Ike has been with me now for almost 9 months.  Time flies by before you know it.  I know there is still much to learn about my boy and as we progress to harder and harder concepts, I’m sure there will be bumps in the road.  Webster’s dictionary defines a truism as,” An undoubted or self-evident truth; a statement which is pliantly true; a proposition needing no proof or argument.”  There are a few things that I already know for certain about him:

1) If the giraffe neck can reach it, it will end up in his mouth.  Things such as his halter, lead rope, fly mask, fly spray, brushes get tossed down the aisle.   Luckily, I was able to retrieve the camera from his mouth before it went flying.

2) If he can reach it with his mouth, he will gum it up.  There are teeth marks on his halter and chicken wire over the light switch to prevent the game, “lights on, lights off, lights on, lights off.”

2) He does not yet know his own strength, but I’m not complaining.  We are all in trouble if he realizes he is BIGGER than everyone else and decides to use that fact against us.  With the slightest of push, he broke this snap like it was a toothpick.

3) Ike will practically grab the bit to put it in his mouth.  Doesn’t hurt that he knows a peppermint will follow.  Had to do something to keep the head low.  I can’t reach high enough if the giraffe neck is fully extended.

4) Three year old horses do not yet have proprioception (body part awareness) and will place large hooves on owner’s feet and not know and/or care.  Screaming does not help.

5) Nothing from Cigar fits Ike.  Blankets, trailer, bridle, bit, girth?  All too small.  The saddle is next.  I am not pleased, but my friend A is (the saddle fits her horse).

6) He likes to create a depression in the middle of his stall to make me feel even shorter.

7) He does not like black licorice.  I cannot blame him.

8) Ike likes to sniff my head when I wrap his front legs.  Maybe it is the strawberry scented hairspray.

9) Just like his owner, Ike can trip on a perfectly flat surface while moving at a relatively slow pace.

10) Ike is a gem and I love him dearly.

Lots to do with only 12 days to go: Confirm trailer loading, trim the goat hairs that escaped beauty day, farrier visit, saddle fitting appointment, multiple lessons, clean tack, and make sure show pants still fit (always the least favorite task).