and midnight!

Thursday - 6/12/09

Since we are going on vacation for two week in Fripp Island, South Carolina we decided since Romeo was going off to a trainer that we needed to do something with Bonito. Behind our barn, there's a big, over grown pasture (The grass is as tall as ME in some places!) and with a couple phone calls we were able to stow Bonito away there for the two weeks we will be gone. Though he won't be alone! He will be living with 4 longhorn calves and another horse. I wish I could just squeeze him in the crowded truck and take him with us!

Sunday - 6/7/09

Today I worked Bonito in the round pen since he's not as poor as he was three weeks ago, and he does need a little muscle along with fat to even himself out. He picked everything up real quick, and after awhile took his mind off the grass! I think a little of that every day can really do alot for him!

After a short workout, I decided to give him a little bath. Little did I know the little bath would turn into a big bath! When I was done with him his white was whiter than it had ever been before, even his legs, which I thought were stained like that until he completely shed his old coat, but I was wrong! He's still a little faded, but I think come next spring we'll notice a big change in his coat with all the groceries we have been pouring into him! I got all the caramel color out of his tail, too, which I was really happy about. I bet if you had wiped your finger across him, it would've squeaked- he was that clean!

Friday - 6/5/09

I ponied Bonito behind Romeo today (Well, not TODAY, but I'm a little late on my postings!), and they both did really well. Though, Bonito was a little fast at first, going ahead of Romeo alot, and he did get a little exited and take off running once, but after that little number he did fine, and stayed at a good place behind/beside Romeo while walking and trotting. He's a very willing little guy!

Wednesday - 6/3/09

Well, me, my mom, Kirby, and Tara went on a trail ride today at the 7IL Ranch, but poor little Bonito had to stay home. Romeo did really well with everything from jumping random objects to going for a swim, though this blog isn't really about him, is it? Anyways, I hope to take Bonito on a trail ride behind our house and just pony him behind Romeo, since neither of them showed any problems doing it in the arena AND my mom has a new three horse trailer! I've attached some pictures of him in the pasture, and a picture of him and my sister from tonight.

As for his weight and everything he has really made some progress. I think he's getting a little taller, too! He's really filling out nicely, and I think he's going to be a pretty stocky little guy once he gets a little fatter and some muscles on him! As for his height I'm sure he'll never reach his full potential, I'm thinking he'll be pretty much stunted. But who knows, I hope he can get big and tall!

Saturday - 5/30/09

Well, as I was grooming Bonito, my mom started to dump feed. Bonito started getting antsy and moving around in the cross ties, but he wasn't about to go eat acting like that. I have to groom my horses a lot, and Bonito will soon figure out the correct way to stand in the cross ties.
Anyways, while I was toying with his mane he started walking forward (As if to his stall?). Well, when the cross ties let him go no further, his back feet kept going, and he ended up rearing straight up into the air. I was frozen, and my mom was too far away to do anything. Luckily he landed on all fours, though the wrong way. I quickly pulled the quick release snaps and untangled him. But he didn't move any more in the cross ties after that! I guess he had to learn the hard way!
(No picture today. . . I better learn to pull out my camera faster!!)

Thursday - 5/28/09

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile, I've been busy with my finals this week, but the good news is that tomorrow is the last day of school! Whoopee!! Which means more time to bathe Bonito, whom has found an irritating likeness to getting muddy out in the pasture. I guess all the horses out there are forever cursed to pick on the newest horse there, because they have switched their attention from Romeo to Bonito! Poor little guy. . Though Bonito has taken a liking to Romeo, because the little guy trails behind him like his very own shadow! Wherever Romeo is, just look behind him and there Bonito will be, peeking over at you!

Sunday - 5/24/09

Two weeks! It's been two whole weeks since Bonito has arrived at our barn! 14 days! Well, it was rainy here today, so not much celebrating to do, but it's special all the same! It hasn't been long since the many trailers and homes he had been to, but I think he knows that he's here for good. The picture attatched is when he first stepped off the trailer, and into his new life!

Saturday - 5/23/09

I got around to giving Bonito another bath today! He has a little bit of old hair on his back legs still, some rain rot, and maybe a little bit of fungus, but other than that he's looking like a whole new horse! Though while I was lathering some soap on him it was just heartbreaking to feel his ribs still poking out. He's still a little wary of the water, and got a little antsy at times, and not to mention found some horse across the street to scream to the whole time, but all-in-all did very well!

After our bath I went ahead and turned him out in the pasture. He got a little confused about the electric fence, but he figured it out quickly! He

also got to meet Skittles, Secret, and Vegas, my mom's horse. He seemed to like Vegas more than the others, though. He did not, however, like Odin (He's actually a Frisian). After I brought him in I saw that he had a long, nasty scratch on him, and Odin had been chasing him around the pasture. . . Poor guy! (Don't forget to click on the pictures to enlarge them!)

Thursday - 5/21/09

Me and my mom went and got a new saddle. It's actaully very nice, only black! Oh darn, I guess I'll just have to go buy some new tack! Anyways, while I was trying it out on Romeo, and Bonito was happily munching away on some hay in the arena, I had a little idea for him to get a workout. . .

He was alittle confused at first, but he got the hang of it! After acouple laps of walking I got Romeo into a trot, and after almost being pulled off Romeo, Bonito finally figured out what to do! Him and Romeo both trotted very calmly, and did very good!

Tuesday - 5/19/09

I just found a cool little gadget, and thought it'd be good to put it up here. It's a little poll, just to get an idea of what everyone thinks!

Monday - 5/18/09

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile!








Though nothing has changed too much, only Bonito is slowly starting to look better and better every day! I can tell he's feeling good, too! I wish I could post a video of him, but my phone won't let me send it because it has 'exceeded the maximum file size'.. Maybe I can find a cord or something to hook it up with?





Other than Romeo, Bonito also got to meet another member of out barn, Dooney! If you read my mom's blog you probably know him, but if not...



He's our mini donkey!

I've also attached a video of me playing with him.. I just think it's too funny not to share!

Thursday - 5/14/09

We did some walking around to help with the swelling from being gelded. Wednesday we gave him a shot of penicillin, and that brought the swelling down a whole lot. After walking over a pole or two, and walking a barrel pattern that was set up in the arena for fun so neither of us would get bored, and even a little bit of some in-hand trotting, we took a break and retired at the wash rack, where he enjoyed a good brushing. (No, that is not someone sitting on a round bale taking the picture, that is actually Kadi, my friend whom was sitting on her horse taking the pictures, and that would happen to be JR's forelock!)

I also took out his braids, which were getting rather messy, and couldn't help but take a picture of his long, curly locks! His coat is shedding out very nicley, and the doubts of him being a grulla, and not black, have been proved wrong!

BTW: Once agian, you can click the pictures to get a bigger view.

Tuesday - 5/12/09

After a quick grooming and fly spraying Bonito got to meet Romeo out in the arena (Away from other horse's teeth and hooves!). They got along really well! (You can see the full pictures once you click them.)










He loves his hay!

Sunday - 5/10/09

He did really well in the wash rack, and let me bathe him and let me get his face wet with the hose, which is something I can't do with Vegas or Romeo!

After our bath we learned all about the cross-ties, and he stood very patiently while I brush him off and braided his tail, mane, and forelock. The fly spray & coat conditioner wern't a problem, either!