Whew - where did the last few weeks go? Just a few thoughts to bring this up to date:
Back on daytime turnout: With the shorter and cooler days, the boarded horses who were on nighttime turnout have been switched back to daytime turnout. After taking a week or so to adjust, Bestie seems good with the new routine. Although, when I arrive in the afternoon and take her out to graze, she does sometimes pull me toward her field - her friends are all field boarded, so are still out there, and she seems to be thinking, "Hey, wait a minute..."
All by her lonesome: With the change in turnout, I go later to the barn and don't see anyone. It was odd to get to the barn a few afternoons this week and discover that Bestie was the only horse in the main barn. Apparently they decided to keep the geldings out because the nights were pretty comfortable temperature-wise. The other horses who come in for the night are in the other barn, and with the doors closed to that wing, Bestie was pretty much flying solo. I found her alone two nights, and she seemed a little out of sorts. Tonight when I went, all the horses who typically are in for the night were in, and she seemed much more chill. I mentioned it to Sue, and she said that they could bring another horse in to keep her company if the geldings stay out again.
Newfound energy: Bestie is full of energy, and I'm guessing it's thanks to a combination of the cooler weather and the two Reiki/massage/stretching treatments that Marie did for her. Those treatments were definitely successful in alleviating whatever discomfort the farrier had noticed in her back end. During this most recent visit, farrier Monique remarked that Bestie was much better. Horace even mentioned that he saw her and Sweet Pea running around the field with their tails up in the air. Over the summer she was pretty complacent under saddle. In the last few weeks when I've ridden, her timer goes off sooner and she has started her old trick of speeding up. She's also been a bit obstinate when I've asked to go back to the barn one way and she wants to go another. Or when I've wanted to go around the field and she's apparently not feeling it. Part of that is if we have our ride before grain is served, she has one ear on the barn so she doesn't miss the all-important dinner hour, which means she isn't very focused on what we're doing. I asked Sue today if she has availability for a lesson. I think that every so often I need another set of eyes and brain power focused on our relationship and whatever the latest hiccup is. :)
Horse tale: There's a new horse in one of the fields, a fuzzy white gelding. Apparently he belongs to someone who lives down the road, but he decided on Thanksgiving Day to pay our barn a visit. He walked through his fence and strolled down the road. Amazing he arrived in one piece. His owner had bought him for trail riding, but he is older than she was led to believe and not sound enough for trail riding. So, he is hanging out until she finds him a retirement home. As I left the barn today I watched him ambling across his field, nibbling at the grass. He looks like he thinks his break-out was a pretty good decision.
