Arab brains (was Arabic Name Help)

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Jessica Gothie teep@bedford.net
Yep.  As horses go, they're pretty clued in my book.  I also have
a fondness for ponies (they have character) and thus wound up
with a 3/4 arab pony.  New this year is the 'pretend to drink' 
trick. She puts her nose down to 1" above the creek, even if 
not thirsty, and will stand there (if permitted), head just 
above the water, "PRETENDING" to drink.

Heck, if you had a horse that lowered its head to the water and 
stood there, calmly, without moving or making unhappy blowing 
noises, head down to water, would you be fooled?  It looks a 
lot like a thirsty horse drinking.  Fooled me, anyway.  Normal
horses put their heads down, sniff a bit, drink or not, and then
pick their heads back UP when done with the water.  I figured 
as long as the head was down, the horse was evaluating the
water or actually drinking it.

When riding with others, a friend pointed out (between hysterical
bouts of laughter) that the mare was not really drinking.  Now,
I watch for the 'tic' of the ears moving during swallows to see 
if she's REALLY drinking. She gets about thirty seconds to 
investigate, if there is no drinking by that point, she's faking
and we move on.  I'd worry more, but if she's really thirsty, 
she drinks right away without fussing.

*sheesh*  I am starting to wonder who has the brains in this 
outfit...

Jessica