On the Road Again

I really need to get more organized. I seem to spend all weekend on the road running errands, and never get much done at home. This past weekend was no exception. Saturday was spent delivering Pearl and Chessy to their new homes. Pearl went WAY south to a wonderful home with another mini and an old retired quarterhorse. The introductions were fairly low-key, as the priority was to just find the grass and get to munching.

As soon as I got home from delivering Pearl, it was time to trim Chessy’s feet and load him on the trailer. Everyone was really concerned that Chessy and Duchess would have a hard time being apart after living together alone for so long. Duchess followed Chessy to the gate, gave her son one last look, then walked away to eat hay with her buddies. Chessy walked right on to the trailer and never looked back. Yup! It was very traumatic for everyone.

Ok, so maybe it was a little traumatic. I don’t believe Chessy has ever seen cows before. After a quick roll in the dirt, he spent a lot of time doing this:

just staring at cows, waiting for them to either stop staring back at him, or bust through the fence and eat him.

On Sunday I did a lot of running around as well. Getting water for the big beasts, dog and cat food for the little beasts, and picking up two more Silkie hens because I’m addicted. At one point, I came home to find a crime scene in my own yard.

Those poor socks never had a chance.

Chameleons

I hate it when you get 'em home and the darned things start changing color.  I have enough bays in the herd already.  Maybe he's just trying to fit in.

 

Rolling in the mud isn't the only thing the two new horses are enjoying.  Chessy made instant friends with little Maverick.   He spends half his day eating hay with the herd, the other half playing bite face with Mav over the fence.  I was leading Duchess towards the hay after dinner last night and Chessy couldn't decide if he wanted to be with Maverick or with mom.  He kept running back and forth between the two and whinnying.  When he's eating hay with mom he looks up every now and then and whinnies to Maverick, just to make sure he's still there.

Now Duchess needs to buddy up with someone so that "weaning" the two will be less traumatic when Chessy moves on to his new home.   I know one thing -- I can't wait to ride him!  Every time I see him trot or canter in the pasture he just seems to float.   Those TNW/Arabian mixes are something to see!

Shades of Gray

We were finally able to pick up the two new rescues today and they've added some missing color to the herd already.

Everyone, meet Chessy and his mother, Duchess.

 

Duchess is a 24 year old Arabian.  She has a large tumor on her anus and needs a few pounds, but otherwise she's an incredibly sweet horse.  Due to her age and the tumor she will spend the rest of her days here at Horse Haven Holler.  Next time Doc is out I'll ask him to look her over and make sure she's not in any pain.   Hopefully the tumor is benign, and it obviously isn't keeping her from pooping or she'd be dead already.  The family that gave her up said that she's had it for many years without problem.

Chessy is about 10 or 11 years old.  He's out of Duchess, by a Tennessee Walker stallion.   And lemme tell ya, that boy can move!  He's also very handsome and seems to know it.

 

Duchess is just too cute for words.

 

The two have lived by themselves in the same place for most their lives, so being tossed in with our herd has been a culture shock. For at least 20 minutes anyway.  Lieutenant Gentry has made it is mission to keep Chessy away from the rest of the mares.  Gentry lets them eat as long as it's not too close to the rest of the herd.  The rest of the herd really couldn't care less about the pair.  After a few minutes of introduction and cantering around the pasture, everyone has settled back down to the important things in life --eating, pooping, and napping.

I'm sure by the time we get up tomorrow, everyone will be eating together peacefully.  I'll let Chessy settle in for a week, then get on him next weekend for evaluation.   If he turns out to be decent under saddle, he's already got a home with Mandy.  Duchess will start a regimen of Equine Senior and both will go on Strongid C for awhile.  It's been quite awhile since either have been wormed or had their teeth floated, so they'll be next on the "float" list the next time Doc comes out. 

We drove four hours each way to pick these two up.   Have I mentioned that Bessie truck doesn't have a working radio?  At one point we were so bored we were trying to sing Row Row Row Your Boat in a round.  I never knew rescuing could be so much fun.