THANK YOU & new story

Cheryl, Remington's owner mom, pointed out to me tonight that many of you following Remington's journey have signed on recently so I should look at the comments on my first posts.

I am amazed!! I wish to tell all of you "THANK YOU" from the very cockles of my tiny Irish soul.
This horse is truly amazing. I have trained and worked with horses most of my life, but never in some 40 years have I come across anything like this horse. He has not only occupied my life with challenges, but always gives us new reasons to laugh and an anticipation of what the new day will bring. He never disappoints us.

Now to another story---

That being said. Y'all need to know about rookies. All professions have them, but few are harder on them than in the horse industry. You see, people love horses, but they are not like cat or dogs that can be kept as pets, so many who love them have no idea what is really involved in their training or upkeep. Therefore when a horse professional encounters someone who, "Always dreamed of having a horse" we know the education process is going to be a bumpy ride.

Years ago, when Cheryl (Remi's owner mom) was a rookie she would try her best to support the training and rules that make the horses manageable and safe to work around. You know the things like don't charge to get food etc. I had explained to her that one must always be in command. Even tho you are you are smaller your attitude and body language will tell the horse that YOU are in charge.

Every night the horses are put in stalls and hay bags are hung at the door for them. I would simply tell the horse "BACK" with an authoritative voice and demeanor that commands my space and then hang his hay, that done I'd say "Ok good boy" and he then knows he can eat. Cheryl, being the softie with a big heart, however could not get the knack of this. Daily, for months what I would hear when she hung Remi's bag was--- "Back, Back I say, GET BACK!!, REMINGTON BAAAAAAAACK!!!!!

Today she is an accomplished horsewoman, handling her boy with confidence and ease. He know he is loved and doted on, but he also has manners and respects the commands of Momma Cheryl, but for a while I truly thought I would have to get her the whip and chair that I always pictured her with when feeding time came.

Great Googly Moogly, Remi's Gone Hi-Tech

You know how proud you are when your child opens his or her's first saving's account, or wins a contest? Imagine the surprise of finding out your horse has done the same thing.

After opening Remington's email today, I found his spam folder filled with account verifications, bank applications and notices of contest winnings. There must be a hidden laptop in his stall that he has secretly been using late at night after his humans have gone to sleep.

Who knew he had this hidden talent? Certainly not me or his trainer mom and we have yet to find that laptop while cleaning his stall. Now, where could he be hiding it, I wonder? Just exactly how big is this keyboard that he can type on with his size 10 furry slippers?

Is he using voice activation? Neigh, Neigh can't possibly translate into open a Paypal account for me, can it? Or, maybe he's using a carrot to type. We don't have a clue. Do any of you have any ideas? Help us solve this mystery before loads of hay and carrots start showing up that we didn't order.

He's obviously been a very busy boy.

Stay tuned, stay happy and stay with us.

Remi, The Bobcat & The Boot

Now that you know about Remington's love for the bobcat, let me share another episode about HIS TOY!

A couple of years ago, the bobcat needed some repair work done. Early one September morning, the repairman and I were discussing the necessary fixes, when "guess who" comes up to see what was going on, and just who dared to touch his prize.

I let him investigate the situation, but instead of just observing, he just had to move closer and closer. As I pushed him back and scrambled to get out of his way, his foot came down right on the top of my foot..."OUCH". I immediately put an elbow in his chest to keep him from applying his full force, but he ended up scraping his size 10 shoe across my foot before he finally got back and lost interest.

I hobbled around the rest of the weekend and after noticing a rainbow of colors on my foot decided to go get it checked out. I wasn't able to see an orthopedic doctor at first, so I visited a local instant care facility on Monday. I had to wear a very funny shoe and was put on crutches. I wasn't able to go to the barn for a few days, so he never had the chance to see if the crutches tasted good.

I finally got in to see the orthopedic surgeon and it was determined that I had a torn ligament between my 4th and 5th toe and I ended up having to wear a very large boot. The first time I went to the barn in my boot, Remi, being his usual curious self just had to come up and put his nose down to see if it was a new tasty treat. NO, it's not, so leave it alone. I let him check it out anyway, because Remi just doesn't quit. He snorted and decided it really wasn't a treat to enjoy and off he went to explore something else.

