A Baby Boomer Gets on with Her Dream of Arabian Horses Part 4 Getting the Filly Home
Getting on with the Dream Part 1
This picture that I used here and in yesterday's post is not the filly that these posts are about. I sure wasn't prepared with a camera that day the horse reared and struck the doctor in the head. I went looking through my boxes of pictures and came across this one of a suckling filly rearing and thought it would be a good visual for this post. Sorry if it confused anyone.
As the Arabian horse was "led" out of the barn onto the concrete pad, she came along reasonably. When she came to the grass the horse put on the brakes. She had never been on grass before and was absolutely terrified.
It took a little while before the doctor was able to convince the horse to set a single foot onto the strange surface. Once she did, she immediately jumped backwards snorting and blowing. But it didn't take nearly as long to get her to try a second time.
Before long the filly was scooting across the grass. Her butt was tucked, her body bowed and pushed hard into the doctor's and her eyes bulging but he still managed to get her moving towards the trailer.
Once the doctor got the frightened horse up to the horse trailer, he only paused for a moment before he somehow managed to position himself behind her shoulder as he pushed her into the trailer. Believe it or not, she went where she was pushed! I still can't believe it to this day. In the blink of an eye, that panicked filly was in the horse trailer.
The doctor hollered to have the trailer door closed on the two of them. Then he instructed me to drive home. He was going to ride in the back of the trailer with the filly all the way to my farm and he was not taking "no" for an answer. Fortunately, it was less that a mile drive. I can't even imagine what it would be like to ride in the back of a trailer with a terrified horse that didn't even tie.
I drove to my farm as slowly and smoothly as I could, not wanting to jostle or frighten my precious cargo anymore than she already was. I breathed a big sigh of relief when I pulled to a stop near my barn.
Unloading the filly was an explosive event. As soon as she detected a ray of light coming from the door, the horse charged out dragging the doctor behind her only to find herself on more of than terrifying green stuff on the ground.
Again, the doctor managed to guide the horse towards the barn. Once she hit the concrete in front the horse relaxed just a bit but heading into the barn with its wood floor was another challenge. Somehow the doctor got her across that floor and into the matted stall. There she would be safe. A stall was the only place this poor filly was comfortable.
I don't know if the doctor breathed a sigh of relief when it was all over, but I know I did. While the filly was concerned about the new stall and her new neighbors she was definitely more comfortable than she had been since she'd left her stall back at the doctor's farm. At least for now, I could relax but tomorrow would be another day.
To be continued...........
The Rain
Arabian horse Arabian horses horses horse Khemosabi horse breeding
Wow! That went way better than I had imagined! I had pictured injuries and blood, etc.
ReplyDeleteIs it common in the Arabian horse world for horses to never go outside? From reading your blog, it seems that yours get out a lot.
So this filly had never enjoyed eating grass before? Is that something they usually learn by watching their mothers, or do they figure it out on their own?
Looking forward to reading more tomorrow!
Oh that poor thing. I've dealt with horses that are scared to death of going INTO a stall, but not one that was scared to come OUT.
ReplyDeleteSo, when are we going to know what the name of this filly is? I can't wait to hear about the filly's first day there.
This is so unbelieveable. How old was this poor filly when you bought her? What are these people thinking? She is so lucky you chose her and would give her every opportunity to live like a horse.
ReplyDeleteThis will certainly be a saga.
Mikael,
ReplyDeleteI am now trying to get my blog back on track, but I'd thought I'd let everyone know instead of sitting in the blue. Errika, my arab mare, coliced two weeks ago. To make a long story short, she went in for emergency surgery one week ago at 1am this morning. She's been in ICU since, recovering. But as the days go on, a good recovery seems further and further away. Everyday it's something new, well not so new now.
I am in a wretched state, often finding myself on the brink of a melt down. I don't know if I am in denial or slightly at peace with what might happen soon. We are going back up to visit her today, but I am afraid for what's waiting. Another heart dropping experience where I have to almost shut out what is going on to avoid falling apart all together.
Thinking about loosing Errika makes me sick to my stomach and a whole new hurricane of fears and emotions rush over me.
What do you do in times like these?
I hope you and all your horses are doing well, I miss reading your blog and hope to hear from you soon. I wish you the best.
- Keri
Julia, it went better that I even imagined too, I have a theory which I'll share later in the story.
ReplyDeleteThis is NOT a common practice for Arabian people. As far as I know it's not a common practice for most horse people. As the story goes on, I will disclose more about my understanding of these people in the sequence with how I learned it.
I will be conintuing the story of this filly and her "integration" into normal horse life, so I think most of your questions will be answered as we go along.
lady of chaos, I'm with you, before this I had seen horses that were scared to death of going into a stall but never had I seen one like this. Unfortunately, she was not alone over there, there were many just like her. the next post will reveal her name.
molly, I will answer all of your questions as the story developes. But know, these people love their horses. I know it doesn't make sense but they truly believed they were taking the best possible care of them. And you are right is truly is a sage. I think I will rename the posts and do a label just for this series. It is an amazing story.
Keri, my heart breaks for you. I so know what you are feeling. I posted a comment on your blog with my email address (risingrainbow at comcast.net) so I could respond to your questions. Please contact me. You and Errika are in my thoughts and prayers.
MiKael
Arabian Horses are beautiful! and that is so sad about that filly being so scared. personally, i would have been too ... but that is coming from a 'human's' perspective.
ReplyDelete