Happy Birthday Rowdy!!

Ok so really his birthday was on the 12th, but me being a bad mommy "forgot". I remembered on the 10th but it slipped by me on the actual date! He is growing into such a cute little twirp. Almost 13 hands and oh so smart. He loves to run and play and is just the friendliest little critter. His "boys" STILL haven't dropped - hoping they do very soon so he can have his brain surgery as he's a little nippy already and I don't want the hormones taking over his head completely. I'll discuss all of this with the vet when I get them out for spring shots. Now, here's Rowdy a year ago: of course with his little tongue hanging right out of his mouth from the get go the little rotten brat!! And now....This picture was taken a couple weeks ago.

Running running everywhere!! He spent most of the summer and fall turned out with the goats in a run in/paddock situation. He wasn't horribley difficult to work with but he did play the "catch me if you can" game. Once he was caught, he was easy as pie to work with. He's a smart boy and since he was a newborn, I've worked with him on the lead, picking up all 4 feet and letting me touch EVERY square inch of his body. When I decided to bring him into the main barn to get him used to being caught easily, he played catch me if you can only once. He quickly learned that "hey! that's mom and mom has food or scratches - I LIKE her" and that was all it took. He was the last one in that very first night, and it took me about 10 minutes to convince him that I wasn't going to eat him - and he came to me. I hate having to chase horses, I hate it when they don't come to the gate to come in. Old me, used to get tired of waiting them out and go get them.....well new, old me says "nah! if they want to eat, they'll come to me." Lo and behold - it worked. They may stay at the far side of the field for a minute, but once they realize that mom's not coming to get them - like they've lost the ability to find their way back to the gate, then they make their way to me.

Anyway - this is supposed to be about the Rowdsters birthday! :) He is growing into a handsome young man, and I often find myself thinking "I so wish that Buck had still been here to meet him. They'd have had a blast together" - not only that, but Rowdy would be a "well traveled" young man because I could have ponied Rowdy anywhere from on Buck. It will come, either once Buddy has more miles on him or maybe I'll steal Skippy away for a short ride now and then.

So happy birthday baby!! I absolutely adore you!