Linda's show and tell... meet Tony!

[Chrisnstar]

I loff him!

[linda]

Thanks, Chris!
Tony is a 27 year old Peruvian Paso--about 12 hands, 550 pounds--who mows our lawn and gives rides to visiting little kids. He is every bit the gentleman and as kind as he looks. He lives on the lawn with his own run-in and buckets of Equine Senior and soaked beet pulp for his eating pleasure. Tony had a very hard life before coming to live with us in August of 2000. Thanks to lots of great farrier work by none other than Gene Ovnicek (Natural Balance) and lots of high-powered joint supplement from Equine Recovery, Tony is probably more pain-free than he has been in years. He gallops around, bucks and rears and lays down for long naps in the sun. He is a happy boy. He does a great job on our lawn. We only have to get a gas-powered mower and trimmer out about once a month to even things up. Everyone should be so fortunate to have a great horse like this one in their lives. Tony has two horse buddies--but only Tony gets to live on the lawn! Linda

[Chrisnstar]

What a wonderful guy! Doesn't it do your heart good to see them come back and enjoy life again? That's the way I feel about Szybki.

chris

[Mary Ann]

Now there's a grand old gentleman! Has his job always been lawnmower?

He makes me think of my dear old mare Penny. She passed away a few weeks ago, at the age of 29. She couldn't be lawnmower because she only had six of her original 24 molars left, but she taught colts how to be respectful members of the herd. She was very wise, and very dignified, in spite of her many infirmities.

I miss her so much sometimes I can hardly stand it.

[linda]

Tony spent his early life as a saddle horse. He impressed all who knew him for his dependability and willingness to put everything into his work. I originally looked at him when he was 14, but felt that they wanted too much money for him. More money than I had at that time. But somehow I could never forget him. He got sold a couple of times and ended up back where I had first looked at him. During the Montana fires in 2000, I called to see if my friends who lived there were doing okay. They were. I mentioned that I had never forgotten about Tony and many times had wished that I would have taken him home. Well, they made me a deal I couldn't refuse.... Unfortunately, my friends had too many horses and too little money. My husband thought Tony would never make it through the first winter. I never had any doubts--one look in his eyes told me everything I ever needed to know. Every year this guy looks better.

I was told he would never make a kid's horse--way to much get-up-and-go. He is so gentle with the little kids. He stops if they even so much as get off balance. No one ever rides him without my presence--and usually with my hanging onto a 12 foot lead rope while the kids hold the "reins" on the halter. If you ask him to go, he goes. Obviously not quite what some kids need. But Tony just listens to me and sort of ignores what doesn't seem to be appropriate cues for movement. It all works out.

Tony's teeth are great. And right now he is a fat little pig. But, there isn't any better way to send an old horse into winter than with lots of insulation.

He is a very wise old guy and an absolute joy to have around. It took a long time to convince him that no one and nothing was going to hurt him ever again. But now he believes.
Linda

[Mary Ann]

What a sweet story, Linda! It's true that the old ones are the most dear. I totally understand why you would want to give this lovely gentleman a comfy life. God bless you for making his sunset years such a pleasure.

(((((HUGS)))))