Katie Jenkins

The one I found was dead too but, you're right, still a lovely spotting!

Maria: While I agree that WeeMan should be in the Captive Animal mission (and will help my husband to put this spotting there), we both disagree with the 'pet' designation and would both appreciate your not changing the labeling. Thanks. =)

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll have to check it out again later as I'm pretty sure it's some sort of tree. Persimmons perhaps?

Uncool!!! But there were no red marks on this spider that I could see. There were white marks along the back tho. I'm not an insect person so totally unsure but with dogs, horses, and occasionally kids, anything poisonous or aggressive has got to go!

John: Would a JV black widow be able to lay eggs? It was on top of the egg sacks pictured and there were lots of hatchlings all over the sacks as well.

Thanks, Aaron! I thought it was a gartersnake but just wasn't sure.

Thanks Cindy. He's a neat little guy and it is genuinely hard to not treat him any differently than our 'Big Boys' because he is so stinking cute! Kinda thought the halter and braids would suggest that he's not exactly 'wild' anymore. =) But I'll add him to the Captive's mission. I also just started my own mission for Equine Breeds found in VA that I've added him and our Chincoteague Pony to it.

Thank you. I'll try to post pictures as his muscle structure changes as he becomes fit. I'll try to post pics of his training and tricks that he learns too. =)

=) Hope I didn't come across as 'grumpy'. I'm a little edgy about Mini's being seen as pets. This creates numerous behavioral flaws that can border on dangerous and can even lead to physical deformities in severe cases. This little guy was part of a surrender/rescue situation in which he was treated like a 'pet' for the first 5 1/2 years of his life, as most Mini Horses unfortunately are. It's hard not to since they are just so dang cute! He was 'surrendered' around 1/30 of this year and the first four times my husband and I met WeeMan, we had to be on our knees and let him come to us as he was nearly unapproachable. We've had him at our farm since 4/9 and he has made incredible strides in his lack of trust and demeanor as I refuse to treat him like anything but what he is: a horse. He's treated just like his 800lb, 1100lb and 1400lb counterparts and is expected to behave accordingly. He has progressed to the point that he can even be lead by children now (under close supervision, of course). I'm looking forward to seeing what this little guy can really do and how long it takes us to get to the point where we can do demonstrations at horse shows and public events to show that they are, indeed, horses.

Thank you for the compliment, but he is not a pet. He is a working animal that is learning to pull a cart (aka drive), work in-hand Dressage movements, and learn tricks to demonstrate the versatility and intelligence of the breed. He has many uses around our farm and is absolutely not a pet in any form. =)