Frisky Goes Home

Sometimes things happen  for a reason and it seems I only ever notice it when it’s a good thing.   So break out your reading glasses and let me tell you a story with a happy ever after ending.

I had bought a large chest freezer about a month or so ago, but hadn’t taken it out of the box yet because it was simply too big for me to get into the house on my own.  I had my fence guys put it on the porch for me, then Glenn took off the box and was going to put it in the house when he got home last time.   He took the box off and WHOA.  The poor thing looked like it had done battle with a forklift and lost!  The top and bottom were terribly banged up, and the top was so bent that it wouldn’t even seal when shut.  So I called Lowes and they said they’d have another one delivered and set up for me, then haul the old one away.  Sure, sounds like a plan to me.

The first time they came out to deliver the new freezer I was supposed to be home working, but at the last minute I had to drive Glenn down to Charleston so he could get a rental car and drive to NY to pick up his new truck.  I didn’t make it back in time for the delivery, but I did pass them on the way home.  Figures. 

Thor had been out loose in the yard when they got there and they made a note on the ticket that said there was a ferocious Rottweiler in the yard and they dare not get out of the truck.    Good thing they didn’t get out of the truck, he may have licked them to death.  But I do understand the reasoning behind it.  I don’t think I’d get out of the car either if I didn’t know the big headed lethal licker.

Two different guys came out for the next delivery appointment and I was home this time.  They both thought Thor was the coolest and one of them was very interested in the horses.   He asked if I bred and raised them myself, then was even more excited when I told him that they were rescues.  He and his wife have been looking for a couple of well-broke horses for their kids to learn on, and for them to ride together to escape the kids once in awhile – do I have anything like that?   Yup, I could fill half that bill.  He said he’d come back with his wife the next day to look at whatever I had. 

Sure enough, they showed up the next day.  They followed me up to the barn in their van and I was shocked when all eight of their kids came flowing out of the van like clowns at a circus.   It was love at first sight for them and Frisky, who stood in the pasture sans halter, surrounded by munchkins and closed her eyes as everyone brushed, combed, and petted her.  They spent and hour with her, took enough pictures to drain their camera battery, and promised to come back  Friday to see her again.  Meanwhile, I checked their references and got her contract ready. 

When they came back out yesterday, everyone got to ride her at least once.  Let me tell you… that mare was made to be a kid’s horse!  She just loved all the attention that the little ones showered her with and she was also great for mom and dad when they got on and took her for a spin around the pasture.  Two hours later they gave me directions to their place and I agreed to deliver her today.

I thought our place was off the beaten path.  Over the river and through the woods doesn’t begin to describe the route to Frisky’s new home.  Bessie truck is going to be pissed at me for days. 

When we finally arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to see Frisky’s woven wire pasture and the new pasture that they have started fencing in with electric for her.   She’ll have plenty of grass, shelter, and two milking goats for company (that is if the kids ever leave her alone).   They’d also like to adopt a well-broke gelding when one comes along.

 

This happy ending is brought to you by some dude in a warehouse that beat up my freezer with a forklift.  And Thor.

Leader of the pack

Frisky has always kept Maggie and Marbles close at hand.  When Kenzie joined the herd, she was readily accepted into Frisky’s little herd of youngsters.  Gentry hangs with them on occasion, as does Jewel, but mostly they just stick to themselves.

Now there seems to be a new leader of the midgets emerging.  Maggie has taken on the roll of adventurer and is always the first to check out something new.   Like my camera. 

“What the heck is that hanging around mom’s neck??”

 

"I dunno.  You think it’s food?”

 

 

“Nah, it ain’t food.  Let’s go find some shade to stand under.”

 

Maggie was one of the mares that got the abortion shot the yesterday when Doc was here.  Marbles has been losing his worm belly, but Maggie’s gut has just been getting bigger and her back muscles have started to sag.  Before she came here, she was turned out in the same pasture with dear old dad and she’s old enough to become pregnant.  She was a lot better about getting shots than either Marbles or Kenzie, but still wasn’t all that happy about being stuck with a needle.   Maybe if Doc brings lollipops next time they’ll be better behaved.

