Skip to main content

The Embarrassment of Winter Head

My friend Bif wrote artfully on the subject of what we like to call "winter head"–an embarrassing and temporary condition wherein our tack no longer fits us as it should, and our heads have a grossly disproportionate appearance.

Here's FarmWife's sketch of the syndrome, showing the miniaturization of the halter by the overabundant fluff that is the Winter Coat. This "Embarrassment of Winter Head" is a curse upon all pastured equine, but I don't think I'd trade it for the blanketed, clipped, and well-lit luxury that is a show mule's life. After all, there's nothing in the world so satisfying as caking that over abundant hair in thick, cool, fresh, smooth mud.

I'm off to roll!

FB



Comments

  1. Interesting, but here in Santa Cruz I don't think that would happen to you...

    ReplyDelete
  2. As hairy as I get, it's nothing compared to the hair I had in North Dakota. Ohio is the tropics, I'm telling you. And last year, Mother still clipped my head well into November or December because it sweat just standing around.

    I think your beautiful drawing is in some ways inspired more by the burro than the horse, but I note startling similarities to myself... To make it ME, perhaps a little less contrast between fuzz above the muzzle and the muzzle... I'd like to say slightly smaller ears, but Mother says that seems awfully accurate. Captured: My swirl is set well below my eyes, and the forelock length is definitely dead on.

    Thanks, FW!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks in Advance for Your Mulish Opinion!

Popular Posts

Here are the Cloud Dog's X-Rays

Here, for your edification, are the X-rays of dear Paisley's leg. There is, apparently, no new break (since his Monday siezure) but there is, of course, a great deal of abnormality caused by years of living with a shortened ulna. His pronounced lameness, the vet says, may temporarily improve. Unlike me, Fenway Bartholomule, poor cloud dog can't expect much in the way of a full recovery.   Not having the $$$$ for surgery to fuse the joint, we are working on making some sort of rigid splint to support the limb and prevent further degeneration. That is, the humans (with their space-age material inventions and their opposable thumbs) are working on making a splint; I am working on giving cloud dog brayful looks of support and encouragement every time he totters into the yard to relieve himself. As always, he fears me (me?!) and keeps his distance.  Ears to you,  Fenway

Saddle fitting nightmare

I wonder if they had to pay a saddle fitter to tell them the Schleese didn't fit. FB http://www.besthorsestuff.com/ShowAd/index.php?id=4deed0d102f85 For Sale: 18 inch Schleese Jes Elite dressage saddle with Flair Air panels.  This saddle is in exceptionally good, like-new condition with the exception of needing repairs to the front left air bag.  Our Schleese saddle fitter (at the May 28, 2011 fitting) quoted the repair cost at $75-$150. The tree is currently set to "wide" and can be fully adjusted by a saddle fitter.  See the Schleese website for more details. Asking $1200 OBO, a significantly reduced price compared to the current market value of $2000 for the same saddle in pristine, like-new condition. NOTE:  The "saddle rack" is not for sale.  Heehee! Please contact us for more details, serial numbers, questions, or pictures of the saddle.  This is very nice, quality, comfortable and correct saddle for a fraction of the cost, even after the r...