Rosie’s First Week

Rosie taking a look around

Rosie arrived Thursday, (Nov.9th) and we let her take some time settling in.  Since this will be her forever home we want her to be comfortable with her surroundings and have a good experience with everything in the beginning.

Rosie & Sami

Friday we rotated one of the boys in with her at a time to let them get acquainted one on one.  Donnie was in love as usual with any mare.  We don’t call him Don Juan for nothing!  Unfortunately, she was in heat and he kept mounting her, which she didn’t seem to mind. But enough was enough after a while and we put Sami in with her.  They seemed to get along the best. Sami is very calm and not annoying so all was quiet between them.  Grady was next and it looked as if she didn’t really like him from the start and they sort of kicked out at each other for a while.  In all fairness to Grady she kinda started it.  Maybe it was too much action in one day for her.  So Blue didn’t get his turn because we brought them all in for the night.

Last Saturday Rosie went to her paddock and we introduced Blue to her.  That went very well for a while and they seemed to get along just fine.  Blue  got a little studly at times and acted like he might be stallion material (which he definitely is not)! When it looked as though she had had enough of him we switched her little buddy Sami in and all was peaceful.

For the remainder of the week, since she was still in heat, we put her and Sami in the small paddock.  Everyone could see each other across the driveway and get used to the idea of a new horse.  It seemed to work out well and the boys started to lose interest eventually. 

Today, Saturday, we decided it was time to put them all together to get acquainted up close and personal.  Sami and Rosie went out first and we let her explore her new surroundings for a while.  Then we turned Blue out and he didn’t seem too interested in anything but his hay basket.  Next in was Donnie then Grady. Donnie was very interested in making friends.  Grady…not so much, the hay basket was calling his name.  Once Blue noticed that Donnie and Sami were hanging around her by the run-in shed he decided to claim her for his own.  He chased Donnie and Sami off and he tried to herd her around, which she took exception to, and threw a few warning kicks in his direction.  After the initial meet and greet Rosie decided she might like to explore some other fields and had quite a conga line following her around.  She is curious and very sensible and calm. 

Adventuring out of the catch pen for greener pastures

Donnie, Sami & Rosie

The herd figuring out what to do next

Rosie checking out more things with her followers

This was Blue's basic position with her all day...what a pest

There was one time they all broke into a canter as a herd in the second field.  Rosie missed the exit ramp over the culvert and wound up in the corner.  The rest of the herd thundered through the culvert only to realize she was no longer with them.  This led to an impressive U-Turn by the herd as they went back to stalk reunite with her. 

So for the most part they’ve been grazing and Rosie has been exploring her new surroundings.  Blue has been right up her butt the whole day and I’m sure it’s getting on her nerves by now.  No girl likes to have a personal stalker!  But all in all the whole day went very well and in time they will all get used to one another. 

Quote for Today

The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and fire.  ~Sharon Ralls Lemon