I get so many messages whenever I post Instagram Stories that have Byron and Storm in them. I thought I would tell a little about them. Their constant playing is very entertaining and I find myself watching them out my back window way too much. I have to admit getting videos isn't always easy, as the minute I step out my back door they stop playing and come to the fence. They are a "little" spoiled and expect treats when they see me.

A back story on these two and how they became such good friends... We had Storm first; we bought him as a yearling nine years ago for a companion for my daughter's mini, Trooper. I say 'bought,' but I think we rescued him. He was in a 30' x10' pen with 20 other minis. He was the smallest and obviously the bottom of the pecking order. He was thin, the weight of his long mane caused his neck to lay over and his pasterns were very weak. He obviously lacked the nutrition he needed. There were fancier minis in the pen but my husband, daughter and myself decided he needed to come home with us. Storm and Trooper became great friends as well and played often - not as much as Byron and Storm, but did like to pretend they were wild stallions. At least that is what we would joke about.

We bought Byron as an eight-year-old as a show horse for my daughter, Mary, to move up on. Mary showed Byron for a while and they did very well. Byron is one of the sweetest horses and his personality made him a favorite for us.

How Storm and Byron came together is rather sad, but does have a happy ending... A few weeks before Appaloosa Nationals, Byron was injured. This injury would require a minimum of 6-9 months stall rest. We ended up purchasing another horse for Mary to compete on. The new horse and Mary did very well together and he became her new show horse. We decided to bring Byron home, as we all liked him too much to sell him.

About the same time all of this was happening, we lost Trooper to colic. Storm was depressed from the loss of his companion and we decided to move things around and turn out Byron in the pen next to Storm. It took a few days but both seemed to enjoy each other's company by standing next to each other. Although Storm never was kept in the barn and Byron was the only horse in the barn, we decided to move Storm into the stall next to Byron at night to keep each other company. Now they were next to each other 24/7, being turned out and stalled at the same times. After a few weeks we tried to put them together. I was apprehensive about this, as there is such a size difference. After all, Byron is 16hh and Storm is barely 33". They got along just fine; sometimes it looks like Byron gets a little rough, but he is very gentle with Storm. It's Storm that can get a little rough and likes to show who the boss is.

They have been best friends for a couple years now and I do my best to find good safe toys to keep them entertained. I have learned nothing is safe and will play with anything that comes close their pen. Broken tree branches, a hose too close and even rocks have all become toys.

Storm and Trooper shortly after we got Storm

Storm and Trooper being "wild stallions"

Trooper was my Christmas card model on year

Byron on the cover of the Appaloosa Journal.

Byron & Storm | Equine Best Friends