As the barn turns...
a continuing equine serial by Lynda Vital & friends
23nd Installment
Another crisp Autumn day, turnout time in the sun. Great weather for horses, plus no horse-flies in some time, another blessing. “Makes me hungry!” said Lucky. “November is a great month to be hungry,” said Calvin. “It will soon be time for Thanksgiving feasts again.” “Can’t wait for apple pie!” exclaimed Poco. “And carrot cake, don’t forget carrot cake!” added Rover. “I always wondered who eats all that food on Thanksgiving,” said Apollo. I once heard...
22nd Installment
The chillier nights and the rustling of the leaves was starting to let people know that fall was in the air, and you know what that means - pumpkins and trick-or-treat, dressing up and all that good stuff. Most horses don’t spend a whole lot of time thinking of such things, but as you know, our gang at Horsefeathers is turned on to anything that sounds like fun. “Do you remember the party we had here last year?” said Poco. “It sure was funny when Tigger scared everybody by dressing up like a...
21st Installment
Well, September has rolled around, and you know what that means. Yes, back-to-school for all the happy Moms, but also time for the annual trip to the Special Olympics for the Horsefeathers Gang. It’s time to pile into that great big trailer and go for the Gold! Well, really to go for the fun, because that’s what our Special Olympians are all about. Everyone’s a winner in Decatur! Once again the whole barn was packed and ready to go on the road trip - volunteers and horses and riders all in...
20th Installment
Lucky the pony had been so inspired by Harley’s motorcycle fund drive. “I sure wish I could make some money for Horsefeathers, too,” he said to Rover one day. “Well, you helped Harley out a lot,” answered Rover. “You’re his best buddy and you were there for him that day.” Lucky agreed, but he said he wished he had some talent that he could put to use to do some good for the barn. “Well, you can help out at the big yard sale coming up,” said Rover. “And who says you have no talent? You give...
19th Installment
All that running around on Memorial Day had left Harley feeling very frisky. “Sure felt good to let off some steam,” he said to his friend Lucky. “I liked learning about the cavalry horses helping our country as well. I’d sure like to do something extra special to help someone in some way, too, seeing how I have life so good here at Horsefeathers.” Lucky said, “Well, we do help our riders and their families every day, of course.” Ice, who was standing nearby, chimed in. “I was just reading...
18th Installment
Spring had finally come for Horsefeathers Gang. All the horses were outside for turnout. The new green grass was delicious and the annual onslaught of flies had not yet arrived. “It’s beautiful weather for a picnic, or a parade or something,” remarked Poco. Big Red’s fuzzy ears perked right up at the mention of a parade. “I remember when we police horses used to march in the Memorial Day Parade in downtown Chicago!” he said. “It was very exciting.” Calvin was puzzled. “What, pray tell, is...
17th Installment
“Can someone please put a saddle and bridle on Scatman for his next lesson?” called one of the volunteers. That new big boy is coming in next. “Oh, no,” Scatman groaned. “I do love that boy, but oh, my aching back!” Big Red heard the mutterings from next-door, and commiserated with his pal. “I hear you, Scatman,” he said. “I know that back of yours was sore even when you first came here to work, and although Apollo is here now to help out with the big riders, it sure would be nice for you to...
16th Installment
It had been a long, cold, snowy winter for the Horsefeathers Gang - colder and snowier than it had been in many years, one storm after another. The horses didn’t mind too much, being horses and all. As long as there was plenty of hay around, plus extra treats, they were happy. However, the humans were beginning to get tired of all the grey days. They needed a lift. “Lucky it’s almost time for Valentine’s Day!” said Kristi. “That always cheers people up.” Big Red happened to overhear her say...
15th Installment
Well, you’d think after all the excitement of the last few months that things might quiet down for the Horsefeathers Gang, but that was just not going to happen. There were always more good times waiting just around the corner. It didn’t matter if it was the middle of winter and it was freezing out and as soon as you’d get done shoveling out from one snowstorm there’d be another one predicted for the next day. After all, a horse can’t wait till it’s 65 degrees outside to have fun! The next...
14th Installment
Well, quite a bit of snow had fallen since the great football game, and today the horses were all outside frolicking in it. The air was cold and crisp, just like horses love it, and you could see the steam coming out of their nostrils as they galloped around and around. Ice was just about to blast Rover with a giant snowball, when all of a sudden; a police cruiser came careening down the driveway. “I didn’t do it!” shouted Calvin. The cruiser pulled up to the corral and out jumped our...
Special Installment
Once again, inclement weather was keeping the Horsefeathers Gang inside for turnout-time. The horses never minded this, as everyone knew they had the coolest and coziest arena in the land, created by many loving hands. No place could match it for its good vibes. Such an environment lent itself to many spirited discussions on a wide variety of subjects, ranging anywhere from Conga lines to flat-screen TV’s. However, this day was turning out to be much different than most. Usually, the horses...
13th Installment
Installment number thirteen already? Well, it’s fitting that we started our program in November, and the first newsletter came out the following November. After all, November is the month in which we celebrate a most important holiday, Thanksgiving Day. And we here at Horsefeathers have been lucky in so many ways, I am sure that on that day we will all look forward to a few hours of great food and company, thoughtful introspection, heartfelt gratitude for our blessings,...
