Pony.....

  Well, due to the fact that I've been getting emails, PM's, open questions on fora, and just about every other conceivable form of  communiqué, all asking after Pony, I figured I'd put it here, for all to see.

 Short answer is; Pony's brilliant, thanks! And, in a couple of weeks time, Pat' and I have an appointment with the local horse auctions. To find that female donkey to keep Pony company.

 Now, for anyone interested enough to read it, I'll sort of work back over the recent history of what's been going on here. Show ye how this latest turn has come about.

  It started when I was walking up to see Pony and ran into Pat' on the road. He was on his quad and had the trailer loaded up with fence posts and stuff. He said he was off down my end to fix up one of his meadows. Because he'd bought a mare and foal!!!!!

  I'm like, What the fucking fuck ....?!? Couldn't believe what I was hearing. But I recognised the fencing kit alright. Off went Pat' and I went on, head spinning, to see Pony.

 Next thing ye know,some bloke's pulled into Pat's yard, with a horse box. I didn't like this. I liked it a shit load less when Pat' asked me to load up Pony!!! He said this guy was going to sort his feet out for him.

 Only, I'm so wary, by now, that I've already clocked the sign in this guys motor. " Padraig ~~~~~; Construction "? So, I've pulled Pat' about it, outright:

'What the fuck is a Builder doing to Pony's feet? And why would he need to take Pony away to do it?'. I'm just about ready to grab Pony and try to fight us a way out of there!

 But, Pat' said that the guy had shit loads of horses of his own ~ this, it turns out, is the guy Pat' bought the mare off ~ and his own farrier is due. So, he's taking Pony to his own stables, to be there when the farrier comes.

  I wasn't happy and made some surly noises at Pat'. Just to let him know that, if this was some sort of trick ..... 

 Anyway, that must have been Sunday week back. So begun a wretched and miserable week, for me. Moping about and going up to the yard, every day, to forlornly look into Pony's empty shed.

  Pat' had told me Pony was due back next Saturday. That came and went. No Pony. Sunday and Monday I was up there two or three times a day, hoping to find Pony back. Disappointed.

 Yesterday, Pat' brought me a bale of hay down and said 'My' Pony was back! LMFAO! Freudian slip or what? I don't know. But, I was happy.

  When I went up there to see him? I was fucking amazed! I opened the shed door and, straight away, it was like a whole, new Pony! He never so much as batted an eyelid at me. Came straight to my hand, when I offered him his biscuits. And his coat ....?!

 There he was. Tiny little feet. Coat sleek and gleaming, curry comb tracks still clearly visible. I couldn't swear to it that he hadn't been given a bath at some point!

 But, his demeanour? In Fucking Credible!!! The confidence of him! The shivering, shaking wreck I'd led into that box a week ago was now a sleek and beautiful creature who never flinched as I put my arm round his neck and buried my face in his fur.

  Padraig had sure as hell taken good care of Pony! Above and beyond. I'll buy that man a drink any time I find him in town.

 I mentioned Pony's astonishing new state of mind and he said Pony never even shied when he went in there! Pat' was a dumbstruck as me. Then he mentioned his theory about what had made Pony a nervous wreck;

 He said he reckoned a rat or a badger might have got into the shed and terrorised Pony! I pointed out, as diplomatically as I could, that I'd Think I might have known about it, had there been any rats or badgers in his farm yard. Me being the resident pest controller for the area.

 As it is, I reckon it came to me, just this morning, how come Pony's so calm now: Ever had a toothache ....? Yeppers. Well, poor Pony, of course, had fucking hoofache! Four of them. Be enough to drive any poor creature to distraction, wouldn't it? Poor thing!

 I'll point this out to Pat', when I go up there in a minute. Pat's going to fence in a plot beside his house, for Pony. He was going to stick him back down in that secret field of his. I 'had a word .....' LOL!

 So, there ye have it. Pony's back. His feet are sorted (Sadly, his rear right is fucked. The one where the hoof was splitting around the top. Don't know if that can ever mend itself?) He's in fantastic condition. Happy in his head. I now intend to make damn sure he stays that way.

 Thanks to everyone who expressed such interest in Pony. He's a happy little horse now. And I'm off up to see him and feed him his biscuits