Marie and I have owned Mister and Willow for six whole days now and are still constantly looking out the windows in amazement and joy! We often open the back door to call out a hello or good girl/boy. They are becoming less surprised to see this! Here are some notes from each of our first six days.
June 25 Rode Mister & Willow home to stay today after school - Marie has a saddle, I don't have one yet so rode bareback. Gary turned off the mower he was riding to wave good-bye. He'll come up to see the barn later with Lynn. We untacked and let them go where they wanted and watched them graze and drink the water from the tank in the paddock and bucket in the pasture - we like seeing them drinking, when we first started bringing them over for visits they waited until getting home to drink.
June 25 Lynn and Gary come for a visit and we showed them every single "feature" and horse-proofing we've tried to do! They seemed pleased. I had been looking at the barn-building from my perspective - trying to keep those horses out of trouble. It hadn't occurred to me (until after the tour) to look at it from "previous owner" perspective, we're glad they like our set-up. We have no trees for shade, but they can come into the barn/run-in when they like. Marie and I check on them a bunch of times today!
June 25 CanNOT stop smiling, laughing, crying, laughing, smiling. Marie and I just checked on Mister and Willow who are NOT asleep - they are munching happily in the paddock even though they can get to the pasture. Wonder where we'll find them in the morning? And what time will we be looking?
June 26 When hubby gets the paper in the morning, he sees Leland giving his new neighbours a treat over the fence!
June 26 horses are finally satisfied enough to stand sleeping in the pasture beside the tiny grove that only comes to their knees. Sleeping in the rain instead of coming inside. Turkey horses. Marie and I need a nap too.
June 26 Could stand watching them stand in that rain no longer! Went out & called them into the barn just before it really came down. They went back out again (Mister first) but changed their minds and went back in (Willow first). They're now snoozing inside. Whew! I should really just stop checking on them, but Mister IS 31! They were a bit luckier across the road, they had woods and a run-in shelter. This barn thingy, with doors that make it appear from one side to be all closed up, is new for them - I do believe they've got it now!
June 26 We take Mister & Willow back across the road to ride with Lianne & Summer. Willow was great in the outdoor and during our short trail ride on Leland's road and wonderful leaving her friends to let them do some cantering (I'm not there yet!). She was looking around with brave interest, happy to be leading - it wasn't until we were almost in the paddock with the gate just an inch from shut that she realized her friends were gone. hehehe. Then she had her supper in her stall and some practice waiting.... Marie and Lianne had a blast on their ride to the end of the road! Good ride all around!
June 27 yay! Willow is laying down, Mister is standing over her on guard! They're doing well. Saw Leland give them a morning treat - "an apple a day keeps the doctor away!" he says.
June 28 Marie rides Mister while Willow stays in the "good" pasture right beside the pasture she rides in. Willow was a bit excited but calmed down pretty quickly.
Willow watching Mister and Marie ride
June 29 Mister & Willow spent their first night in the barn. Spied Mister's white feet first. This morning Willow meandered out to the right, looking to see if Leland was there with a treat. Then she heard Mister leaving to the left and ran after him, ending up in the "good" pasture (with the longest grass). Nice!
June 30 Hubby and kids off to Nanny's so I'm supervising horses all alone, which pretty suddenly occurred to me. Got out the fence tester to make sure the fence is working properly (not sure what I thought would have changed since it's been working fine) and had hubby confirm all is Ok. All was Ok. Checked horses five times after family left at 8:30pm. They were fine and gave me the impression they wanted me to knock off the bed-checks.
June 30 So hot! Horses stay in the barn after their breakfast where there is shade. I go out to sponge them with cool water just as Marie gets home. We both sponge water on our horses and off they go to graze in the pasture. Marie suggested fly masks but as Mister & Willow are used to having shade, they do NOT wish to wear those fly masks, thank you. They'll come and go as they like instead. They are spending more time inside than out today. And drinking lots of water. I'm relieved that they Ok'd that water so quickly!
June 30 Nice and cool after 7pm, so we took them out for a ride in the pasture - a walk around. Then Mister and Marie did some faster fun riding while Willow and I walk/trotted in the paddock. She didn't mind at all that she wasn't right with Mister - we're making some progress every day!
July 1 Another pretty hot day. Spent the cooler evening watching Marie & Mister ride the fields around our pasture. She gave me a small stroke when they jumped a ditch ("by mistake"). I was brushing Willow, who was happy enough as long as she could see him, and made hubby come watch Marie with me. He said they looked great - good hubby. Cleaned up the run-in so they'd be nice & comfy for the evening if they stayed inside.
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