Dappleganger

doppelgänger (German for look-alike, literally a "double goer") (pronounced [ˈdɔpəlˌɡɛŋɐ]) is a paranormal double of a living person.

dappleganger:  same thing, only in dapple grey

Weird huh?

Oxers

My work on my new playground equipment has me feeling fit and as sleek as can be.

We have gymnastic grids where first, I trot through poles, and then...

...we bounce out.  (I like to bounce)

The cross rails keep me aimed in the right spot.  These are easy.  We trot up to them to keep me from getting over eager.

But there is something more complicated ahead.  And it is sporting fresh, new, bright lumber...  I give it the "stink eye".

It's an "oxer".  Back in Merry Olde England, where fields are fenced with hedges, they would put a rail on one side to keep the cattle (oxen) from rubbing and pushing through the hedge.  This rail was called an oxer.  So, and hedge with a rail was an "oxer" .  A rail on each side made the hedge that much more formidable for the hunters to jump.  They could not just brush through the tops of the hedge. They had to jump the full height.

So, two jumps side by side, just as wide as they are tall, are called an "oxer".  I am getting used to oxers gradually.  Mine has a rail down but I still look at it funny because it is bright and new.  Brita threatens to paint all our equipment white next year....

But still I have fun!  I am the Horse with the flying tail!

New Equipment

My Playground has new Equipment in it!

We are practicing and practicing on the old equipment while we get good pictures to show you how much fun I'm having with my NEW equipment!

It's so much fun!  I feel like I'm flying!  I always keep a happy face...

...Brita has to concentrate lots.  She keeps her "OMG I'm too old for this" face on.

Yee Ha!  Let's go again!

My Friend Levi

I am teaching my friend Levi the English methods of horsekeeping.  Scrub harder Levi!

Yes, that's it!  Look at that little hand go!

And seeing my "happy lip" Levi asked if I would like some snuff put in it.  What is "snuff"?

Editor's Note:  Little Levi kindly removed his hat and set it on the ground because each time it bobbed into William's peripheral vision he jumped a little!

The Lone Ranger

I would have been SO good in this role!  And, a little known fact about my real life personality:  you know how movie horses always nicker and talk and all you horse experts think "that is so cheesy, real horses don't do that.... "  well I do.  I talk all the time.   I'm a chatterbox.

Masked Bandits

So there I was minding my own business.  Out for a summer stroll.

Wait!  What's that in my paddock?

Bandits!

Run for your lives!

Flee!

One last look from a safe distance.

Summer Buggies

I've been having trouble with buggies. And not the kind you think.

These things chase horses.  I've seen it happen.  Any horse that gets strapped to one of these things ought to receive hazard pay.  If I were strapped to one I can tell you I would do my work in a BIG hurry. What's more, it means that there are some of those men with the scary hats lurking around.  

I wonder where they could be hiding?

No, Seriously... let's get out of here!