horse hugs

What is it about horse hugs that makes them so special? 

An animal as stoic and large as a horse, choosing to softly wrap their head around you. And stay.

Even when hay is fed mid-hug a couple feet away

Even when you unwrap your arms and take a step back. Thinking they must prefer to eat.

Even then, they choose not to move. So, you re-hug and they gently re-wrap their head. Around you. With the right amount of contact around your neck, and upper back.

Over and over.

I was living in the moment and not counting, but my guess would be we held hugs 4 or 5 times.

Not a step was taken. Until I let go one last time. Departing with a kiss, and "go eat your hay sweetie".

the exact moment I knew she was joining our family
(2010)

choosing to be with our son, at what used to be the family farm
(2010)

She chose to take good care of me when I was broken back in 2017.

Brad with his sweet girl Cierra
(2023)

She is still choosing to take good care of me, with apparently what I needed.

Heartfelt hugs.

just a 'stash

Shirley from Ride a Good Horse recently asked if anyone (also) has a horse with a swirl on it's nose. I thought our Nemo did, along with a mustache. I did not see a swirl. Just a 'stash.

I took some video of Nemo, while heading out to walk the dogs yesterday morning. 

Silly horse. It is just us.
(16 secs)

If you watch to the end of the clip below, you will see Sir Nemo's moosttaash.

Nemo
(13 secs)

Now I am curious if any of our other horses have nose swirls, and what they symbolize.

land of wonders ~ January 2026

Familiar happenings, in what turned out to be a long month.

1.4.26

1.7.26 heading home

Tinkerbell is a daytime house cat
1.7.26



1.11.26


surround sound pm color

1.12.26 the next morning

winter clouds are so interesting
1.13.26

classic sniff-along (Tank & Jameson)

 

inside sleep-along

(window reflection of our deck)

our woods are colorful year-round 

rim-lit Tankee

Tank & Remi also sniff & hang out together inside
1.14.26

Jameson continues doing well

Cierra chose to walk with us

sooo many good sniffs
1.15.26



snow is back 1.17.26

1.19.26
cold morning sundog, a corner away

gracing our home



 facing northwest

wonder blankets the back of our land

1.19.26

Our world was frigid for the remainder of January. Most of our time and energy went into taking extra care of our beloved animals, and keeping ourselves warm.

Blink. It is already mid-February.

a different focus

I decided to dust off my camera and head to the river in hopes of finding eagles fishing. I have not road tripped/hauled my camera anywhere in a very long time. I barely even use my camera at home. Convincing myself to pack up and go took time. I lost beautiful early morning light and probably more eagles fishing.

how many eagles do you see?

my answer: a lot

get ready

It didn't take long to realize I was rusty not only at tracking, but predicting the action. My one touch down shot was a blurry mess (deleted). I am well aware this series of photos are soft. Hoping to try again with a few adjustments ex. no lens adaptor. I can do better, even without ideal equipment.

heading back

spotted this eagle from a different vantage point
it was not budging

Regardless, I had fun on my little road trip with me, myself and I. It was nice to focus on something different, and forget the heaviness of life for a little while. It reminded me how much I enjoy the challenge of tracking/predicting moving things.

immature eagle

2.9.2026