Darren, our trusty security expert, was very interested in whether or not GG would be getting these geldings. Darren has had his heart set on getting "his very own horse" for a couple months now. In Darren's mind, he needs his own horse to be able to ride. He has been trying to get up his confidence to get back in the saddle. He has only ridden one other time which was on his 41st birthday.
This day Max convinced Darren to try out the horse bareback. Darren did great! He was impressed with "his horse" and has been anxious to get him to the ranch ever since.
Cowgirl Erin tries to corrupt my children every chance she gets! I hear, "Hi Mommy, look at me!" Clever Erin. That's the perfect trick to teach Grant! With friends like Erin... 
Erin and Max (and Darren and Grant) agreed that the horses seemed great and told Tom (far right) we'd love to have them. Doesn't the man look nice? He is. He really is. He, his wife Cinda, and their two boys donated both horses to GG! I guess their boys are no longer interested in horses because of their love of soccer. (Yes, just like the sweet girl who donated Cheyenne.) Tom thought the horses should be used for something besides just eating hay.
Tom, Cinda, and boys--thank you so much!!!Monday was the day we headed back out to claim our new buddies.
I get a little choked up at times like these. That doesn't mean much--I used to cry on the last day of school...even in college! I hate thinking things are final and over forever! Do the horses feel sad they left the people they knew? Yes, I'm silly. I just can't help myself. I'm so glad Tom and Cinda's boys weren't home. Cinda told me her younger son was taking it pretty hard. Ugh! What a rude after school surprise to find the horses gone FOR-EV-ER! 
I don't think Erin shared my sappy sentiments. What a cold-hearted chick! Maybe it's all that tractor driving that has hardened her heart. What do I know? She might have gone home and wept. 
Darren didn't care either. He is just happy he now has his "very own horse." 
Here they are arriving at Galloping Grace. Please take a moment and admire the beautifully spread mulch from the Second Saturday work crew. You can just barely make out the new gravel road and the rail road ties. I proudly present...
Seabiscuit! Please do not get confused with the speedy racehorse. This Seabiscuit is little long in the tooth and swayed in the back.
Darren thinks he is absolutely perfect! We couldn't agree more. Seabiscuit spent his life as a pack horse in the mountains of Colorado with Tom's uncle, a forest ranger. Tom said he brought him back to NM to give him a proper retirement.The next new love is...
Hondo! Since Seabiscuit was already claimed, Grant, our two year old, logically gets to have Hondo. "That's my new horse." 
I think he's really pretty. Horse people out there---is he lovely? I should tell you that he has a bowed tendon, but Tom assures us that he is fine to be ridden. The people that owned him before Tom used him for roping a lot. When Hondo bowed that tendon, they were going to have him killed, possibly a comestible death. Tom asked if he could have him back, and the people agreed. (Tom originally owned the horse.) Tom said he has come a long way since returning to him. He said as long as we don't rope off him daily, he should be fine. Check out that bulging vein on his belly--that means he's really smart.
The herd eagerly checked out the newbies. Blue always seems to be the first one on the scene. Either he's really welcoming or very curious. I'm going with the latter. As much as I love assigning human emotions to animals, I will not do it this time.
New BFFs! 
We'll keep you posted on how their arrival is tolerated.
Hondo! Since Seabiscuit was already claimed, Grant, our two year old, logically gets to have Hondo. "That's my new horse." I think he's really pretty. Horse people out there---is he lovely? I should tell you that he has a bowed tendon, but Tom assures us that he is fine to be ridden. The people that owned him before Tom used him for roping a lot. When Hondo bowed that tendon, they were going to have him killed, possibly a comestible death. Tom asked if he could have him back, and the people agreed. (Tom originally owned the horse.) Tom said he has come a long way since returning to him. He said as long as we don't rope off him daily, he should be fine. Check out that bulging vein on his belly--that means he's really smart.
The herd eagerly checked out the newbies. Blue always seems to be the first one on the scene. Either he's really welcoming or very curious. I'm going with the latter. As much as I love assigning human emotions to animals, I will not do it this time.New BFFs! We'll keep you posted on how their arrival is tolerated. Hondo and Seabiscuit, welcome home!
