Am happy to re****t that the move with the filly is (knocking wood),
going really well.
When we bought her in March, the plan was that she would stay where
she was until June or July and then I would hopefully be able to move
her. I had hoped some things would be resolved, by then. But June
came and there was still much uncertainty at my current boarding
location, with its being on the market and with their being a split
between the owners. Often there is high drama. So I was torn,
because there are 20 horses who want to move together, and it isn't
easy to find a new place. We are checking out new boarding places
often, while trying to work with the situation we have at hand
(because the facility itself we love), and me wanting to keep the baby
with her family members as long as I could until the situation "broke"
one way or another, or there was clearly a solution, was the way I'd
wanted it.
But, it was time. Besides wanting to work with the filly daily and
ending up able to do so at most weekly, and sometimes only biweekly
(not enough time to spend at two horse places half an hour apart), I
had been growing more and more anxious and resolute about moving her
no matter whether we resolved things with the current barn owner.
Though the filly's former owner is wonderful, loving and very
responsible, that location had limitations, too. One, turnout was
limited. Two, her stall was small, and though she still is small,
too, she has been growing rapidly, and her big brother had
unfortunately cast in his stall at the age of two and was seriously
injured, so I fcouldn't help but feel a clock ticking. Third, the
former owner's home I just had found out was unfortunately broken into
twice, within the last couple of years, probably by young kids hanging
out drinking beer at the reservoir across the street. Once I heard
that I had a fear of kids deciding it would be "fun" to let four
horses loose, since the former owner travels a lot and has people
watch the horses. Last but not least, the former owner found a
copperhead (or maybe it was a water moccasin) in her driveway last
month (she has many creeks on the property). And I thought it was
time that the filly adapted to a new "family", even though we worried
about "separation anxiety".
All things together, I was no longer willing to wait. Last month I
did the hard thing and finally told our barn owner and "trainer" of
four years, that we wanted to (1) bring Harlee home, and (2) have the
other trainer on the property, with whom we have become very close
over the last two years, train her. I gave her notice that thee
things would happen upon our return from vacation.
As long as I was going there, I also told her that we will be
lessoning from now on with the other trainer, too.
I expressed that I was very grateful to her for what she has done, and
appealed to her professionalism and business sense, but explained that
we are now more interested in centered riding and dressage, than
huntseat. My daughter had been begging me not to bring this up to the
barn owner but i finally decided that I was the parent and she was the
child, and it was time.
It went fairly well.
Now to the more im****tant stuff. This little girl we have here is
awesome!!!!
First, she spent half an hour or so investigating the trailer, but
finally, with the help of some grain, was very willing to get on. We
did being another horse on the trailer so at least she wasn't alone.
Once we got her to our new place, her new home, the most we have have
had to deal with is some whinnying. Pretty amazing, really.
She is such a confident baby. I have nothing to compare it to, but
the trainer and others at the barn who have had babies are fairly
amazed. She lets us do everything to her, including: putting an
American flag on her head and all over her body; touching her
everywhere; trailering and getting off the trailer very calmly; got to
know another horse (mare) on the property and loved turnout with
her.
Looking forward to mor!
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