The Windmill Gang

All text and pictures appearing on this site are the sole property of Horse Feathers Farm and may not be copied or reproduced without permission.

The Lawn Ornaments

On every farm, there are always the "Lawn Ornaments", the "They will never go anywhere" horses. The Windmill Gang is our collection of horses that will never go anywhere. Some were rescued, some were purchased so they could be rescued, some just found their way into our lives and will forever remain.

This is Bru - our first rescue. He is 20 year old Polish Arab that was so abused that you couldn't lay a hand on him without him just losing it. It took time to gain his trust, but he is a total character. He came to us with ringbone, a thickening of the joints in his foot and surgery was his only option for a pain-free life. So, lots of love, fuss, care and a plate and seven screws later, Bru is very sound (the surgery was 16 years ago!) He is still ridden occassionally, but prefers the company of his pasture mates. Oh, Bru loves to drink ice tea from a can - complete with tongue rolling and slurping sounds. I told you he was a character!

Oreo my first Tennessee Walker rescue was one of those horses that had lots of issues (she went through the barn on her hindlegs backwards at an almost run - and I still bought her - my reasoning? Who else would!?) She threw the most eye opening temper tantrums. She would go out on the trail with her ears pinned back, snorting and puffing the entire time. It took about 2 years of patience and understanding to end up with the most athletic, versatile, can do kinda horse that loved her job. The white on her face is scaring from an poorly fitted halter - how can people miss a halter that is too tight?? Oreo is 28 years old now and is best friends with Bru.

Andiamo is a 23 year old Azteca (Adulasian x Quarter Horse). He had an injury to his heel - it had gone untreated and left him hobbling on three legs. It took about 8 wks of intensive wound treatment to get him all healed. This is one very special boy. He has all the tricks down - piaffe, passage, spanish walk. He is getting a bit arthritic and is more or less retired from riding and will now go on to his new job: babysitting. He has become a wonderful Uncle to all the young foals at weaning! Oh, he was Mr. September in the 2006 White Horse Calendar!

Penny is our old Welsh pony. She was actually an anniversary present from Rex. We've never done much with her, but the Gang wouldn't be complete without a thelwell pony in the mix. We actually bred her to our Gyspy Stallion, Aiden. The gypsy x welsh cross makes a nice, athletic sport pony.

Here is Spangles - Penny's colt from 2008. He was born on July 4th and has just been a firecracker ever since. A more gorgeous moving pony I have never seen. He is so very 'heads up' and just plain lovable. And as much as Rex wants to sell him, my mum and I are conspiring against him. He mostly hangs with Andiamo, our very venerable "Uncle", so his role on the farm will be to take care of the weanlings whom he gets along with great and take over from Andiamo when he doesn't feel like playing. For now, he is part of the Windmill Gang....

Violetta, the Good Donkey

Marguarita, aka "Trouble"

Violetta and Marguarita. Violetta was pretty wild when we got her, but she is the most gentle donkey I've ever met. She'll pack the kids around or just hang with the gang. She is very laid back, unlike her friend Margo, aka Trouble with a capital "T". Margo came to us at three weeks old from the Black Beauty Ranch. She had been abandoned by her dam and had to be bottle raised. I don't think she has ever come to grips with the fact that she is a donkey. She loves to follow Rex when he is on the tractor, fixing fences, patching up the water tank. And of course she just makes trouble. No matter, I love her.

And finally , Little Promise. She was rescued at an autcion for $25 dollars and I promised her I'd keep her for the rest of her life. She had severely foundered and was just pitiful. She was best friends with all the Gang until she was too old to keep up with them. Promise then had free run of the 100 aces, going wherever she pleased. But she was very lonley and picked her beau: none other than our Friesian gelding Brando. She was about 9 hh and Brando 15.3hh. So the two of them ambled all over. As Promise became elderly, Brando was ever the gentleman. He'd wait for her to finish her mushy feed and never strayed far from her. I swear he would find the best grass and invite her over.

Promise died in 2006 well over 30 years old. Brando misses her terribly, we all do.

Bob Langrish