Two steps forward, three steps back

Indy and Prince both go to their new homes tonight, but as I mentioned earlier, their “replacements” are already here.

A family not far from where I got Ellie had bought a spotted draft stallion and several Paint mares a few years ago from the Krazy Kolor breeder down the road from me. Eventually they realized that stallions and mares turned out together produce offspring, and the neighbor’s weren’t particularly happy when the whole herd would escape and trample through their yards. I know exactly how those neighbors felt!

They tried selling the horses, but in this economy no one really wants an unbroke horse or a yearling that you can’t even get close to, even if the price tag is only 100 bucks. You’d even lose money if you bought them and hauled them up to Sugarcreek for the meat buyers.

Now, this family is very nice and their horses are well taken care of for the most part. The two untouchable youngsters are wormy and have long splitting hooves, but the older horses are all fat and healthy. The family just can’t afford to replace their fence and don’t have the knowledge or time to train any of them.

They originally wanted me to take all 10. Yikes! No way! Then they decided to keep two. Ok, that’s a little better. I told them I would take the youngsters and the stud, but only if they got him gelded first. Once they found out how much it cost to geld him, they changed their mind and wanted to keep him. But Doc is still going out on Thursday to geld him! Yippee!

Last night I brought home the 2yo filly and her yearling brother. Their mother is staying with the family and they didn’t realize until I pointed it out last night that she is pregnant yet again. The babies have never been handled, but getting them in the trailer wasn’t too difficult. We just closed off any avenue of escape in the barn and gently pushed them towards the trailer. Once they were on, I tried getting halters on them, but they didn’t want to have anything to do with me. I worked with them again once I got them home and did manage to get a halter on the filly. I didn’t have one small enough for the colt, so I went ahead and backed the trailer up to the pasture gate and let them out with the herd. I would have preferred putting them in the quarantine paddock, but I knew my electric tape fence wouldn’t hold them in and catching them once they were out would have been nearly impossible.

There was some running around, but overall they were assimilated rather easily into the herd. I think the herd is getting used to all these horses coming and going and now it’s just a quick matter of laying out the hierarchy for the newcomers. Being babies, the two quickly agreed to being on the bottom of the ladder and buddied up with Ellie who is the same size and less intimidating.

The colt isn’t gelded yet, of course. I would have loved putting him in the bachelor pad with Maverick if I could have only put a halter on him. But don’t worry, there won’t be any unexpected pregnancies on this farm! A couple of weeks ago a storm brought down a tree across the fence between the bachelor pad and the main herd, and Maverick got busy with the ladies all night until we realized what had happened the next morning. I spoke with Doc about it, and he suggested giving all the mares the “morning after” shot next month just to make sure. So even if the colt does manage to cover any horny mares, it won’t do them any good.

We’ll try to lasso him today or tomorrow and get him in with Maverick until Doc can come out and get him gelded. Maverick still hasn’t dropped the second nut, so I’m just going to have to bite the bullet soon and haul him to Ohio to be gelded. Doc doesn’t have the facilities yet for a surgery like that. I was trying to hang on until he did, but it doesn’t look like it will happen soon enough. At least he can geld the new colt out here in the pasture. Woohoo!

Glenn went to pick up Frisky this morning. She’s the only one of the 10 that is supposed to be broke to ride. She and the filly will also be getting the abortion shot since I know they were exposed to the stallion.

Wow, I really get to rambling sometimes, don’t I? Anyhow, without further adieu, say hello to Frisky.

And here are the youngsters in all their furry worminess. First one up is the colt:

Filly:

Sorry for the terrible pictures, “untouchable” also means very camera shy! And guess what? The youngsters have no names. You know the drill – get to it! :)