Portrait of a Pony - Calm

Portrait of a Pony - Calm

Do you like my portrait Muleteers?  Man Human found me having a little snooze in my stable over the weekend after my delightful bath and snapped me with his clicky electronic thing.  FH is beside herself with my beauty (who wouldn't be?!)
Apparently this photograph shows off my most handsome of features, my calmness.  When all others are losing their heads I remain calm.  I do not believe in fuss and bother (I am British you know...) and although I can raise a canter and a buck just as well as anyone else I would rather not waste my energy.  I like to sleep, eat, snuffle, sunbathe, sleep some more, groom my friends, go for picnic walks and enjoy the sun on my back.  Such lovely calm pursuits. 


When you live a life of love and happiness calmness is a normal way of being so here is quote for today:


Remain calm, serene, always in command of yourself.  You will then find out how easy it is to get along.
Paramahansa Yogananda

I send you calming snuffles, neighs and eau de pony (breathe deep it is good for the soul) for your weekend ahead - Yours Calmly - Roller xxxx
 

Mini Mule 1 Midges 0

Mini Mule 1 Midges 0

Dearest Muleteers, it is nearly the end of May and I have an important announcement!  The midges have been around for months now and I am definitely winning the war against them :-)  In previous years I have been itching so badly by this time of year that my mane is looking shabby and I am in a constant itchy, scratchy state.


Not this year!  This year I am wearing this season's most fashionable mini mule attire!  After gracefully testing the seams of my Boett rug (oops... the seams are no match for a mini mule) and tearing it in two I was made to wear my 'spare' itch stop rug called a Pagony.  This was ok as it's lovely and soft.... unfortunately FH had got one that was a bit too big (it was a bargain she tells me), apparently it was only supposed to be for overnight wear while my Boett was being washed, double oops!  My Boett has been sent for mending and look what came in the post!



A lovely BRAND NEW (we're normally big on second hand in this house so this is momentous....) Pagony sweet itch rug in chocolate brown.  Just for me!  And it was the right size too! They make them in mini mule size - hooray!

My shield of steel!

This lovely rug is my shield of steel against those pesky midges!  FH and I are so pleased because it fits really well and is lovely and soft.  I've been told I must keep it in one piece though as being on my third rug in three months is a bit expensive, I know FH doesn't mind though, she'd rather spend her money on me that anything else..... it just means she doesn't spend money on pointless things like posh clothes, haircuts and make up for herself!  Who needs that in the countryside?

My new rug is so lovely and comfortable that I am now living in it with only occasional days in my birthday suit when the midges aren't around.  Tonight was divine!  There was a strong breeze and no midges so while Dragon went out for a ride I had my rug off and Roller and I got down to some serious grooming.  It's so nice having a mini friend to scratch with :-)

It's especially nice to have a friend that can reach the spots you can't, even back legs need a groom too!

After all that grooming and scratching it must be time for bed.  Come on FH time to put my pyjamas back on please!

Minis' First Bath

Roller's first bath!

Mini mules do not normally mix well with water.  So I watched with horror as FH started to dowse my partner in crime with water and then this soapy stuff until he looked half the pony he was before.  FH said that this was Roller's first bath ever and was to try and help him shed his coat (he looks errm a little moth eaten at the moment).  Roller was so very brave and seemed to be enjoying the attention and wasn't scared of the hose-snake thing.



He kept telling me it felt sooo good to get all the itchy bits out of his coat and he got a massage at the same time..... FH even washed his mane and tail and put conditioner on and everything.  Roller fell in to a bit of a trance!

Then it was time for the rinsing, must get all those bubbles out otherwise Roller may look a little silly on the next rainy day.  Then Roller started to show off, 'look how handsome I am Mini!  FH thinks I look like the handsomest boy in the family.  I'm a show pony don't you know?'

Handsomest Mini Pony!

This was not good.  What if FH loved Roller the best because he gleamed and smelt nice?  But I can't have a bath, I'm too scared and it might hurt me..... But Roller survived so I'll just stand here and watch a bit more....  Wait FH no I can't possibly cope with the snake thing and water.  