Thanks to my bouncing baby boy, I can now predict when it's going to rain without the need to buy expensive weather equipment. And although it's not exactly the skill I would like to brag about, the whole experience did teach me to be extra careful around him and make sure where his huge hooves are at all times.

I spent three months in that "Cinderella slipper" and right before Thanksgiving (how appropriate), was finally able to walk boot free. It could make a very nice planter, however knowing Remington and his antics, I think I'll keep it around just in case.

It isn't exactly my favorite memory, but it's a Remi Memory, so I will cherish it always.

Stay tuned, stay happy and stay with us.

Remi and the bobcat (machine not wild animal)

Ok, I keep getting requests for more stories, and truthfully I could write books about this horse as he just never quits or stops amusing us with his personality.

So here goes. On property is a bobcat, you know the same thing you see on many construction sites. We use it help clean stalls. Yes, that is the kind of equipment you need when you have a horse this big.

Now up till about 2 years ago the bobcat was his absolute favorite thing in the world. You see, he has not met too many things outside of buildings that were bigger, so he had no fear of it. The first time I started it he did his usual thing and bit it. phlucck!!! Not good to eat! He then proceeded to circle it and inspect. When he got to the bucket he placed both front feet on it and then the devil made me do it. I raised the bucket. Instead of jumping and running away, as most horses would do, he just put his head down and looked at me from a new and taller advantage.

After a few minutes I tried to dislodge the big lummox by rocking it and bouncing the bucket, but as would turn out to be a usual turn of events he not only didn't move, but seemed to enjoy it. This started a pattern that although amusing caused me to do double the work and pay for constant repairs on the bobcat. You see I had unknowingly created the first Remington amusement park ride. From that time on every time I needed to use the bobcat I had to give Remi a ride. He would come from any point on the property when he heard the engine start.

This continued till about two years ago when he got soo heavy that when trying to raise the bucket it didn't budge. The back wheels did however come off the ground. Seems like construction equipment should at least withstand the horse.

I have now replaced the seat twice. Remi bites ya know. I guess we are all a little upset when we finally realize that six flags is no longer for us....

Some things never change

We decided to give Remi a special treat when we came home yesterday and turned him out in the yard next to the house. You know the one we had to fence off because he stood on the air conditioner and played fetch with my tree.

Well guess what.. Instead of just taking advantage of the really nice grass and grazing the big lug nut had to go and attack a tree again. See the broken limb on the ground and the other poor broken one hanging now dead off the side of the trunk. I really wonder what he has against trees. He doesn't even eat them, He just breaks them and carries them around.

Para os Brasilieros

muinto obrigado a nossos amigos novos no brasil!! Seus sustentação e poço desejam-nos meios bastante. especialmente Bunny (instrutor) viveu em Rio por diversos anos.

A medida de Remington quebrou o registro ontem. Agora nós devemos esperar Guinness para certificar o registro.
Isto pode fazer exame de diversas semanas

Eu tenho saudadge de seus país e esperança bonitos retornar outra vez. Nós afixaremos resultados aqui assim que nós soubermos.


English Translation:

Many thanks to our new Brazilian friends. Your well wishes and support mean a great deal to us. Especially Bunny (trainer) as she lived in Rio for several years.

Yesterday Remington broke the record. Now we must wait for Guinness to certify it. This may take several weeks.

I miss your beautiful country and hope to return someday. We will post the result here as soon as we know.

Remi's Big Day

Hello World,

After an early morning talk with my sweet boy during his breakfast, he must have decided to take my suggestion to wake up and stand tall and proud. He got over his nap time agenda from his Friday's measuring and stood there like a real pro while he was measured at 80" inches without his shoes and passed the current record of 79.5".

After all, he's a country boy who is laid back and happy to lounge around the pasture, decide what kind of mischief he might get in to for the day, and make his frequent visits to the barn to make sure that his room is cleaned to his specifications. He's just not that into super energy mode most of his days.

The record still needs to be verified by Guinness and I am busy putting together all the information needed to do so . I would like each and every one of you to know that we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of support, the love and all the good wishes from the bottom of our hearts.

Stay tuned, stay happy and stay with us.