Not that it’s the end. In fact it’s only the beginning. We have “miles to go before we sleep” with these two equines we’ve rescued, but so far so good.
We successfully hauled the “leftover” mare and her year-and-a-half-old filly, now known as Nova, home to my house yesterday. (I don’t know what the mare’s name will be yet and would welcome suggestions. Her registered name is ridiculous.) Cindy and I decided it would be safest and best to temporarily keep the two together, in a horse-safe pen, while they adapt to a completely new and different life.
Nova will eventually be living at Cindy’s on 10 acres, with neighbor horses just across the fence, but we didn’t want to turn her out by herself in that setting right away with Cindy’s two goats. Better that she and her mom settle in over here in a safe, pipe-fenced pen first. And if, after a couple of weeks here, we feel it would be safer for Nova, we will move the mare over to Cindy’s with her for a while.
As you can tell, we have both had the fate of these two horses uppermost in our minds ever since adopting them last weekend. Bringing in new horses always has its potential perils, but since these two have been living wild on open range in a herd with a stallion, this change will be a huge shock for them.
They are both curious and getting to know my other horses – over the fence of course – and it looks like things are going to go smoothly. Even Bella, my Mustang mare who loves babies and whom I thought would be very jealous, has accepted them quietly.
One surprise to us has been that the mare is quite ready to keep the filly in her place — actually to be rid of her, probably a result of having just had a 6-month old weaned this past week. So she’s a little out of sorts, and a bit distrustful, but on the whole is very manageable. And her rejecting attitude toward Nova will surely prove to be in our favor when we do finally separate them.
For the record, we are more than impressed with the great job the cowboys on the ranch did with the filly, given the little handling she had. She’s not real excited about having her feet picked up yet, but loads in a trailer and ties well, and I know lots of grown-up horses who don’t even do that!
On the whole, we’re very pleased, mama and daughter are happy, and everybody is settling in just fine.
Meanwhile, we’ve heard rumor of another herd of about 50 registered Quarter Horses who may be up for grabs in Colorado.
Oh me oh my. How to take care of all the unwanted animals in the world. I guess just helping one horse, one dog, or one cat at a time is the best place to start.
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