Every year around June mom and I start training the ponies for a very special trip. A trip to Chincoteague Island in Virginia at the end of July to watch their wild relatives swim from Assateague to Chincoteague during the annual Chincoteague Pony Swim and Auction.
As official pony trainer it’s my duty to help the ponies prepare by learning new tricks so they are ready to perform for their week long stay down there at the Chincoteague Pony Centre.
This year my pal Boomerang will be making his first trip to Virginia to perform, so I had a little chat with him about how he’s supposed to behave properly and not embarrass me.
Boomerang sulked for the rest of the day, what a baby!
Another part of Boomer’s preparation is reading the famous book by Marguerite Henry, Misty of Chincoteague. Things were going well until Boomer confessed that he doesn’t know how to read!
Sigh, it’s going to be a very very long summer!
Learn more about where you can see my pony friends perform at the end of July on the Painting Pony Blog.
Lazy and Farm aren’t typically words that go together, but when the weather suddenly hits near 90 degrees in the Spring (when it was in the 40’s) it can get lazy on the farm pretty quick!
So here’s a little taste of what’s been going on around the farm lately:
The farm is one of my favorite places to be, just spending time relaxing with all of my friends.
Those of you who are regular readers of my blog know that I’m a pretty active guy. I’m always going on exciting adventures, taking training classes, and generally just running around (boy do I love to run). But ever since Mom had surgery I’ve had to stay home a lot to take care of her. I don’t mind taking care of mom (and the good news is only 2 more weeks before we can return to regular adventures), but I do very much miss some things, like visiting my friends on the farm.
The good news is, Mom was missing the farm just as much as me, so over the weekend we took a trip out to visit all of my friends.
The Chincoteague Ponies missed me the most, and I missed Boomerang, Blitz, and Minnow just as much!
I also missed running! So I ran and ran and ran!
I also helped do farm chores, like herding the horses out to the pasture.
And then I ran some more! (Check out how much further along Trooper’s new house is! I can’t wait to give you the tour once Mom can walk a little better).
Trooper and I also did some wrestling. I won as always.
Then I spent the rest of my time on the farm helping to brush Minnow, my favorite pony in the whole wide world!
My time on the farm came and went too quickly. But I know soon we will be back to visiting my friends nearly every day – and it will be Spring! I can hardly wait!
Have you heard about the new app for iPhone, Vine? Well, a couple of weeks ago I signed up for Vine, which is a simple and fun way to share short 6 second looping video clips in a beautiful and fun way.
If you want to keep up with my adventures on Vine, you can follow me HERE. Or you can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see some of my Vine videos.
And incase you missed it, here are some of my recent Vine videos:
On Monday I arrived at the farm early to take my pal Minnow on a special outing.
Mom said Minnow was headed to the New Bolton Center, an internationally renowned large animal hospital, in other words the VET!
When we arrived I had to wait in the car, which was perfectly fine with me because going to the Vet is not my idea of a good time anyway.
Mom said Minnow was very brave, much braver than I am at the vet, as he got his 5 year check-up for Ringbone (which I’m told is arthritis in his ankle).
Minnow even got radiographs done of his legs, and I heard he didn’t even need to be drugged!
Minnow told me later that he kept looking over his shoulder wondering when I would come in to hold his hoof and make him feel better about being poked and prodded. I knew no one could be that brave at the vet!
Minnow’s radiographs showed how much of a Super Hero he really is – as his bones have been trying to fuse together over the past 5 years to alleviate pain in his joint. In other words, he’s growing a bionic leg!
When we got back to the barn Boomer and Blitz were waiting for us, and I told them all about how brave our Super Minnow was and all about his bionic leg.
And incase you’re wondering about Minnow’s prognosis…..he and I still have many more years of superness ahead!
You can read the full story on Minnow’s trip to New Bolton HERE.
On Friday I got to leave work early on account of the snow that made it’s way to Pennsylvania.
