Would you look at this pony? He is gaining weight every day! And ... you can help us continue to help him and his friend Hweehehe. It’s as simple as well, shopping for a bit of kitchenware with our Pampered Chef fundraiser! Just one more day to shop till you drop and help us raise a little money toward Percival Pony’s food. If you love Pampered Chef or are looking for kitchenware for yourself or a loved one, please consider perusing our fundraiser page and placing an order- every penny that is generously passed along to Tomten will be put toward the Pony food for Percival Pintomint (and Hweehehe) and at $27.50 a bag with a consumption rate of one bag every day and a half, every penny counts. Not ready to make a purchase yourself? Perhaps you could share this post. It is together we are Tomten Farm and Sanctuary and together we make a difference for animals in need. Thank you all for your consideration and thank you, Michelle BL, for your generosity offering this fundraiser. If you would like to read the original post, you can check it out in the comments below. Happy shopping. https://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/michelleloureiro/guest-landing/9118630231195

Mmmmm. Breakfast with the Chickabiddies.

“It’s snowing still,” said Eeyore, gloomily. “And freezing.” “However,” he said, brightening up a little, “we haven’t had an earthquake lately.” Happy Winnie the Pooh Day from one of our favorite Eeyores, Figaro Brayburn. (Full disclosure, today actually was a beautiful day on the farm, this photo was taken yesterday, but no matter, A A Milne offered some beautiful thoughts in his touching children’s stories and besides, who doesn’t like Winnie the Pooh?)

TMI? Not for Perci’s friend Hweehehe, he loves getting up close and personal! If you have known me for any length of time or at a personal level, you know that for the past two plus decades, pretty much my entire paycheck has gone to one of three things, my mortgage, the animals and learning. I forfeit vacations, dinners, clothing, hobbies etc. and quite honestly, really feel as though I don't miss a thing. Nothing brings me greater joy than these animals. However, here I am close to 50 and finally the pots and pans I have used since college have officially retired themselves, as in I am down to one small saucepan and a maimed skillet. They had a great run and as much as I hate to spend money on kitchen ware, when it is time, its time. I have to eat too and while I absolutely love nachos for dinner, real food is a must occasionally. So, bear with me here, I reached out to a beautiful woman who once generously did a fundraiser for Tomten via The Pampered Chef. What goes around should come around and I wanted her to get the points or commission or however it is that they do it and wouldn't you know.... she offered to create a fundraiser for Tomten again. It really is amazing this community we have, so many trying to help however they can. We are keeping it simple, there is no pressure, but this weekend she will host a special four day sale where Tomten will receive a small percent. If you love Pampered Chef or are looking for kitchenware for yourself or a loved one, please consider perusing her page and placing an order- every penny that is generously passed along to Tomten will be put toward Pony food for Percival Pintomint and at $27.50 a bag at a rate of one bag every day and a half, every penny counts. Not ready to make a purchase yourself? Perhaps you could share this post. It is together we are Tomten Farm and Sanctuary and together we make a difference for animals in need. Thank you all and thank you, Michelle BL, for your generosity. https://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/michelleloureiro/guest-landing/9118630231195

Look who is back! We love the big bad boys of Circle B and are so glad they are braving the elements to keep this barn a raising! Are they the best or what? I’m cheering them on every step of the way, aren’t you? Go, go, go!

And she stood up to Winter, strong and powerful, with a fire and a spirit that cut through the cold with the breath of life and the twinkle of dreams come true. Taabe Summer Storm.

Happiness is being first at the hay pile and not having your grazing muzzle on. The joys of winter when you are a round little pony. Annabella at Tomten Farm and Sanctuary.

What?! Who said hay is for horses? I think it’s for hens and roosters too! Good morning from Roo Roo Kachoo.

Winter, remember I said I was ready for you? Nice try but your ice was no match for me. Spring is just 63 days away and until she arrives, hear me roar!

Is that manure on your face? Why yes, yes it is. Originally known as Jean Pierre Lafluerre Woof Woof, this character is usually referred to as simply, Bug, the Buggiest or Bugalicious although I am not sure there is anything really delicious about him after a good roll in warm manure. Ahhhh the life of a farm dog is good.

Percival Update. Our new additions, Hweeehehe Whinny Wooly Wildfire and Perci are slowly settling in here on the farm and we are doing our best to help them find peace, protection and possibility. As you know, that has been bit of a process but I think we are gradually making strides and now, one month in, I am cautiously optimistic although we are far from free and clear. On the plus side, they are cute as can be. Quarantine went off without a hitch (thanks again Sarah), they have had a trim, a vet visit and and dental work, and arrived here as cool as cucumbers. Percival has two beautiful new blankets that help keep him warm and dry and the new food, Thrive, seems to be a real possibility. It is easier for him to eat and digest and can be offered overnight in free choice quantities as though it was hay. That is a HUGE plus and we are hoping it will help him gain weight, stay warm and buffer the stomach acids and bile he (and all horses) produce 24 hours a day while offering mental comfort by allowing him instinctual “grazing” behavior. Time will tell if he can stabilize on this but I am cautiously optimistic. On the down side, it is a four hour process to drive to either of the closest dealers and back, load and unload and the cost is $27.50 (after a generous discount, thank you ladies) per bag. To put that in perspective for you, that is four times the cost of hay (it is fed in approximately an equal amount - 40 pounds of hay is 40 pounds of Thrive) and the cost goes up after filling the truck with gas. Aghhh. Of course, as is the process of rescue, there are often multiple physical and emotional needs to be addressed with any save and those can further complicate things. Because Perci needs significantly more calories than Hwee these boys cannot be together all the time although he would prefer it that way. We have tried rotating one in the in and out and one loose in the turnout with little success, Perci simply stands next to Whee if he is out and if Hwee is out and ventures more than 15 feet, Perci tries to climb the fence, rearing repeatedly, working himself into a sweat. They cannot live full-time in small in and outs next to one another forever so we are creatively tackling this in between snow, rain and ice. We have tried introducing Anna as a buffer and while Hwee and Anna hit it off fabulously, Perci surprised me by exhibiting strong stallion behaviors, slapping, squealing and arching obsessively so that was a no go. We have tried letting both boys out for short spurts together and they think it is amusing to chase Beatrice and Baby Braynard who have free rein in the large turnout the in and outs open up to. Now we are placing the donkeys in the in and outs while the boys are loose but because Perci needs access to food (lunch) he cannot be out long-term. Figuring out how to incorporate time with another equine without under feeding him or over feeding them is going to be a tricky as is reducing the frantic level of codependency he has for his mini friend, Hwee. But.....we are committed to this little guy and are happy he is here. After all this is what rescue is, doing more, giving more, being more on the behalf of those who need it. We are doing everything we can to make it work and he is looking a bit better than he did. Fingers crossed. Some of you had asked what quidding or balling hay was and why he can’t eat regular food, I have attached a photo of the “cigars” he creates when he attempts to eat hay. They are basically formed from trying to eat with molars that cannot break down the pieces. We have tried the chopped forage with the same results. Poor Perci, just imagine trying eat and have the food roll around and around in your mouth only to eventually have to spit it out. No wonder he was thin.