We are owned by two geldings (as well as a colt). They are complete characters...at the same time loving and ornery, devoted and independent.
Mingus is the first horse I ever owned, although I had always been around horses. He was rescued from a terribly neglectful situation...evidently someone thought he was a throwaway. He is anything but. He can be as fiery and high-spirited as any stallion (except for himself when he was a stallion -- he was he11 on wheels...), yet is a very loving and eager to please, sensible, unflappable and incredibly smart. This is his second year showing at halter, and he has done very well despite his doofus handlers...ahem. We're starting him on ground-driving as well as jumping. He is 6 years old and just a hair under 38 inches. We adore every last one of those 38 inches!
I have his head up too high here...his neck is actually much better than this...
Thelonius was originally adopted by Jayne (of this forum) from the Oregon State Veterinary Surgery Program. He survived a number of procedures and was lucky to have Jayne come into his life. Her other horses, however, would not accept him, and so Jayne asked us if Mingus wanted a companion. We fell in love just from his photo, and he was even better in real life. Mingus and Thelonius were instant, inseparable buddies.
Thelonius is the clown of our herd, teasing and joking with his buddies. When they are all running, he likes to slow down so that he can then leap forward. If the other horses are running, Thelonius will stand in a corner and jump out at them, sometimes turning his tail and kicking them. He is the sort of horse who will leave his food to come to you...he is also a natural at horse therapy; at a parade he pulled me through a crowd to a quadraplegic woman and laid his head in her lap. Thelonius is 6 years old and I would guess around 34-35 inches. He does not show, as he wouldn't like it, and with his history, he doesn't have to do anything but let us love him and share his sweetness with those who need it.
(We will be getting some new photos of Thelonius...I do not have a recent photo that does him justice.)