We’ll call it efficiency? 
I have a lot of horses to ride/work and the weather is heating up here - today’s expected high is 100, with a ‘feels like’ of 112. I try to get everything done early in the AM. I could’ve ridden Bo yesterday, but ponying him instead shaves off a fair amount of time and I can get 2 done at once.
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It’s Monday, and it’s hot. The heat index right now is 115.
Bo, other than being a tad sweaty, is doing perfectly fine. I’ve been leaving his fly sheet off until I figure out the solution to the rubs. Here he is, picking through a handful of the newest load of alfalfa for the good edible bits:
He’s still eating reasonably well, I’ve dropped him to 3x meals a day since he has less of an appetite mid day in the heat and wasn’t really eating his lunch. He still asks for food every time I go out, even if he’s got half a bucket left and it’s nowhere near meal time. New food is always better than old food, I guess?
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I was thinking, we too used to feed alfalfa on the ground and horses would sort thru it and leave some that was mixing in the dirt behind.
Once we put mats down there was no waste whatsoever, rarely a twig left.
May consider that?
He looks wonderful, handsome fellow that. 
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Up until about a week ago, there were mats in the covered part of both stalls. We pulled them because they had gotten too lumpy, the roof created some unexpected drainage issues so we needed to level it back out and let the ground dry some. The plan is to re-grade, add compacted rock and then put the mats back. I don’t really like throwing hay on dirt either.
In Bo’s case, he can only eat the “good parts”, the stems are too much for him to chew with his lack of upper molars. I wait until he’s done, scoop up the leftovers and put them on the other side for the other boys to clean up. I have even tried shaking out a flake so I can separate the stems and just give him the leaf, but he finds that offensive. He wants to sort through it himself. 
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We call the good bits the “gravy” lol We feed our alfalfa horse his hay in a tub b/c he would eat rocks and dirt to try to also have gravy lol
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Did you ever determine how he lost the upper molars?
I cannot believe that’s the same horse. Did we get a more accurate estimate on his age?
My cat says it is. 
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No to both 
I wasn’t offered any information beyond ‘over 20’. I realize it’s a vague guessing game beyond 20, but it would be nice to have some idea if he’s early 20s vs late 20s+. It’s not really going to affect his management either way. Next time the dentist looks at him, I’m going to ask about a more specific range.
Now I just need to get his feet in order. The hinds are OK, but the fronts have been really slow to improve.
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His hinds are OK because they’re proud of their role as pedestal to that lovely tush.
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Well, I did a thing. All four (!) of them turned out together. I’ve pretty well figured out the best pairings, and the three big boys get along with no shenanigans, but I was curious to see how the group dynamic worked out with all four. Supervised, of course, mostly so I can protect Bo from Fern if needed.
Elmo has crowned himself king of the herd, and he’s doing a fine job (even with the fat boy muzzle) of keeping the youngster in his place and protecting the others.
Bo is smartly keeping a buffer zone, but I’m hoping he will pair up with someone. I think he is happier when it’s just him and Elmo - Elmo is like his emotional support pony - but this is good social time for everybody, on a limited basis. It’s overcast for now and there is a nice breeze, so I will leave them out until it gets hotter than hot - or until they start standing around at the gate.
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As a minor topic off shoot: your brand looks great now that they are all healed and filled in!
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Thanks! They didn’t come out quite perfect - both seem to have been left on a little long, and the center of the lines is hairless with white hair around the edges instead of the whole thing growing back white. Fern’s is a lot more muddled than Elmo’s. But it does the job I guess! Next time I will suggest a shorter time.
Hey Heinz? I keep seeing the tag line after your ‘call sign’, and want you to know that you TRULY ARE someone of consequence. You’ve taken the time, energy, financial resources, and given your heart to help Bo, and likely countless others.
Maybe it’s time for an upgrade … Heinz 57 “Making a Difference”
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Of course Elmo has a wicked boss mare impression.
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The last picture, wow Fern has really developed. He doesn’t look like a gangly youngster anymore.
Have not seen any pics of him in quite awhile!
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Elmo told them the muzzle is his Sign of Authority 
BoyOBoy! 
Sign me up for the BoButt B4 & After Club!
We need tshirts
Like Peepy Cat, you should do a Bo Calendar - profits to your favorite charity 
Ready-made customer base right here! 
I’m not even sure I can change it now - I seem to recall with the last upgrade that that feature had gone away, although I think the mods can still change them behind the scenes maybe? I poked around the profile settings area and didn’t see anything.
Well, he is a redhead after all… When it comes to humans he is the most people-y lapdog there is, but he’s always had a bit of small man syndrome.
I am really happy with the way he’s developed, although I do hope he still has some growing left to do (he’s not 3 until the fall, so chances are pretty good). He’s also on the chubby side right now thanks to the grass… I barely feed him. Hardy ponies for the win
Someone will have to convince Bo not to look so judgmental when I take his picture, then. Unless I sneak up on him, he always has that ‘ugh…again?’ look. LOL
Actually, that reminds me - one of our own COTH’ers is relatively local to me and a photographer, they offered to do some glamour shots of him this summer. I should work on that. Dare I braid the old man? Does he even have enough hair for that? 
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Just do a “Big Butt” edition. Problem solved.
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you might do chonky dressage braids. For the forelock use thick yarn otherwise it will be a pitiful sight.
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