September 6th 2016, Dixie has arrived.
We pulled up as she was being unloaded. I saw her ears from the trailer and knew it was her. Did she know it was me? True to character, Dixie was looking around, nervous, excited, and a bit distracted to say the least. She was lead to her stall and I followed behind. She looks skinny, but that could be expected after such a long trip. She had on a different (read: old and crappy) halter than the one I shipped her with (read: nice and protective with fuzzies) that gave her sores on the sides of her face. We asked about it, as well as the ulcer medicine she was supposed to have with her. Seeing as I am not speaking Spanish yet, I let my better half deal with that issue and I got in the stall with my girl. Within seconds of stepping into a nice big deeply bedded stall she was peeing a waterfall... seriously it must have been at least a minute but since the color was good (not too light or dark) I know she was decently hydrated.
I started scratching her, feeling the dirt and hair pile up into little balls on her back. She started happily munching on some oats. After she finished we took her to the wash racks where I gave her a little bath, she seemed to enjoy it as I washed away the dried sweat from her trip. I was waiting for that knicker, nuzzle, or some type of acknowledgment. I started rubbing her favorite itchy spots, she did enjoy it stretching her neck out and relaxing a bit more.
Then, like any smart horse person, I turned her out in a dirt arena. She ran around, I am sure it was the first turn out she had seen since being in Belgium in August. Just when I thought I saw her shiny coat starting to dry in the hot sun, she rolled. Oh yes, now she looks more like herself. She ran a bit more and then stopped, I thought we should bring her back into her stall to rest and avoid the sun. As I walked towards her she took off. Yes, that is surely my Dixie. In fact, I realized that was the greeting I was waiting for. You can take a horse away from their home, but you can't change their personality. There will be no sweet knickering (well maybe at dinner time) or nuzzling (I lost a diamond earring that way once) but a defiant, hot headed, powerful, mare. At least I know why I have such a strong attraction to her, we are pretty similar. Just ask Anthony.
I will head back later today with Cowboy Magic in one hand and my brush in the other. She has 2 months of wind tangles in her beautiful mane that I have been dreaming of getting out. As soon as our pallet arrives (hopefully end of September) I will have my saddles and other supplies.
This is the start to our new life, I am constantly reminded we will always start where we left off. Guess that means it is time to get to work!
We pulled up as she was being unloaded. I saw her ears from the trailer and knew it was her. Did she know it was me? True to character, Dixie was looking around, nervous, excited, and a bit distracted to say the least. She was lead to her stall and I followed behind. She looks skinny, but that could be expected after such a long trip. She had on a different (read: old and crappy) halter than the one I shipped her with (read: nice and protective with fuzzies) that gave her sores on the sides of her face. We asked about it, as well as the ulcer medicine she was supposed to have with her. Seeing as I am not speaking Spanish yet, I let my better half deal with that issue and I got in the stall with my girl. Within seconds of stepping into a nice big deeply bedded stall she was peeing a waterfall... seriously it must have been at least a minute but since the color was good (not too light or dark) I know she was decently hydrated.
I started scratching her, feeling the dirt and hair pile up into little balls on her back. She started happily munching on some oats. After she finished we took her to the wash racks where I gave her a little bath, she seemed to enjoy it as I washed away the dried sweat from her trip. I was waiting for that knicker, nuzzle, or some type of acknowledgment. I started rubbing her favorite itchy spots, she did enjoy it stretching her neck out and relaxing a bit more.
Then, like any smart horse person, I turned her out in a dirt arena. She ran around, I am sure it was the first turn out she had seen since being in Belgium in August. Just when I thought I saw her shiny coat starting to dry in the hot sun, she rolled. Oh yes, now she looks more like herself. She ran a bit more and then stopped, I thought we should bring her back into her stall to rest and avoid the sun. As I walked towards her she took off. Yes, that is surely my Dixie. In fact, I realized that was the greeting I was waiting for. You can take a horse away from their home, but you can't change their personality. There will be no sweet knickering (well maybe at dinner time) or nuzzling (I lost a diamond earring that way once) but a defiant, hot headed, powerful, mare. At least I know why I have such a strong attraction to her, we are pretty similar. Just ask Anthony.
I will head back later today with Cowboy Magic in one hand and my brush in the other. She has 2 months of wind tangles in her beautiful mane that I have been dreaming of getting out. As soon as our pallet arrives (hopefully end of September) I will have my saddles and other supplies.