OK we can start with a little bit of water on my shoulder... and then a bit more.... oooo and some bubbly stuff.... and then some massaging.  Do you know what? I quite like this bath thing!  I've never had one in all my mule years but I think I could get used to this.  I like it that you haven't tied me up FH and are using a little cup rather than the snakey thing, I can leave if I want to but actually I would rather stay here at the Mini Salon.

The sun is so nice and that feels so good, all itchy and scratchy and delightfully cooling.  Ah!  Bliss!  Don't mind me if I fall asleep for a while

Oh my mule FH you really are giving me the full wash treatment aren't you, I wasn't too sure about the wash under the tummy but tolerated it.  

Full mini mule salon experience with head stylist FH

Look FH I have a whole 8 years worth of dirt and grime for you to rid me of.  MH thinks I have made chocolate, mud milkuleshake.  What do you mean you'd rather not taste it?  Hmmmm

Chocolate Muleshake!

Alas, bath time was over and after a little snooze to dry in the sun FH came for a close inspection of her most handsomest man (see Roller I win... although FH says I'm the most handsomest mini mule, same thing I'm sure!).  She looked closely and found the cross on my back, it was there all along just a little hidden by chocolate muleshake!  I gleamed in the sunshine, this bath thing is good for impressing the ladies!

Hidden mini mule cross

FH said that the best celebration of my first bath was a good hug with no muddy reminders for her!  I can't wait for the next bath time, hurry up sunny days, I could really get used to this!  My bravery really did reap rewards this time :-)

Shiny mini mule - handsome!

Just one final thing FH.... can you please have a bath yourself?  You smell a bit like a dirty mini mule now.... can't have that!

Training Mules: Page Update

FH has finally got around to adding some extra info to our blogsite pages after much persuasion!  Apparently she reckons that some info on training mules might be useful?  Hmmm we reckon training humans to understand mules is a better title for this page!

Here it is, we taught her all she knows ;-)
http://www.muleteers.com/p/training-mules.html 

Look out for some more updates soon!

Roller's Philosophical Friday: Attitude

Grumpy mules.... they need to try a Roller trick.  Positive Attitude!  Dragon is having a lady grump and is 'in season'.  One minute she lurves me, next minute she wants to play kiss chase but with more chase than kiss - not very nice Dragon!  Then there's The Mini who is still upset about his perfect little hooves being messed with. Honestly you'd think his legs had been sawn off. 

 

I have learned a little trick in life, if I sigh deeply, look cute and take the rough with the smooth life generally works out well.  When the mules are throwing their histrionics around I am apt to stare at them with a puzzled expression and tell them to keep calm and carry on.  Why waste life grumping and getting all pessimistic, there's always grass to eat and snuffles to be had.   My long eared friends find my attitude infuriating (I can tell by the ears back, swishing thingy they do) but you know what after a while they get fed up of trying to drag me down and sometimes they seem to give in, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em hey?

So this week I leave you with my favourite saying, try it, you just might like it!

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort!


 

Feisty Mini Mule

Pedicures come at a cost.....

Today I was a feisty mini mule.  I do not like having pedicures.... I don't know why my hooves need trimming?

I spied Hoof Man from a mile off, under his nice exterior and winning smile I knew what he was up to... he's come to steal my hoof clippings again.

Well I was not having it!  While FH had her back turned I legged it under the electric fencing and made a bid for freedom!

Seeya later Hoof Man.  Good luck Roller, he's after your feet too.

What's that FH, can you catch me please?  Well if you ask nicely of course you can.  I can't see Hoof Man, I must have scared him away, back for some loving cuddles.  Hooray!

Oh no look who it is.... he's back.  There really is no point talking nicely to me, I know what you're after.  I am feeling feisty, hold on FH we're going up and I'm going to take you far, far away from the Hoof Man in case he wants to cut your toenails too (surely he's not that desperate?).

