It’s hard to believe that Carson will be 2 in April. Time has gone by so fast and I haven’t updated his life for quite some time. Carson is still Carson. In to everything he can get into and wreaking havoc everywhere he goes.
Carson was moved out to live with the big herd of mustangs in hopes to have him learn not only some manners from the leaders, but some mustang ways since he was born in captivity and raised by hand. Nope. Didn’t work. Carson managed to anger the older gelding leaders by playing rougher than they cared for and challenging them to romps over & over. He’s settled to rearing and playing with Princess from time to time – another young mare from his original herd – as well as with Brian. Stormy has no time for him and with the pin of the ears and a quick snap of a hind hoof, Carson submits. He does have a special bond with Sugar, our first mustang mare, and she tolerates him well. He’s allowed to bite on her for just so long, though.
Although being moved to the open areas, Carson still manages to get in to places he shouldn’t. He has no regard for hot wire. It’s just a nuisance. He and Brian have managed to take down the New Zealand fencing, again, at the top of the hill, and can be seen eating side by side with the cows and forgetting how to get back out the way they came in. Those 2 are our bobsy twins of terror! However, Carson has learned to come up the back stairwell now to get back into the driveway and hasn’t taught Brian the secret passage, yet. In the middle of the night we are more times than not awaken to the dogs throwing a fit at the fence. Too tired to get up, or too cold, we usually just let Carson be until morning. Not always a good idea. We still keep Sr & Emma (grandma & grandpa) in a stall in the hay barn across the drive because Sr has had a couple more TIA’s (mini strokes) and it’s easier to monitor him. However, Carson feels his security with them, regardless of his age, and wants to be where they are. We have also had to bring Pawnee and Josie in and made a 2nd stall for them because Josie – my retired drill team mare/Appy – has uveitis and is going blind, and Pawnee is still having issues from his cancer. They are a couple, so that makes things easier. Pawnee and Carson are best friends now. Pawnee has always loved the younger horses and it seems to calm him when Carson is in, despite the Carson activity.

Carson (left) and Pawnee
Last week the dogs were doing their usual “Carson’s in the driveway” barking while I was busy on the phone. I looked out the window but didn’t see him in his usual spot at the front gate so I finished my call and went back to work. The dogs started again and this time I went outside to see where HE was. Standing outside the tack room (where Carson was raised) was Josie, eagerly waiting for something – usually treats. But, Tom wasn’t home so I knew immediately what that meant! Carson had opened the door to the tack room and had gone inside. He was busy pulling all the drawers out of the cabinets and throwing things around the room. 2 bags of treats stood opened and handfuls were strewn across the floor. One “Carson!” and he was popping his head out looking at me with those big innocent eyes. Didn’t take him long to jump down the 3 stairs and trot over to me.
We have been taking the blankets off the horses as it warms, and hanging them on the fence close to the house so I can begin cleaning them and putting them away for summer. It never fails. Every morning we have to pick the blankets back up off the ground where Carson has pulled them down to either lay on them or just make a mess. My vote is for the latter. Day before yesterday when Tom went out to feed, ALL the lead ropes that we tie to the panels for easy access had been untied and strewn from one end of the driveway to the other. There is just about nothing this guy can do!
As the weather warms a little longer and the round pen and training pen dry, Kindergarten starts. Carson, Brian, Stormy, April and Little Gray will all begin school shortly. My arm is almost completely healed and I’m so looking forward to teaching these guys some ground manners. Storm & Brian will start under saddle this year as well.
Today is a new day. The sun is out. The 3 muskateers have eaten and are off somewhere (Carson, Brian, Storm) and it’s time to turn the old ladies back onto the hill. As much of a monster Carson is, he’s our monster that wasn’t suppose to survive.
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