The great protector...

One of the reasons that I kept Shamrock was because he did such a great job of protecting Jessie.  Shamrock is little...I do use pony as a term of endearment, but in Shamrock's case, it actually fits.  He's only 14.2 hands.  But he'll run an 18 hand thoroughbred around the pasture for an hour if he feels that it poses a threat to Jessie.

When Shamrock was moved to his own paddock I discovered how great of a job Shamrock actually did.  In the beginning, when they first moved to the barn Shamrock only allowed a donkey to be near them.  As soon as Shamrock was put in a no grass paddock Jessie started getting beat up.  So we moved him into the same paddock with Shamrock...they had less room, but Jessie was much happier, and safer, with Shamrock...and Shamrock was much *saner* off grass.