I spent most of today spreading the final windrow of compost on one of our south pastures, making multiple trips with the tractor and manure spreader from the compost "yard" behind Lena's Barn to the pasture. On each trip I would drive through the pasture where two of our old guys, blind Blue and blind Shasta, have been hanging out for the past couple of months. By late this afternoon, they had begun dozing off, catching the last of the sunshine as they napped.
I took this photo of Blue and Shasta on my final run with the spreader about 5:30 p.m. That's Blue on the left and Shasta on the right. (They look like a matched pair, don't they?) Now, one of the nice things about blind horses is that you can leave gates open as you come and go ... and they won't go bolting out and down the drive. So all day I left both gates into their pasture open as I drove in and out with the tractor to reach the far pasture where I was spreading.
This was the first summer we could actually leave Blue out to graze around the clock. When he first came to us from the U.S. Forest Service a couple of years ago, he was so obese we had to keep him confined in the corral so we could maintain him on a strict diet. Slowly the weight came off, and late this summer -- once the grass had browned out and the protein content diminished -- we were able to turn Blue and his buddy Shasta out to pasture and let them spend the fall grazing all they want.
(Click on photo for larger image.)
I hope I look as good at these guys when I'm old! They are quite striking. Looks like a great day to be eating and catching some sunshine.
Posted by: Leilani | October 30, 2006 at 10:12 AM
Blue and Shasta are quite handsome fellows who are out enjoying the brisk air of autumn! Great photo of them enjoying their retirement!
Posted by: Nina | October 29, 2006 at 09:14 PM
I would be hard pressed to tell Blue from Shasta, but I'm sure you have your ways. That's a nice photo of them having a peaceful time on the RDR together.
Hugs all around,
ginger & Tobias
Posted by: ginger & Tobias (the greythound) | October 28, 2006 at 10:08 PM
That is such a beautiful shot. I'm so happy Blue and Shasta are such good companions.
Posted by: Roz | October 28, 2006 at 08:57 AM