Of course a little bit of snow never stops me from having an adventure, so I bundled up in my jackets and decided to have some fun on the farm. Did you know that ponies like to have snowdays too?
Snowdays are so much fun, but there is really only one thing that makes them oh so amazing….
…coming inside to a warm blanket and a bowl of kibble!
This is totally going to be the name of my children’s book someday, “Farmyard Fun with a Dog in the Fog”. It sounds like something straight out of a Dr. Suess book.
And truth be told, I always have a lot of farmyard fun in the fog!
The damp blanket of foggy goodness seems to bring out all of my friends to play.
I’m always the first to grab a stick and entice my friends to join in the fun.
Catch me if you can ponies!
Before I could turn around to see who was joining me in this fun game of chase I was in the middle of nowhere, and the fog had covered me in it’s blanket!
I thought I might be lost.
Cricket got worried when she could no longer see my yellow coat in the pasture.
And Blitz began nickering for me so I could find my way back to my friends.
You might remember that I mentioned that I would be appearing on the new animal planet show, The Year in Pup Culture, which aired on December 22, 2012.
It’s an action-packed hour of non-stop, over-the-top cuteness. THE YEAR IN PUP CULTURE looks back at the defining moments of 2012 as only Animal Planet can — with puppies! These adorable pups reenact the most memorable moments of the year, including scenes from top blockbuster movies and ripped-from-the headline bits. If these moments piqued public interest in 2012, they are getting “puppified” in the cutest hour on television.
Well when I actually got to watch my (and Minnow’s) beautiful mug on tv, I was so excited that they actually compared me (yes little old me) to a Kardashian! Am I really that famous? Just check it out for yourself:
Oh yes, you heard right – me and Minnow are like the Kim & Kanye of Animal Planet! Well, except the fact that we’re best friends instead of lovers, although I do love my Minnow dearly. Proof:
I’m pretty sure this means that I get some designer doggie gear now that I’m associated with the Kardashian clan, right? Or at least a feature on Khloe Kardashian’s or Kim Kardashian’s Blog?
A dog can dream….
P.S. I hear Kim & Kanye are expecting their first child (yes, I keep up with my pop culture)….congrats to the couple, and just FYI I’m available for baby sitting. *wink*
The day has finally come! It’s time to announce the official release of the brand-new Super Pony DVD, staring the talented Minnow from Painting Pony…..and ME!
Thanks to my talented Uncle Taylor and Depthink Productions, we began filming for the DVD this past summer, and I’m so excited that it’s finally ready to share with everyone!
Check out the DVD Trailer:
ON THIS DVD
Trainer, Kyley DiLuigi, introduces us to Super Pony, the alter ego of the talented Chincoteague Pony, Minnow! Watch as he shows us some of his favorite trick performances, many of which have been performed at expos, fairs, schools, and even the Annual Chincoteague Pony Penning. Several performances also include Minnow’s lovable sidekick, Ammo the Dachshund, as well as other members of the Painting Pony crew. In addition to 5 featured videos, this DVD also contains 2 bonus videos: a visit to Iron Horse Farm, home to the Painting Ponies; and a talk given by Kyley about everyone’s favorite Chincoteague Pony, Misty of Chincoteague.
PAINTING PONY
In 2007, Painting Pony was founded when Kyley DiLuigi decided to bring her paints from art school out to the farm where she kept her 14-year-old pony, Minnow. That cold winter day Minnow became the World’s First Painting Chincoteague Pony as he created his very first masterpiece. As it became evident that Minnow had a gift that he truly loved, the paintings he created began to pile higher and higher. Feeling the need to share Minnow’s art with the world, Kyley started PaintingPony.com and the rest is history!
You’ll get to see performances by me and Minnow as well as me and my buddy Trooper. You even get to see me paint!
There is still plenty of time to order your copy for Holiday Gifts!
As a special gift to all my followers, enter code FREESHIP at checkout to receive free shipping on your entire order! (domestic orders only).
