Basil!
Basil had found himself with no home, and so he’s come to Ty Isaf as a companion to Lacey, who has always lived with other horses. He was so shy when he arrived that he had to be half carried out of the horse-box. That however has changed in the past forty-eight hours. His confidence has grown by the minute. Today I took him for what I’d hoped might be a gentle stroll to visit a neighbouring farm… thinking that he’d be more like a large dog on a lead than a horse. But once out of his paddock he was off like a rat out of a trap, me at a brisk trot keeping pace with him. He may be small but gosh he’s strong in the neck. I shall post more about him as he settles in. But for now, you can admire his startlingly blue eyes!
He is too cute for words! And what mesmerizing eyes. I’m tickled that he was more spirited than expected given his shy beginnings. Thank you for taking him in and giving him a good home. Sounds as though he was being discarded–thoughtlessly in fact.
I think he knows he’s landed on his feet here. He’s looking a lot more confident. The eyes are quite something aren’t they? An extraordinary little fellow.
What a beauty! that’s the sweetest creature i’ve ever seen, i’m going to come steal him
Well, he’d probably willingly go with you if you plied him with apples. He’ll do anything for a Cox’s Orange Pippin!
You said big eyes, so I was thinking of bush babies or a pet frog or some oddity, but these eyes are pale mad blue eyes! I love the second picture: wild! He has a rather Steiff look.
Was this a child’s little horse and then the child outgrew the horse (like the skin horse in “The Velveteen Rabbit,” poor thing)? Rebecca’s idea.
The details are sketchy. Stephanie’s friend rescued Basil a year ago from an owner who was about to have him put down. Whoever it was just didn’t want him. Since that time he’s been in a field with some other horses, though that arrangement then had to come to an end. So the little chap has arrived here as a companion for Lacey. Rebecca’s conjecture seems plausible, but I suspect we’ll never know what happened.
I don’t know his age, though I suspect he’s quite young. His teeth are good and his hooves neat. He’s unshod and will remain so as he won’t be on metalled roads with a rider on his back. He’s good with Jack, seeming mildly astonished at this noisy creature who runs around his paddock chasing a frisbee. He’s quite quickly become friendly and follows me around in the hope of an apple. He and Lacey are in adjoining paddocks as we wanted them to get used to each other before trying them together. She had a temper tantrum when he arrived and took down the cross bar of a fence to show her displeasure. But I see them grazing nose to nose either side of the fence now, and so things are looking a good deal more promising. His whinny is very gruff. I expected something very shrill to come out of him, but he’s a basso profundo!
PS. Steiff, yes, quite right. I must check his ear to see if he has the button!
They are more valuable with the button!
I checked and it’s there!
Basil Brush has really taken to you….. happy grooming!! lol xxxx
Oh just look at him. That mane is insane!