12th Installment
Well, the leaves were starting to fall and the nights were getting chilly. Pumpkins were starting to appear everywhere, and you know what that means - the big decision facing every child once a year - what to dress up as for Halloween! The Horsefeathers gang was excited, too. Because they were such special horses doing such an important job, they also got to wear costumes for Halloween. They were all thinking really hard about what to be this year, because Kristi had told them there would be...
11th Installment
Harley was happily munching his hay one morning, enjoying the sun shining in on him in his stall. “I sure am glad they moved me over here,” he thought. “I love the fresh air and…….Hey, what the heck is THAT!?!?!?” Down the driveway came the biggest truck he had ever seen, and it was pretty noisy as well. It was so long it seemed to take forever to get past his stall and into the parking lot. A few of the volunteers ran outside to watch. “Wow, our horses are going to ride in style in this...
10th Installment
Red Rover’s big day had finally come. There was a huge crowd around him, cheering for him and calling out his name. “Hail, Rover. the bravest of all!” He was all dressed up in a velvet cape with an ermine collar. The King strutted up to Rover with his shining sword, laid it on the kneeling pony’s shoulder, and the crowd fell silent. “Good Brave Pony, I here pronounce you Sir Rover of………………” “ERerERerROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!” The piercing cry of the rooster shattered the blessed stillness...
9th Installment
“Maybe she decided to go visit the donut factory!” said Harley. “Nope, she had no interest in those things. She never ate any of the ones the humans brought in,” answered Big Red. The horses were in the outside arena having one of their many discussions about the people they worked with. Scatman had been getting a little worried, as his friend, Lynda, hadn’t been around for awhile. The last time he saw her, she told him she loved him and was going away on a scouting mission, but would come...
7th Installment
Life at Horsefeathers was finally starting to get back to normal after all the excitement of the Derby. Rover’s fifteen minutes of fame was over, and now everyone wondered what our furry gang would be up to next. “Actually, I think it would be nice to just have some peace and quiet for a while,” said Scatman. This was not to be, because just at that moment, Ice came up to him and told him some great news. “Did you know it’s vacation time soon, Scat?” said Ice. “I heard Kristi asking one of...
8th Installment
Well, Tigger was right this time. As summer approached, the horses talked to each other more and more about their vacation plans when they were at turnout. “Gosh, I can almost taste those donuts already!” Scatman said to Big Red. All of a sudden Kristi appeared one day during one of their discussions. She had a piece of paper in her hand that looked like some kind of schedule. “Wait till you see what fun we’re going to have this summer!” she announced. She then proceeded to tell THE HORSES...
6th Installment
Last month’s installment had Rover envisioning a new life of fame and fortune for himself, as the first pony to enter and win the Kentucky Derby. He had started training diligently under the wise tutelage of Elsie, a former racehorse herself. Many horses would have laughed at our dear little red boy, but underneath her tough exterior, Elsie had a heart of gold. “Who am I to dash the young ’un’s dreams?” she said.barnstory So every day, the Horsefeathers gang watched in awe as Rover went...
5th Installment
Well, you’ll be happy to know that the horses DID get more sugar-cubes, quite a few more, in fact. A fine fellow from California, who had visited them for the winter holidays, sent them a whole box! “We sure were lucky to get all those treats from our friend, Alex,” said Poco to Rover. Rover agreed wholeheartedly, but he had his mind on something else. “Speaking of luck,” he said, “I hear the barn is having a big raffle to raise money. The prize is a great big TV set. I wonder who the...
4th Installment
Last news of the barn was the big party. Sure enough, everyone at the party spread out and made plenty of room for the horses to join in with the fun. Tia and Scatman won first prize in the dance contest for their outstanding version of the “Charleston,” and there was just no sense at all in trying to keep track of all the girls that were lined up to dance with Red Rover. “Tia was right!” he exclaimed. “These furry knickers DID make me the coolest guy at the party!” The next day at...
3rd Installment
Well, Santa did come that night, and next morning the horses found all kinds of nice treats in their stalls - apples, carrots, and peppermints. “Wow!” said Calvin. “We must have been really good horses last year for Santa to have been so good to us!” “Now that the holidays are over, I wonder what exitement we’ll have next,” said Ice. Ice was a fun-loving boy, always looking for adventure. “I think the humans were up to something last week,” piped in Big Red. “There was all kinds of noise...
2nd Installment
Well, as Red Rover pondered the meaning of life, or rather, the fact that he had furry knickers on, a strange aura was developing in the barn. The horses all felt some interesting vibes out there, and being horses and all, did not quite understand what was going on. "I heard the humans talking about some kind of holiday party the other day," said Big Red. "Don't know what that means at all." "Well, they just had a big birthday party - remember the night all the people came and there was...
1st Installment
Red Rover the pony was very excited. One of the Big Horses told him he was to have ameeting with Kristi, the program director of Horsefeathers, his new home. "All the horses have special training sessions with Kristi, so they can learn to be good therapy horses," said Poco. "I still get to have LOTS of training sessions!" piped in Calvin. "Well, that's fine by me," said Red Rover."I like my new home and I'd like to learn how to be a good pony." Just then, a volunteer came in with a lead-line...
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23nd Installment
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22nd Installment
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21st Installment
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20th Installment
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19th Installment
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18th Installment
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17th Installment
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16th Installment
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15th Installment
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14th Installment
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Special Installment
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13th Installment
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12th Installment
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11th Installment
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10th Installment
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9th Installment
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7th Installment
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8th Installment
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6th Installment
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5th Installment
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4th Installment
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3rd Installment
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2nd Installment
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1st Installment
