Adding to the Herd

It happened today. We brought three horses home to meet Clyde. Doyle and I brought home the trailer last night to air up tires. We drove out around 9:30 this morning.

Debi had come out to say her goodbyes. It was bittersweet for her. Two of the three horses were the last of her Dad's that he raised. My heart hurt for her. She reassured me that she and her husband were very pleased we were taking them. It was just stirring up memories.

We loaded Patches the 13 yo mare first as the other two were inseparable. We had hoped that loading Diamond the 12yo gelding would make it easier to load Dixie the 7yo who had only ridden in a trailer once when she was brought to where she is now as a young filly. Doyle and I had prepared that it might take us a while to convince her to get in the trailer. It did. About 2hrs but we did it without her being upset or getting anyone hurt. It did take me, Doyle and Debi's husband David to accomplish the task successfully. Well worth that in my opinion!

There were several suggestions on how to introduce horses. Doyle and I opted to put them out and see what happened. Since Dixie was the last to load, she was the first to unload. Clyde was most interested...of course...it's a girl! Then we unloaded Diamond and then Patches. We had anticipated squeals and kicks. A new "pecking order" (who's the leader) has to be reestablished. Clyde has been the leader around any other horses since we've had him. I think he met his match today in Diamond. The girls were most interested in meeting Clyde but Diamond was very protective. He keep trying to keep them away from Clyde. There were some serious enough blows that I took Diamond out of the equation to give the ladies a chance to meet Clyde but by that time Clyde had enough and he wasn't even interested in the girls anymore.

See the "horseshoe" imprint on Clyde's left butt cheek?! Clyde got Diamond pretty good too. I noticed swelling on his "cheek". Same location! 

He would just stand in the corner of the pasture and every time one of the girls tried to approach him, he got defensive so I shut him up in a different area so he wouldn't feel threatened.

I took off work tomorrow too. I think I will try introducing one at a time and give them some time to get acquainted.

With Clyde safe, I spent the rest of the afternoon watching the three. I just can't get over how pretty they are!

Dixie (L) and Diamond (R) are two peas in a pod. I was thinking I would just leave the names they had but Doyle would like to change Dixie and the more I think about it maybe I do too but not sure what it will be yet. I also learned yesterday that I know the woman that used to have Dixie. She is the nursery worker for our church! She was so excited to learn I would have Dixie. She told me that she had named her "Rain".

This is Patches. She is the half sister to Diamond.

This is Dixie. Her mother was a Mustang and her father a registered Paint. She has a little bit of color but not a lot. I just love her head. She is the one who will require the most work as she only be halter trained. I am looking forward to working with her.

They enjoyed running around the pasture.

I will be happier when I can blend Clyde into the mix and I believe he will in time. Tomorrow's another day!

Have a good one!