Winter musings

It's been quiet.  I'm mainly just wandering around with Nuts, letting him have a few of his brother's oats, a little alfalfa, and then to the berm around the ring where he might grab a snatch of soggy, cold grass.  I've noticed a few things.

• Peanut's coat is not nearly as pale as it has been in past winters.  His socks are still very visible, which is highly unusual.  Last year I believe that they could be seen if you looked hard enough, but this year they are apparent.
• When presented with the option of either walking on the driveway or walking through snow, he chooses the snow every time.
• The soles of his feet are brilliant white.  Well, maybe ivory, but a lot paler than normal.
• Not only are they seemingly immune to the cold with their fuzzy pelts, I am often amazed that his little pink upper lip can whisk its way through snow without a break.  It's only protected by a sparse covering of thick, short hair, and his pink skin shows through easily.  Shouldn't it get cold?
• Peanut will eagerly march through deep snow without another thought, dropped, no less.  His only dismay seems to be the clumsy biped that he keeps on the end of the lead.  With only two stubby legs, it just cannot keep up and often asks him to stop so it can catch up and catch its breath.  How annoying.

He is a good horse.  I am thankful that he comes to me in his field.  Usually, I start walking in and see him at a distance with his head high looking at me.  I just wave and call "Hi babe!" and he starts walking my way.  I am thankful that he has good verbal whoa and backup commands.  I am also thankful that we seem to have decided on a buzzer noise as his no command.  His nose will hopefully learn to stop wandering to the treat pouch.