Skip to main content

Short, Dark and Handsome


Before FarmWife found me, Fenway Bartholomule, she was a horsewoman. Not just a horsewoman, but a sporthorse fancier. She liked her horses athletic, fancy, and tall. She once told a friend, in fact, that with her height she would look ridiculous on anything under 16.2.

FarmWife's favorite mare, a thoroughbred, stood a robust 17.1. Her favorite gelding, though less substantial, still measured a decent 16.3. If she had made a shopping list before buying me, her list would have said "one sane, sound gelding, 16.3 or taller."  As a tall young woman, she once suffered from the delusion that she would be best suited by a mount of about 17 and a half hands.

Now, I like big mules as well as the next guy. There is nothing so spectacular as a rippling mountain of equine magnificence, and nothing so good at getting a heavy job done as a great big pair of draft animals. I, however, am not ashamed by more modest stature. At nearly 14.1 hands, I am strong enough to carry an adult and handy enough to navigate tight spaces. I fit in normal trailers. I duck under logs. 

The funny thing is that FarmWife might have been embarrassed to ride me if she had measured me first. She didn't measure me until well into our first year together, though, and by the time she learned the astonishing truth about my height it was too late. We were in love.

I can carry her, and carry her well. I can even carry her husband, who stands a good four inches taller. I am mighty. 

I am Fenway Bartholomule, and there's more than enough of me for this job. 

Ears to you,
FB

Comments

  1. Calm, Forward, StraightDecember 3, 2010 at 10:05 AM

    Good things come in small(ish) packages.
    You are mighty Fenway! (mighty cute) :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oaky's palDecember 3, 2010 at 11:36 AM

    Fenway, you are mighty indeed! I salute your might. I really do.

    ReplyDelete
  3. OKPaintLoverDecember 3, 2010 at 3:52 PM

    FenBar what you lack in height, compared to sporthorses, you more than make up in cuteness, intelligence, and overall adorability. <3

    ReplyDelete
  4. Golden the Pony GirlDecember 3, 2010 at 5:54 PM

    I was just like Farmwife before meeting Bodhi. Now I love the compact fluffyness that is my very mulish haflinger.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousDecember 4, 2010 at 4:55 AM

    Fenway, I am fairly tall like Farmwife but find that I have always preferred horses 15.3 or under, and really would just love to have a large pony. For me, the small ones have always been the most honest (and of course, the ones with the most muleness!). You represent the little guys well!

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnnieRoseDecember 4, 2010 at 9:15 AM

    FenBar you seen to be the cure for a bad day. A friend of mine was having a rough day and I said "Would a picture of a mule help?" and he looked at me funny but then I showed him the picture of your compact wonderfulness and he felt better!

    ReplyDelete
  7. sueDecember 5, 2010 at 9:43 AM

    Dear Fen, Farm wife had no way of measuring your best feature when she first met you. AS it turned out, she quickly realized that you are just as big as your heart, and that is why she loves you so. There is nothing small about you! Hugs from the girls, Sue

    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
2 comments
Continued . . .

Vegan Spring Rolls

I, Fenway Bartholomule, am a vegan: of course I only eat plants, not people! My human is too, so I'm sharing my blog with her today so that she can participate in the 2014 Virtual Vegan Potluck ! When you're done perusing the recipe for these delicious spring rolls, click "back" or "forward" for the entire potluck experience! Virtual Vegan Potluck: Spring Roll Appetizers Beautiful? Check. Healthy? Check. Delicious? Check. Easy? Check. Fancy? Check. Quick to clean up after? Check. Vegan? OF COURSE! If you're looking for something portable, colorful, and crowd-pleasing for your next potluck, look no further than these simple vegan spring rolls! The best part? You can substitute ANYTHING. I never make these the same way twice, so play around with cilantro, kale, cabbage, scallions, or whatever you think sounds good! Ingredients Veggie mix: 2 carrots (grated) 4 oz mung bean sprouts 1/3 cup chopped peanuts (raw, or roasted and salted) or ...
11 comments
Continued . . .

A List

FarmWife has a to-do list, and "Ride the Mule" is sadly absent. The best thing on the list is "Muck out the Paddock," during which time I can enjoy the pleasure of her delightful company. The worst thing on the list is "clean the house," which is sure to take hours and hours which would be better spent rubbing my splendiferous ears. There's hardly even time for blogging on my transcriptionist's agenda, so I'll keep this short.  Here, before I go, is the view from FarmWife's bedroom window at various levels of zoom: Your friend, Fenway
4 comments
Continued . . .

Stripey schemes and meadow dreams

As you may recall, I am the proud resident of a very charming little barn—some might call it a shed—which shelters me in the winter from rain, and in the summer from sun. This spring Farmwife and Farmhusband decided it should be painted. Green, suggested Farmwife. Red, suggested Farmhusband.  Teal, suggested Farmwife.  Yellow, suggested Farmhusband.  Stripey, suggested Farmwife? She was thinking of a retro Chevy squarebody (a quick Google search will show you what I mean), but didn't quite know how to make that practical on boards and battons.  Farmhusband, who is a wizard, not only figured how how the stripes ought to go, but also arranged for the painting to be done. What I ended up with, almost in the blink of an eye, is the brightest, most cheerful, stripeavaganza of a barn. Even the neighbors are fond of it! In front of the barn is a vast expanse of grass which I am not allowed to sample on account of my laminitis. Not only is Farmwife opposed to letting me eat...
Post a Comment
Continued . . .