Thank you to everyone who has posted or emailed us such wonderful sentiments about Roy and Scout. We really appreciate it! I wanted to let you know that Roy is doing better. Last night, about 8 p.m., Alayne and I looked out the living room window and were startled to see Roy had made his way down to the sighted horse corral. This is about 100 yards from Beauty's Barn, and thus the first sign -- and a very healthy one -- that he was starting to explore again.
I got the camera and walked out to take the photo above of Roy greeting a couple of the sighted horses. The white horse is Lilah and Blueberry is behind her. Since Roy arrived last summer, he had only been with Scout and the other blind horses who live at Beauty's Barn. So I think he was a bit surprised to notice that, holy smokes, there are some horses at the ranch who can actually see!
We would never put Roy in with our small herd of sighted horses because they would, sad to say, chase him around and pick on him. And given his rickety and creaky old joints, that's the last thing he needs. I think that thought was crossing Roy's mind just about the time I took the photo, because the greeting lasted only a minute or two and then he wandered through that open gate and made his way back down to Beauty's Barn. This morning when I went out to feed, I found him standing in the barn aisle again, outside Scout's stall. But we were pleased to see him venture that far afield last night.
I send lot's of virtual hugs to Ol' Roy. I grew up in a rural area of Snohomish county, WA and know how mules can be bullied if they are the only one of their kind in the herd. He must have basked in the warmth of a good friend, one that he no longer knows where his friend is. I'm glad he ventured out from the barn. It must be such a confusing time for him. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Posted by: Shelli Smith | May 21, 2008 at 08:31 PM
I am soooo sorry for you loss, again. I can't usually get it together to write, I just can't find the right words. But, I also don't ever want you guys to not know how many peoples lives you brighten with your "friends", and how your loss is our loss too.
You have quite a crowd at the Rainbow Bridge.....Love, Jo
Posted by: Joanne Gura | May 21, 2008 at 05:43 AM
Hugs to Roy. My heart goes out to him.
Posted by: yoonamaniac | May 20, 2008 at 08:53 PM
I've shed many, many tears on thoughts of you and Alayne(AGAIN!), but most especially Roy. How do you explain your puffy, swollen, bloodshot eyes to your co-workers and customers? It's something about an old mule that I have never met on a ranch in I'm not exactly sure where in Montana who just lost his best friend, a blind horse. But it makes perfect sense to me and to everyone else who reads your blogs. So very glad to hear that Roy is ever so slowly gathering himself and hopefully beginning to move on, although I sense Scout was the kind of pal one never fully moves on from. So very grateful for all your blogs, Steve and Alayne. Even when my heart breaks reading them, they are always something I look forward to most in my days and I appreciate your time in keeping us all current on the happenings there at RDR. As with some of the others readers, please give Roy and extra hug and pat from me, OK?
Posted by: Carolyn Kupferschmid | May 20, 2008 at 06:35 PM
Good for Roy, taking the chance to greet the ladies, even if they won't give him the time of day. I hope it won't be long before he finds another buddy to pal around with.
Posted by: Moon Rani | May 20, 2008 at 08:51 AM
Good to hear Roy is doing a little better. Our hearts go out to him.
Posted by: Karen | May 20, 2008 at 08:18 AM
Good to hear Roy is making a little progress already. I hope he can find a new friend but Scout will never be replaced in his heart or yours. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time.
Posted by: Katie in NC | May 20, 2008 at 06:55 AM
I know a little about horses and nothing about mules, but why would horses pick on him so much? The same reaction is in the original post about Scout & Roy meeting, does it have something do to with a different body language maybe? And does anybody know of two other closely related species behaving this way (exept for dogs and cats ofcourse, but they are really different ;-))?
Anyway, I'm happy that he's doing better!
Posted by: Jessica, NL | May 20, 2008 at 12:48 AM
This is so sad...the one who is left behind.
Posted by: Cora | May 19, 2008 at 11:06 PM
This truly breaks my heart! Please keep us posted on Roy--I'll be looking for update!
Posted by: Shirley & James, Portland, OR | May 19, 2008 at 10:15 PM
This is good news...but it will certainly be a long road ahead for Roy. My thoughts and prayers are with you and him.
Posted by: maggie | May 19, 2008 at 04:10 PM