Thomas Labé.com

BACK SEAT DRIVER ("LIMERICK")
RAZZLE-DAZZLE ("RAZZIE")
BELLA & CHANCE

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	Here's Limerick ("Back Seat Driver") in his stall gazing wistfully out at the pasture (where he'd much rather be). He recently spent a week on stall rest and he certainly had a lot to say about that to anyone who happened to be around!

	Horse people will tell you that you can't trust a horse that doesn't have at least one white sock. Limerick has a full sock on his right hind leg so at least he can be partially trusted.

	Looking to me for some carrots, an apple or perhaps some watermelon.

	At 16.5 hands, Limerick is a large horse with excellent conformation. His stride is a bit short, but he delivers the fancy footwork (auto lead changes, etc.) with style.

	Here's Limerick at a hay bale just hours after his third barefoot trim. So far he has made the transition to barefoot remarkably well (he was quite sore when the two back shoes were pulled, but only had a few bad days when the front shoes were pulled a month later).

	Recent rains have made the pasture very green, however you can still see Limerick on the horizon from the shiny summer coat he is growing in.

	I've been caught spying and he's on his way to see what's up.

	Life is good.

	Limerick moves into a new home. Here's Limerick and a new buddy (Gus) checking out the pond at his new digs. He's now out and about 24/7 on twelve acres with eight horses. He's never been happier, and for the first time in his life - from the race track - to the lesson horse - he's actually living life like a horse.

	Milling about out in the mist at dinner time.

	Limerick and Wendy by the frozen snow covered pond.

	Right after chow time waiting anxiously to get outside again.

	Clowning around for the camera.

	Exploring the salad bar with a friend before what turned out to be a very stormy night.

	Limerick in a hurry to get back with his friends right after getting his hooves trimmed.

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	Razzie ("Razzle-Dazzle"), who stands 14.2 hands, is somewhat of a miracle horse (actually a large pony). About two months after we bought him, he was seriously injured in the pasture (nobody saw what happened). He could barely walk and had somehow severely torn up his right shoulder. Both vets that examined him gave him a 50/50 chance of ever coming back. However, after about six months of stall rest, combined with weekly acupuncture treatments, and a gradual course of exercise, he healed completely.

	Razzie had a tangle with barbed wire when he was a young colt. Unlike cattle, horses have relatively thin skin, and getting caught on barbed wire can often lead to a fatal tear as the horse escapes. Razzie got away with just a small scar on his left side.

	Razzie came into our lives at the very time our beloved Border Collie was finally and suddenly (at age fourteen and a half) no longer acting like a puppy and the cancers in her mouth were visibly growing.

	Here is Razzie out in the pasture with his girlfriend Meg. They've been together for about a year now. For some reason, it amazes me that horses can have long term monogamous relationships that can last for years or even decades.

	He's taking a break from mowing the yard while some storm clouds gather..

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	Bella A purebred Australian Shepherd, Bella was gifted to us after the death of our beloved Border Collie mix Cocoa (just a few days short of her fifteenth birthday on New Year's Day 2006). It's "normal" to dock the tail of an Australian Shepherd, however we requested that they not dock one of the puppies in the litter for us - little did we know she would turn out to be the wildest of the bunch. Here she is engaging in one of her favorite summertime activities.

		Bella is the most affectionate dog I've ever owned. She always wants to be around people and craves attention. She's also the worse behaved dog I've ever owned (in spite of nearly a year of professional training). Her favorite trick is to snatch food off the kitchen counter or the dining table.

		Bella had some trouble negotiating this snow drift but she made it over just fine.

		Chance Abused and subsequently abandoned as a puppy, Chance spent many weeks eeking out his existence in our neighborhood. When he became so thin that his ribs were showing, we knew that we had to take him in. It was hard at first as he was terrified of men, confined spaces, and not at all sure of himself. He's all turned around now and has a kind and gentle disposition. A mixed breed, our most educated guess is that he has some red heeler, pointer and beagle mixed in (he can howl louder than the piano).

		Snow makes them even crazier and this is apparently their idea of a good time.