What else do I remember about a year and a day ago, May 5, 2013? I recall that the enclosure that was Signy’s foaling area still had snow and ice in it – not much. This May 5, there was none. I cleaned it and laid out hay for Signy to eat and lay down in. I was concerned that she might cast herself, that is put her feet in such a position, up against a wall, that she could not move. Turns out she was a smart mare and knew not to do this.

On first inspection, I noticed that Hrimmi had four white legs. I was a bit dismayed about this because horses with white legs often get scratches, a nasty bacterial skin infection. This has never come to be. I keep the pen clean and routinely brush her legs.

Alys with Signy and Hrimmi on the bench

Hrimmi was also, like Signy, cow hocked in the rear. I did a lot of body work on her in the years that followed her birth. She remains able to balance herself quite well.

She was born with pink eyelids – very unbecoming. However, they darkened in the next few days.

Hrimmi, a pinto tobiano, came into this world with a large brown spot on a white saddle. She also had white on her rump – it has always brought to mind Sherwin William’s paint company slogan, “Cover the Earth.”

We let her and Signy be for a day or two, then began taking them on walks, first around the loop and then in the woods, on the trail. Hrimmi had no trouble keeping up.

She’s always been a very mellow horse, to a large part because Signy was mellow. It was as if raising foals was Signy’s favorite job. I remember one day looking in the enclosure – Both mare and foal were lying down – Signy looked very content.

It took some time for Raudi to accept the fact that Signy, and not herself, had a foal. Raudi was actually pissed and if we hadn’t kept them separate, she would have killed the foal. Raudi still hasn’t been bred, and every so often she reminds me of this.

Hrimmi has spent her entire life with us, with the exception of one three-month period, which is when we went on our second Divide Ride trek. We boarded her at Dorothy’s – Dorothy was then working at Animal Food Warehouse. She was in a backyard with another two-year old. When we came and got her, she stood at the fence, rooted, as we all waited for the owner of the two-year old to come and pick her up. We’d brought Signy along, and as we expected, Hrimmi jumped into the trailer when it was time to go home.

Hrimmi is a wonderful cart horse. There is nothing that she likes to do more. We just need to find a cart that fits her. The one we have is too large.

So many memories. I could go on. This though, should suffice.

Next: 126. 5/7/24: The Spring in my Step