My dream came true... now I have so many questions!

now, I live in Texas, with a lot of what that implies, but I live in a large city (4th largest in Texas and 15th in the nation). However, I've seen people do things like put some of the feed under boxes or buckets so that she has to nose the box or bucket aside to get to it. You might also look online to see if you can find things to teach your horse, I taught a pony to "shake" and "hoof" so she picked them up for me to clean - but she was big pony 13'3 but very smart. I've heard that some people like to spread the hay around the yard so the horse has to walk to get it, don't know if that's a great idea where you are, but if it isn't snowing or icing, maybe you can do a bit of that. Probably the best thing you do, even if you can't ride daily, is to work with her, even putting on and taking off the blanket and saddle so she doesn't get out of the training she's had. I have always been a city girl, I just rode at a stable, but I have heard some owners talk about what they've done to try and keep their horse "busy." http://ayersline.com/Saywut/articles/animals/tricks/tricks.htm http://horses.about.com/od/horsetraining/Learn_About_Training_Methods_and_How_to_Safely_Train_Your_Horse.htm

I agree and that's exactly what her previous owner said too. She was definitely lead mare, and not being very nice about it sometimes. They had actually separated her from the 3 other horses a few months' prior to her coming to me because she was misbehaving. Could you give me some examples of tricks and making her work for her feed? As you mention, we live in the mountains and Jan/Feb are our worst winter months. I don't have stables either, just a treed, fenced corral and a run-in shed for her. I wish the weather was better, but this is the reality of Canadian winters. Thanks for your thoughts and happy Mylotting.

Thank you very much for your thoughts. Makes sense what you say and I hope she will adjust before too long. I will do my best to help her. I will ask around about a friend getting a horse that could be kept with her, or possibly a sheep? Not the slightest bit interested in getting a goat, lol, more trouble than they are worth! Thanks for the good luck wishes. Happy Mylotting.

We had a goat in the stable for a while, so I agree with you there! It was quite cute at a distance, but a mean little creature. And the smell wasn't very nice either ...

I was told that if you have excellent fencing, then a goat is ok. But if there is any chance that the little monster can get out - beware! They will eat pretty much anything, especially paper. But also wiring, paint on your truck, siding on your house, laundry on the line, etc. I think a sheep or a yak (I actually get my mail in a town called Yahk!). Not only would either be good company for Midnight, they both could provide other things ie. milk, wool/fibre. Supposedly, high quality, well cut yak fibre can be worth up to $70 per ounce! Wow!

Hello Rachel! Thanks for the invite - I will definitely take a look and also would like to add you as a friend, if that's ok with you... I would love to be part of a discussion group about horses! We horselovers are a breed all our own, aren't we? Hahaha... I was raised with horses as a small child, my stepfather was a ranch hand from when I was about a year old till I was 3. Then we moved onto our own hobby farm when I was 10 and I got my own horses then. Unfortunately, I come from a very dyfunctional family and I left home a couple years after that and my horses were sold without my knowledge. I have been waiting for so many years to be with them again! My horses were the only thing that made my life bearable when I lived at home. I love being with Midnight... and doing the things you have mentioned. I say good morning to her as soon as I leave the house and she is waiting for me and nickering at the fence when I get there. It gives me a great feeling! I talk to her while I clean her run out shed and corral. I love to touch her (her coat is beautiful and fluffy), and have been working on untangling her mane & tail. The lady I got her from has 3 other horses, 4 dogs, a fulltime job and a kennel so Midnight was not getting the one on one attention that she deserves and she looked pretty unkempt when she got here. I was out with her the other day and something spooked her. She danced around for a bit, ran around the corral and came to stand beside me. This happened twice. I just kept talking calmly and rubbing her and she calmed down. That made me feel so good as I have read that it means that she is accepting me as her "herd". I have been doing a ton of reading (a friend with 6 horses (!!!), gave me a huge stack of horse magazines a few months before Midnight got here). There is so much to learn and so much to watch for and be aware of. It can be a bit scary! Pat has been great about answering my questions, giving me ideas, sourcing hay locally, and just generally being supportive and excited for me. I have a neighbour whose family owns about 50 horses, they do horse logging, etc. He is a farrier and was here a couple of weeks ago to do her hooves. He has been around horses his whole life and said she looked really healthy. Her feet weren't too bad, but were in need of a trim. I will be calling on Matt every 6 weeks to keep her feet in good shape. I don't plan on shoeing her back feet, we will rarely if ever be on pavement - only to go across the road to reach an old logging road. I am so lucky - we live on 14 acres and have access to hundreds of miles of back roads to ride... I have no interest in anything competitive, that is not who I am. I plan on riding lots at home and in the surrounding bush. I want her to feel safe and loved and be well cared for. Now that my kids have grown and gone, my critters are my kids! I will be in touch... happy myLotting!