Happy 22nd Birthday, Piggy!

The bestest boy!

Yesterday was Pig's true 22nd birthday! If this old man was a human, he could buy his own crisp white wine with his real ID. How exciting! To honor my lovely redhead's birthday, I thought I'd share some facts about him.

1. Despite his barn name, Guinness does not like beer at all. In fact the only alcohol he'll enjoy (in moderation!) is white wine. We used to share sips of chilled sauvignon blanc after our dressage tests. I don't even like white wine, but for this old man I made the change.

2. He's been barefoot for the last 9 years. The transition was really difficult, but vet mandated. Once we shed the shoes, his fetlock arthritis stabilized much faster. His bare feet really brought out his careful nature. He is perpetually cautious of rocky footing, preferring to take his sweet time crossing stones. However, he rarely comes up with a stone bruise, so this approach seems to work for him!

3. Piggy dislikes being dirty. He avoids rolling in the mud as much as possible, and even dislikes walking through it. He's a princess and doesn't care who knows it.

"Who you calling Princess??"

4. That chestnut coat isn't just a lovely color, it's summertime version is metallic too! Guinness has the same coat characteristics of Akhal-Tekes, causing his chestnut coat to pick up the light in a seriously shiny way. The gleam doesn't take any extra grooming or care to bring out, he's actually just made that way. He's the actual perfect low maintenance beauty queen.

5. Treats are optional. Pig is incredibly picky when it comes to food. In fact, he refused mints for years after I fed him a particularly stale and sticky candy cane. However, any type of alfalfa pellet or sweet feed are always appreciated. And, his absolute favorite treat in the world is apples. He's a simple soul ... sorta.

Okay, he's completely weird. But I love him!