Tuesday 30 July 2013

Back to the way we were

It seems as if Lucie has been back - forever; meaning that we have settled down, our little herd of three, and all of us are content, as if there had been no upheaval. The experience has been educational for us all. I have found my two perfect horses. For Lucie, I think living among a bigger group of horses & experiencing life in a herd for 3 months has been good for her; she seems more mature somehow, and more relaxed and confident with both me & Seraphina. The places she stands in the field have changed, she is less on high alert, more laid back. With Fina, she is just as dominant (for want of another word) but more assured about it, less cranky; and Fina knows and understands this, accepts and doesn't question (I am watching & learning). For Fina, she is evidently happier with Lucie around than paired with Tayenne, as we had already learned, so nothing has changed in this relationship, unless for the better. The two stand nose to tail, keeping the flies off, and if anything are closer companions in the field than before.

I have to be a bit careful when I am around them, as Lucie becomes "jealous" and protective of her proximity to me, and my attentions; one day Fina did carelessly place herself where Lucie didn't think she should be, and she flew at Fina and took her by the neck! I think I was more shocked than Fina, who just shook herself, and took a step back; it was over in seconds, although the teeth mark is still there. I guess Lucie learned a few new moves while she was among other horses.

Lucie is very connected to me; for the first few days when she was home, if she heard me come out of the house, she'd whinny; and if she sees me, her head comes up to watch what I'm doing or where I go. Fina does this too, but to a lesser extent. Lucie's comportment says she's home and she's my horse and is happy. Similar but different with Seraphina, but then she's only been here a few months. What I'd like from Fina now is some of Lucie's softness; zero brace when I'm handling her, and more connection. When Lucie gives me her feet, they are soft & light as a feather; when I ask her to move I barely need to look at her. It's almost as if having another horse around has made her up her game, it's like she's saying "this is how you should behave with your human" or "look how well I do it & how pleased she is". She's become a proper little teacher's pet and I'll take the improvement in Lucie's attitude anyday!

Saturday 13 July 2013

Lucie comes home

The Tayenne project is terminated; she has gone back to her mates and we brought Lucie home. Tayenne is a beautiful young horse, that's what seduces me, every time I look at her; but I don't have the time to educate a teenager with zero education and experience.

On the day of the changeover, Fina had a stressful day, but the other two took it well. M. Cazor loaded Tayenne easily in the trailer (well he is a magic horseman and horses just respond to him) then I went ahead in my car to prepare Lucie. It would be nice to say she recognised the car; anyway, she came over to me and we greeted each other, I'm sure she knew it was me, and licked my hand and let me scratch inside her ears which I bet nobody did for 2 months. By then the trailer had arrived and Tayenne went into the field as Lucie came out, and loaded, all without any fuss. Once back home, I put Lucie in the field opposite Fina. I took them both for a walk and groom that evening, and left them to settle overnight. Lucie is very mareish and Fina will be all over her, I don't want anybody kicked, and I want to re-establish pecking order first. It worked well like that when Fina arrived whereas it was rather less tranquil when Tayenne arrived so lesson learned, we are going for setting up for success this time round!

Lucie in't in foal; she didn't come into season properly, probably because, interestingly enough, she took upon herself a management role in the herd. The comments I got back about her behaviour reflect the difficulties I've had with her. Subtly dominant, looks as if she's timid but fought for a high position in the herd hierachy, submitting to only one horse above her. I find I'm not too bothered if we don't get a foal; it would just complicate life. I decided I don't want to keep Tayenne for several reasons. She needs too much time to bring on & give her basic education; at 7 years old, a lot of good learning years have been missed and a lot of bad habits been forged & gone uncorrected. If she was my only project... But I now have Seraphina, and I want to spend time with her and was having to ignore her (which she notices) to sort out Tayenne. Whereas Fina has all the basics in place (thanks to my friends and her last owners, Helen and Ali) and we are both wanting to move forward together. Also I feel the balance was better having an older mare; the two youngsters together don't make a successful combination. Lucie was quite happy for me to spend time with Fina because then she didn't have to do anything!! Lucie as a mentor to either youngster is good for them. Fina tried to boss Tayenne but isn't really effective, and doesn't really want that role.