Hang on a minute FH you're holding on mighty tight and I can't get away.... hmmm what's that lovely carroty treat in your hand.  Mmmmmm carrots..... Hang on get off my foot Hoof Man...... Mmmmm carrots........ No, No I will kick you if you carry on...... Mmmmmm carrots..........

Hang on FH we're going for a 360 spin, what do  you mean "behave, you're not having it"?  This is for your benefit too you know!  Of course I'm being careful, however 'silly' I might be I always make sure you're safe, have I ever kicked or hurt you FH - no of course not!

Oh for goodness sake get it over and done with will you...... Mmmmm Carrots...... Roller stop trying to lick Hoof Man while he's trimming my feet, don't you know this is my pedicure, not your pedicure and if I'm going to have to endure it I'd rather have him to myself you know.

What's that?  All done? Surely not, I still have hooves left and no one died!  A carrot you say, for my troubles?  Mmmmm carrots.....  FH says she thinks Hoof Man deserves more than a carrot for his troubles! A stiff vodka perhaps!

Well I got out of there as quick as I could, just in case Hoof Man decided to come back for more hoof trimmings, come to think of it my little feet do feel rather good....

All yours Roller!  What did Roller do?  He stood like a statue while Hoof Man trimmed his 'perfect feet'  and FH fed him carroty treats (if I'd have known there were more I might have booked in for another pedicure).

It's definitely time for a lie down now after all that excitement, just gotta keep the humans on their toes every now and then.  I may be a sweet mini mule for FH and MH but I have some serious moves when needed ;-)

Sorry for no relevant photos, I have no idea what FH means when she says she couldn't photograph and hold on to a rearing, spinning mini mule? Amateur......

Puppy Referee

Puppy refereeing is such hard work....

Greeting Wooferteers, Murph here (aka Cloth Dog, aka Pocket Sized Labrador, aka Chief Referee).  Do you know how hard it is to keep one puppy under control?  Yep - I'm prematurely greying for a reason.... Imagine my terror at the thought of refereeing not one but two puppies..... 

Two of my favourite humans came to visit and brought Milo's partner in crime with them Cousin Archie..... Arch is a bit of a ruffian like young Milo.... he isn't quite past his first birthday and has yet to find the delights of snoozing all day like a Cloth Dog should.

I have tactics for puppies though, it's called the 'let's tire them out on Dartmoor tactic'.

So I took the pups for a walk to the moor, I invited the humans along but honestly they are useless at controlling those puppies, call themselves puppy owners, I'm the puppy parent round here.

First of all the naughty pups thought it was fun to run around at top speed, snapping and playing furry crocodile games.... honestly I kept having to step in to the middle to break them up and referee the game of chase... pups will be pups.

After much ball throwing and chasing Arch found a tasty bit of wood.... he hasn't learnt that what's mine is Milo's, what's his is Milo's, come to think of it everything belongs to Milo in his opinion?!

After quite a bit of chasing.... I decided to leave the pups to this one.... you'll never believe it they are actually learning to share... wonders may never cease!

Then on to some more high speed run arounds....

After many puppy miles, high speed runs and sheep poo hoovering I was convinced that my 'wear them out to the point of exhaustion' tactic must work.  How could they have energy left?  So we invited Cousin Arch home and sure enough the pups looked serene and cute for about.... a millisecond.

Now time for the next game to referee, the pups decided it was time for a game of tug of war!  Honestly who let them have a rope toy?!  I'm exhausted.  As the humans seem to just want to giggle at the pups  as usual it's up to me to referee...  

Now then pups, take your end of the rope, take the strain.... and PULL!

 That's it pups.... PULL! We'll have no cheating on my watch!

It was a tie, surely after that they must be tired???  Ermmm no, time for the next game of puppy wrestling.... Oh dear!

The Snapping Furry Crocodile appeared again, that is fighting dirty Milo, not allowed!

Finally the game changed to My Stick, I'm too exhausted by now... those pups are something else, I think FH must be feeding them Red Bull or Coffee??

Only one thing for it, time to seek sympathy from my Auntie....

And finally.... time for a snooze.... who asked if I could puppy sit again?  Sorry I'm busy sleeping!