Introducing Seraphina

I have another horse, and Lucie has a friend, at long last! Seraphina (Fina) is a 6 year old Fjord mare on loan from my friends in the Dordogne, where I have ridden her several times. My friend Helen's daughter has outgrown her, and they have younsters to bring on. With them, Fina has been introduced to hacking out with various horses and dogs, bicycles and running man; they started her with jumping and dressage; horse agility and TREC and all manner of flapping things and unusual obstacles. So she is already a very handy pony, and I have quite a lot to live up to! This will be a new phase in her development. It may be good for her to be with an older mare in an all-female herd.

First impressions are that it will be good for all of us. Lucie is much more relaxed now she has a field mate. It was rare for her to lie down, her resting as a single horse was usually standing up, on watch. She did a lot of moving around, was constantly in a state of alert for danger. For me, Fina is another horsenality to learn from and teach. Fina seems much more stable in her outlook than Lucie. She is a very sensitive, quick to learn, responsive, willing little horse.

I love that she is asking "how do you want me to be?". She is offering me a lot of softness and feel, she is asking questions and is very connected. I am slowly introducing her to our routine and how I do things. To stand quietly while I do things with Lucie. Patience and manners at meal-times. Leading from all zones; going ahead or staying behind. Permission to eat. I am riding her in the rope halter; as it's just me, and Lucie on the lead when we hack out, I have all the time to take the time that it takes - and so it is taking no time! The first few days we went for walks, the two horses in hand, establishing leadership, gaining confidence in each other. This is a new environment and I a new human, so I can't assume she will be the same for me as she was for Helen and Ali. Sometimes I saddled her and rode, but got off as often as I felt necessary, if she lost confidence, or connection, and became bracy, she would find me alongside her again. She has quickly stopped worrying about having Lucie close alongside, or bumping into her, or the rope getting under her tail, or flapping around, when I ride her and lead Lucie. It's being good for Lucie too; the pressure is off her (which makes me realise how much pressure she felt) and she stands quietly while I teach Fina. She doesn't seem to resent my attention to another horse, which is a nice sign of confidence in me as the leader. They both respond to me and I love playing with two horses at once; asking one to do something while the other stands still; it develops focus - if you don't get it right, the wrong horse reads you!

I think I'm really going to enjoy having Fina around.