HONEY BANDIT - PAYBACK, OR ENCOURAGEMENT?????

Hi ya'll

It's been a couple of days since the last update.  Honey Bandit is starting to get more energy.  Not all of the time, but definitely more than before. :)    He runs and prances and makes it very clear that he is something special.  With his head up high and his tail flowing behind him, dancing over that cute little butt, he is stepping out and making waves.

He still manages to get cast nearly every day/night.  However, in spite of banking the walls and trying all sorts of different situations,the only thing we have found out for sure is this.  PAYBACK CAN BE A REAL BUMMER.......    DaBubbles has decided to send a message loud and clear.  However, we are not sure which message he is sending.  DaBubbles was trapped several times between HB and the wall.  He was quite frightened, and rightfully so.  His position was precarious to say the least.  He is also the one that gets pushed around the most, being he is about a third of the other's size.  So, the last time HB was cast, DaBubbles stepped right up to the plate.  He very gently (ha ha) leaned over and bit Honey Bandit over and over in various places.  Was he encouraging HB to get up, trying to "help him", OR  Was he getting his payback.  I have to say that at one point it was very clear that HB was physically unable to get up.  That would be about the time that DaBubbles took a rather large mouthful of HB's skin right around his groin area.  I have no doubt that HB would have jumped up in a flash if he could.  It was cute though, because DaBubbles really didn't bite very hard.  That is what makes you wonder,  which is it really, payback or "assistance" to help him get up.

Once again the horses can teach us a lesson.  No matter what the inspiration for all the "bites', there was really no real malice involved.  Too bad we all couldn't play so nicely together, even when we are "getting back at someone".

HB is growing like crazy.  Not too long ago, we had measured him for a new blanket.  He was 51 inches from the middle of his chest back to his tail.  Only a little over a month has passed and his measurements are more like 55/56.  He outgrew his beautiful blanket.  (I am sure that we will have another foal soon to wear it though, so it wo'n' ever "go to waste".)  He is taller and gaining pounds quickly.   He definitely has some more attitude.  I forget he isn't like Chilly Pepper.  She was only 3 days old when we rescued her, but Honey Bandit (according to BLM's best guess) was 6 weeks old.  So he had 6 weeks of living in the wild, learning to be a wild horse.  Sometimes it is surprising to me when that behavior sneaks out.  But that is awesome, because that means more and more of his brain/memory is coming  back.

We are looking into "anti-cast rollers".  Please contact me if you have any experience with these.  I talked to the vet today and he said he has heard of them but is not sure if he would be comfortable with them or not, as he has never used them.  So I would appreciate any info you might have.  For those of you (like me) who don't know what an "anti-cast roller" is, it is a device that you strap around the horse's girth, and it has a big ring on the top which prevents the horses from rolling all the way over.

I finally got my email addresses re-entered, and am hoping that I have all of Honey Bandit's friends back in his group.  If you know anyone who is "missing" their email updates, please have them contact me at Palomino.honeybandit @gmail.

God bless and thank you for all your help.    Palomino & the Gang

www.chillypepper.weebly.com
Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang
30027 State Highway 44 East
Shingletown, CA  96088

530 474 5197 - Please call if you would like to come and visit the critters.