Our First Horse. Both of our horses have what I would consider a peculiar habit. Each time we let them in the barn they lift their tails and pass gas as they walk by us. What is THAT all about? Is this some kind of horse greeting I’m just supposed to know about or are they trying to insult me?

Let me start by saying this. I have a 9-year-old boy who likes to regale his sister, his friends, and me (unfortunately) with all kinds of humor about bodily functions. Typical. Typical. Typical. I know. (How is it that you male creatures come into this world wired entirely different than we girls?)

So you can just imagine how my 9-year-old boy particularly enjoys talking about the great big farts that our nearly 1,700-pound Percheron horse lets rip, generally when we are brushing his tail or scratching those big hindquarters. Toby just about knocks that 60-pound kid over with all of that odiferous gas. It's like having a big stinky gas bomb lobbed right at ya. It's almost nuclear, man. Those are the biggest farts ever in the history of the world. Or at least that's what I'm told. Repeatedly.

Lord help me. I've agreed to let C. invite two friends, 9-year-old twin brothers, over for the weekend. The whole weekend. And those boys love horses, so we'll be spending some quality time down in the barn.

Let the farting joke extravaganza begin.

Related link: The Toby Touch