Shoveling Poo Really Is Awesome!

While The Dude On A Horse was working with Rookie I had about 45 minutes before I needed to pick up Ty so I began mucking out the stalls. I was able to do Deans, Johns, Old Yellers, Rookies, and started Fords. Ed and the kids think I'm crazy for liking to do it, but I actually really enjoy it. One, it's a great work out and two it's just fun working with these big guys! Even shoveling their poop! They each have different personalities. Some just ignore me, others constantly nudge me or try to chew on my hair. I can tell whose grumbling and we have all kinds of humorous chit chats and almost all of them come up to me for their kiss on their forehead. Ford kills me because he wants to kiss me on the mouth but I draw the line there!!! Old Yeller was soooo funny tonight, he kept moving so I had to go the long way around each time with my shovel of poo! I think he was just trying to keep me in there as long as possible! Stormin' Normin was just all kinds of talking tonight! I think he was upset I started at the other end and never made it to him!!! I think he's the biggest. He used to scare me, but not anymore, he's just a big sweetheart 😍

But I just LOVE these guys!!! Wish I would have had time to get all their stalls cleaned out but I'm not super fast and they are always distracting me!!!

Old Yeller finally moved over to the side when I was done!!!! He loves for me to sing to him.

John plopped down when I finished his stall. I wonder if I will ever be able to plop down next to them....? I soooo wanted to sit in front of his face, but I don't think we are there yet....lol

Ford puts his head down for me to kiss him, but then he starts coming at me to kiss me back!!! He cracks me up! When I am out in the pen with him and call him he will follow me wherever I go. I just LOVE him!!! 😍

Sgt. York

I fell in love with this horse when we were at Ft Myers. We were in and out of the stables often feeding, checking on the horses, and taking them out of their stalls to walk around.  The Army has several horses, alot more than the Marines have, but they need a larger number due to the services they do just at Arlington alone. There are 4 Platoons of horses. The Platoons are either all white or all black. One Platoon is always gone. Each platoon gets a one week liberty pass to go to pasture each month and run around and be a horse! Lucky for me Sgt York wasn't on liberty. Since Sgt York wasn't on liberty i was able to spend quite a bit of time with him. He always poked his head out when i came by so i would stop and we would have some good chit chats. He thought he should chew on my hair while we were having these awesome discussions though.....Sgt York has some pretty incredible history. I loved his original name to start with. He came to the Army as a race horse who had slowed down and was not considered a winner anymore. His name was All Aboard Jules. Yep, that name just did NOT blend in with the other names in the stables so he had a name change to Sgt York. Being a race horse the guys at the stable weren't exactly sure what Sgt York's job was going to be. They decided to see how he would do with some mock combat training. The soldiers fired machine guns from his back and threw grenades along side him and he basically didn't even blink. Sgt York had secured himself a job! He is most famously known for being the riderless horse for President Reagan. He had Reagan's boots in the stirrups, turned backwards and made the famous walk seen around the world.  We talked about that day. I told him i watched him from Okinawa and that i thought he had done a beautiful job and he was a darn special horse to have had that honor for President Reagan.  I might have some better pictures of him on my real camera. The lighting in the stables isn't the greatest and the sun coming in reflecting off of everything made it hard to get some crisp pictures. But these are on my phone and i am blogging from my phone right now....But he is a beautiful horse. 

Sgt York is also a fun horse with a sense of humor. Sticking out his tongue at me when i told him my hair was off limits! My hair must really resemble hay....all the horses kept trying to lick and nibble on my head!

The Biggest Army Horse Home

This isn't the Army's biggest horse. Their biggest horse is enjoying his week out to pasture this week running around being a horse but this was their biggest horse at the stable. He was as gentle as could be.  Every time we came in he always put his head out and wanted to socialize. Ed loved him.

Stay Out of the Commuter Lane!

I got a nice little ticket in the mail.....looks like The Dude in Cammies rode in the special lane when he was driving to his sisters house. I made this funny little collage for him.....hahahahahahaha, i crack myself up! 

It's Dark Jeans Today

The Dude In Cammies has to wear these shirts when he is off to different events with his horse and than he changes into his Cammies or Blues pending what the event is when they get there. His shirts are different colors. I guess they are wearing black today so he is in dark jeans....something I have not seen in a LONG time!!!! I think it's a Blues event today and he won't be riding his blonde, Chue, but will be riding Dean, a brunette. We had much teasing in the texting banter while he was at the stables early this morning getting ready to go to San Juan Capistrano. I just love that he has finally caved and takes selfies for me!

Good Morning From Chue

The Dude in Cammies had to be at the stables early this morning, well not SUPER early, but kinda early, 4 am early, so at 7 am right when i was arriving at work i got my good morning picture form The Dude in Cammies, but it wasn't The Dude in Cammies, it was Chue!!!  He is soooo cute!!!  I can't wait to give him a big ole hug!!!  The Dude in Cammies has to ride him in a ceremony today at Camp Pendleton so they had to load up the horses and leave early to get out there for the event. He has a parade he has to ride in Saturday or maybe Friday and than the first Rodeo starts up pretty soon he will be doing.....he and Chue are VERY busy!!!! I am hoping he will send me pictures!!!! He needs me there to take pictures!!!! Well, for other things too.....but definitely has his camera person with all the events he is always off to!!! 

Meet Chue

This is Chue, The Dude in Cammies practice horse for now.  A chunk of the horses are gone right now on color guard in Texas and than heading to New Orleans before coming back to base, so The Dude in Cammies is practicing with the Trainer on Chue. Chue reminds him of Jasper. I think he looks like Jasper too, even his eyes!  They did some fast riding today and when Ed came back the Trainer told him to get off the horse. Ed asked why.  The Trainer told him he had done perfect and to get off before something went wrong.  So, he got off and took Chue into the stables to brush him and do the rest of the things he does after he finishes up with his daily training.  He really likes being out at the stables and working with the horses......i think i would like to be doing that too.....