How to Survive traveling with Ponies

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Ammo

When you spend your time with a bunch of famous ponies, sometimes you are required to spend long hours on the road with them. It’s not the best situation (IE – where is my pillow and my favorite toys?), but there are lots of things you can do to make it your home away from home. Here are a few things I just can’t live without when I’m traveling with the ponies…

Number 1: If you must be tied up, make sure you have access to a nice sunning spot. Grass is preferred, but I’ve been known to compromise.

Number 2: a nice comfy dog bed out of the sun (for when it just gets too hot to bare) is a must. I of course use my designer dog bed from Molly Mutt tucked away in my little corner in the trailer tack room.

Number 3: A fan! Mom hooked me up with this battery powered fan, and let me tell you, it-is-heaven on a hot day!

Number 4: ONLY travel with ponies who make you look good! I tell my ponies that they better bring home the BLUE ribbon – or else no kisses from me!

ok fine.

they get kisses either way because I love them.

but don’t tell them I said that!

Initiation

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Ammo

The Painting Ponies that I live with are a special breed (according to my mom). They are all Chincoteague Ponies, which means they were either born wild on Assateague Island in Virginia or they are related to the wild ponies from the island. My best pony friend Minnow was born wild on Assateague 18 years ago – how cool is that – technically I’m friends with a wild animal! Mom says Boomerang and Blitz are not directly from the island, but their parents are.

Since I learned that to get off the island, Minnow had to join in on the annual Pony Swim, I decided that Blitz and Boomerang should probably learn to swim too. It was time for initiation!

I of course watched safely from the sidelines.

Blitz and Boomerang are on the left, and my other pony friend Jet is on the right. Jet is not a Chincoteague Pony so she was exempt from initiation, but chose to participate – well, because she’s an overachiever.

The ponies we’re just taking too long to get to the swimming part, so I had to send in my assistant to get them moving.

It’s Super Trooper, assistant swim coach!

I like to make Trooper think he’s important.

And we have a swimmer! Boomerang has passed initiation! Now he can call himself a real Chincoteague Pony. I’m like the best swim coach ever!

There should be a trophy for that or something!

Horse Show Dog

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Ammo

Being a horse show dog is a VERY tough job. We don’t get the glory of winning the fancy ribbons and trophies like the ponies do, instead we are behind the scenes taking over the jobs that no one else wants to do.

Take my job for example. I’m usually on patrol duty, in charge of guarding all of the tack and the trailer.

The hours are long, and usually it’s hot. But someone has to keep away the chickens….

…and the cows!

Stop giving me the stink eye cow! I’m watching you!

It could be worse though, I could be stuck on ribbon rack duty like my pal Trooper.

He has no idea that all the ponies laugh at him.

I have to admit, I laugh too.

Is there room for me?

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Ammo

My Painting Pony friends recently got a new horse trailer.

Can you believe it? All three of them can fit inside there. I was almost a little jealous.

But then I remembered I get to ride up front. In the air conditioning. Yeah, not so jealous anymore.

Spider Action

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Ammo

I know. We’ve all missed seeing Spider on the blog.

She’s grown up so much since we first met her last October.

Now she’s feisty and strong.

And she likes to get into lots of trouble. (even more trouble than me!)

She can climb trees and she isn’t even scared when the barn swallows and mocking birds try to attack her.

And she’s a sneaky little hunter – she moves through the high grass to catch her prey on her tippy tippy toes.

I hope people think I’m as cool as she is.

And please don’t tell her that I think she’s cool…..I’ll loose my edge as the “big brother” and she just might beat me up!

Hunting Groundhogs – Superdog style

Posted on June 7, 2011 by Ammo

Everybody knows that when hunting groundhogs there is one major accessory that you must have. THE SUPER CAPE!

It gives you lightning speed and super digging powers.

Apparently Trooper missed the memo about the super capes.

Looks like I’ll have to venture underground solo on this one!

I’m Ammo the Dachshund, and I’m faster than a speeding bullet!

Went to the Devon Horse Show, to see the Sheep?

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Ammo

The Devon Horse Show is a yearly tradition for me. In fact, I’ve been attending every year since I was about 12 weeks old. If you have no idea what Devon is – here’s a little history lesson for you:

In 1896, the Devon Horse Show started as a one-day show. Now, years later, it has become the oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed competition in the United States. It is internationally recognized, USEF-A rated, and one of the most exciting events to happen in Chester County. While it draws top competitors from around the world, the show continues to reflect the local traditions and lifestyles of the Philadelphia Main Line.

Needless to say it’s full of fancy people in big hats, dogs, horses, carriages, funnel cake, amusement rides, shopping, and apparently sheep! Yes, that’s right sheep.

See my pal Trooper (the Australian Shepherd/Labrador) told me that there was going to be sheep herding at Devon this year. I knew that was something not to be missed. And since Trooper was too tired to come, I video taped most of it for him.

I guess it was pretty cool – although I’d still take my groundhog holes over herding around some sheep. To each his own.

After the sheep herding demo I was pretty famished, so I headed over to the concessions to grab some funnel cake.

Then I indulged mom and did a little shopping with her at Anthropologie.

Mom bought this:

Which I would have been much more thrilled about had it come with cookies in it. Ok, now I’m drooling.

Farm Boy

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Ammo

This is me.

I’m a farm boy.

Follow me and I’ll show you around my farm.

Now you can see why I LOVE being a farm boy!

Videography & Editing by Taylor Hellhake

Sounds of the Farm

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Ammo

You might think that the farm is a peaceful and quiet place, but the truth is, it can be quite noisy at times! Birds chirping, horses’ banging buckets, and we can’t forget Spider Kitty calling for her big brother Ammo to come out and play.