FARMINGTON — They ran. They kicked. They rolled in the snow Thursday morning.
Taking advantage of some outside time, the cold and snow only seemed to energize four horses penned at the Farmington Fairgrounds.
With temperatures at about 10 degrees and snow falling Thursday in Farmington, children playing outside were hard to find, but these horses romped around their pen, acting much like children.
The play was a little rough at times. Teeth appeared as bites — sometimes less than gentle — were given to one another.
Attendant Robin Gray watched as one horse, appearing more jealous than playful, warned another horse away with his teeth. He was about to take a chomp on the horse’s neck.
That was too much for the spurned horse, who decided to retaliate. As soon as the aggressor turned his back, the horse bit into the blanket on his back, trying to pull it off.
Chiding the horses, Gray acted like a parent who would step in and stop a squabble between youngsters.
Inside the barn, young Roderick and three other geldings were also ready for attention.
The baby, young Roderick, was born last spring, Gloria Cushing said of the horse that she and her brother-in-law, Robert Cushing, own.
He carries the name of her husband and Robert’s brother, Roderick “Rick” Cushing, who died last December, she said, as she tousled his mane and gave him a kiss.
Although born in the spring, Roderick will be considered a 1-year-old in the racing world come Jan. 1, she said. The next January marks their legal birthday. It’s counted that way so they can keep track and let horses race until they are 14 years of age, she said.
Roderick is still too young for the track. The horses need to be 2 years old before they start racing, she said.
Friendly and childlike, he nuzzles her hand for attention and becomes a little too demanding as his teeth start to nibble at the hand.
“Some bite, some don’t,” she said.
Three geldings, including Maine Power Glide in the next stall, come to their gate, also looking for attention while they wait their turns for exercise on the track, she said.
The girls exercised first, she said of two female horses circling the track, driven by Mike Cushing and Steve Wilson.
The geldings know and are waiting to get out there, too, she said.
abryant@sunjournal.com
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- The cold and snow didn’t stop these four horses from a playful romp around their pen at the Farmington Fairgrounds Thursday morning.
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- Young Roderick receives a kiss from Gloria Cushing Thursday. The young horse was ready for attention as she approached his stall in a barn at the Farmington Fairgrounds.
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- Robin Gray watches as the play between these horses gets a little rough Thursday morning. Teeth were bared and several biting attempts were seen as four horses played in a pen at the Farmington Fairgrounds.
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- After nearly being bitten by the horse with the blanket, the horse in the middle retaliates and chomps on to the blanket in an attempt to pull it off. The horse on the right takes more interest in those watching. These horses were playing in the snow and cold Thursday morning in a pen at the Farmington Fairgrounds.
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- Robin Gray chides the horse who bit into another horse’s blanket (in back) Thursday morning as four horses played in the cold and snow in a pen at the Farmington Fairgrounds. The horse at the right was more interested in those who were watching.
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- Neither snow nor cold stops Mike Cushing, front, and Steve Wilson from exercising these horses Thursday on the racetrack at the Farmington Fairgrounds. The horses are being led back to the barn.
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- Young Roderick, right, and Maine Power Glide, in back, look for attention Thursday from their stalls at the Farmington Fairgrounds. Roderick is too young, but three other geldings were waiting their turn to exercise on the racetrack, Gloria Cushing said.
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