Steve brought his two daughters, Leila and Trillium, over to our place when he came over to jump start Sputnik. The girls hopped out of the truck and assisted me in putting Ranger and Rover back in their pen and Rainbow and Jenna back in the kitchen. Then they ran down to check on the horses. Tinni was then tied to the hitching post, and Hrimmi and Signy were hanging out by the hayshed.

Trillium got the grooming box out of the trailer, and began brushing Tinni, and Leila went to hang out with Hrimmi. The animals very much enjoyed the brief visit.

This got me to wondering – why is it that little girls get on so well with horses? Most adults readily conceded that the best pairings ever have involved preteens and horses.

I think that there’s a psychic connection. Little girls and horses are on a similar

wavelength, which is one that transcends conventional human/horse interaction. Whatever the rationale, the relationships that are established are good for all. It just makes the world a better place. The horses become easier to work with. And the little girls, all of whom eventually grow up, are more empathetic and compassionate than they might otherwise be.

Tinni, now 23, loves little girls, who when they visit, spend hours brushing him. As for Hrimmi, now 10 months, she’s intrigued. She followed Leila around and in this way indicated that she was up for an adventure. If the weather had been good and the snow gone, the two might have gone further afield.

Leila has a donkey, who I call Fast Eddie. He’s a happy fellow who likes hanging out at their place. Leila dotes on him. Trillium likes Eddie, but he’s most definitely not the equine love of her life. For some time I’ve been assisting her family in attempting to find Trillium a horse of her very own. Trillium has insisted that this be an Icelandic horse (wonder why?), which has prolonged the search.

No suitable Icelandic horses have materialized here in Alaska. This is because the horse in question must be the absolute right horse. It must have good horse sense when it comes to hanging out with kids. And it must be a horse that Trillium can ride, after a bit, with a minimal amount of adult supervision. It must also be trail savvy.

Said horse must also be able to hold its own in a farm setting, which is one that includes pigs, a donkey, a draft horses, big dogs, and a long horn Scottish Highland steer.

Well, we think we’ve found the horse for Trillium – his name’s Skjoni. Pam Nolf, who like me is on the Icelandic Horse Magazine Quarterly committee, went and checked him out. (See videos). Right now he’s being used for lessons. Pam took an experienced rider with her, and she rode him. They also observed Skjoni in a lesson setting. Pam talked with Trillium’s mother, and the report was favorable.

So, in all likelihood, Trillium’s parents will purchase Skjoni. The fellow now has a 3,000 mile trip ahead of him that is unless they Fed Ex him here. I think that Skjoni and Trillium will do very well together. Why wouldn’t they?

Next: 77. 3/18/13: Radio Free Palmer