Today was a day off for me, but since the ice is here again, I'm staying in. Thought this would be a good day to add to my blog. This is my oldest cat, Motts. She's around 18 years old now, hyperthyroid, and will only eat soft food. I got her as a tiny kitten from a barn where I was boarding my horses. She was one of the survivors of a litter of kittens that were played with a little too much by the owner's Labrador. She's a very opinionated gal, as I have discovered that most calico cats are. She has no use for any of the dogs and puts them in their places accordingly. They have pretty much learned that she is not to be messed with. The other cats show her plenty of respect too. She's never been a cuddly cat, unless it's her idea of course. She demands to be fed, but mostly just sleeps on her favorite afghan.
This is my first horse, and oldest, Rocky Ridge Emin. He has a variety of nicknames: Mean Bean, Beaners. We come up with some pretty crazy names for our pets, don't we? I bought Emin just before he turned two years old, in May of 1982. I was working for Anchor Hill Ranch in Rogersville at the time. It was my first exposure to Arabian horses, and I knew immediately that there would be no other breed of horse for me. Emin actually came from Rocky Ridge Ranch, which was next door to Anchor Hill. He is of Egyptian bloodlines, a grandson of Al Metrabbi. These horses have the most wonderful temperments, and most all have that Anchor Hill "look". Emin and I learned a lot together. I broke him to ride bareback since I couldn't afford a saddle at the time. I would still rather ride him bareback. His gaits are all very smooth. He was a very easy boy to train: he sidepasses, jumps low jumps, and does almost any type of trail obstacle. He was shown halter and western mostly, and hunt seat once or twice. His first show was a little 4-state show at Neosho. Red Beyers was the judge and he won his halter and his western class. Red was pretty partial to those Anchor Hill horses. Emin doesn't go much of anywhere now, just on slow easy trail rides. I ride him every year in the parade at the Fair Grove Heritage Reunion in September. No one can believe how good he looks for his age. He is in great shape and has rarely been ill. He loves to be brushed and most of all...fed! He could put on weight just looking at a green pasture! He's been my best horse buddy and will definitely be irreplaceable. He will celebrate his 28th birthday in June.
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