Even though it’s only been 2 years that Ebony has been with us, it feels much longer, she is such a fixture in our family and in the barn. I can’t imagine what life was like without her! The girls love her and I hope the life lessons having animals that they are responsible for will help set them up to be good, hard workers later in life.
Ebony is no spring chicken anymore, I think she must be about 18 now, hard to say what her life span will be, she does have a bit of a health issue but she’s doing just fine otherwise. She’s a hardy little rig, she much prefers to be standing outside no matter the weather even when she has a nice dry stall to go to. It’s pretty common to find her, butt to the wind, in the middle of rain, wind or snow. If you do close the back barn door, she is certainly unimpressed and doesn’t mind letting you know.
Lena has taken over ownership of Ebony and Hannah has her flock of sheep. But, really, Ebony owns the sheep and loves them dearly, especially the ram we have here to breed the mommas so that there will be babies this spring. We had to trim Shrek’s { the borrowed ram } feet and so we locked him the sheep pen and locked everyone else outside, and man, oh man, was Ebony worked up!! She pranced around the paddock, tossing her head, coming up to the window and being very clear she wanted her Shrek let out!
Last spring, if she was not in the same field as the sheep, Ebony was very unsettled. When we put the sheep out to pasture, they would stay there but all the rich grass is too much for Ebony, so we move her to the paddock behind the barn each night. And she hates it. She wants to be with her sheep and their babies. Horses and ponies tend to be social animals and will bond with other animals, even if they are from another species. And Ebony certainly has grown attached to her sheep!
I’m not sure if it’s the same at your house with nicknames, but our animals also have a few. Ebony gets called ‘E’, Bebby, Bebs, Bebbertons. And of course, EBONY!!! when she’s being sassy….not that a pony would ever be sassy….. { insert HUGE eye roll } Can you tell she has a big personality for a little pony?
I love taking pictures of her, she’s got such wild and woolly hair!! She grows a thick, heavy coat in the winter but her mane and forelock are crazy no matter the time of year. It gives her such character. I’m not sure how she sees and the black on black makes it hard to photograph her, but I try anyway. She’s pretty cute.
Happy Gotcha Day, Bebbs, we love you tons and are so thankful to have you in our lives!!
Colourfully yours,
Lori
