It seems like just a few months ago that we rescued Quixote, but in reality it will be nine years ago in August, and Quixote will be 23 years old this year! He is showing his age a little- we have him on Legend and Adequan to help keep him feeling spry; his left stifle has a tendency to lock up, and he has some arthritis in his hocks, but he still loves to run and buck and jump straight up into the air when he’s playing in the arena!
Quixote has three favorite things in the world to do. His first favorite thing is playing with his bff Lou Dillon in the arena. He and Lou will run around until they are completely soaked, kicking and biting (not hard), but essentially until they are exhausted. They seem to really love each others’ company, though, and they play fight over the bars of their stalls as well for hours.
Quixote’s second favorite thing is swinging his lead rope around in a circle. We have to tie up his rope and halter tightly, because he will untie it from the bars of his stall, then proceed to swing it around and around and around again for who knows how long, until he gets bored, and then he stomps the rope into the ground until it is good and filthy so we have to scrub it to get it clean the next day.
Quixote’s third favorite thing to do is to grab the rope of the muck bucket and, after the volunteers have filled up the bucket, he likes to pick it up and spread the manure back out. It is great fun! He must think that we really love cleaning his stall, and how much more fun would it be for us to clean it twice?
Even though Quixote has gotten older, he definitely is the same silly horse we have come to know and love. When he first came to Hanaeleh he was a little crazy, so we will take silly over crazy any day of the week!