Christmas 2023
Wishing, wishing for all that, we have what we need this holiday season. By the time you read this, I will have had the collapsing right knee replaced, I will be home and in recovery mode. It will be a wonderful thing to be able to walk without the lurch and the worry of falling. I am planning to snowshoe in February. Yes I think there will be adequate amounts of snow by then. There is a lot of preparation and thinking of the what “ifs” when you go into surgery. I check the Health Care Directive, check the will, call the daughter, consider the herd and where they will go. List Making.
In regards to the herd, the animals were donated into our care. I never felt that it was an ownership, we are the caretakers, they still belonged to their previous owners. In reality the herd owns me!! This was to be their forever home. I did not rehome, only because I felt that I did not have the time to monitor an adoption. It takes a while for a horse to settle in to a new home. Especially if they have been with the same caretaker for most of its life. We all do much the same caring things, only the daily routine will differ. I do know through experience, how long it takes for a new horse to be introduced to our way of doing things. I have always kept new adoptees in quarantine for a few weeks after deworming and vaccinations. Then introduced a couple of horses at a time until they got to know the whole herd. Even then most of the newbies would be at the end of the pecking order and we would be treating nicks and bruises for a bit. Every week I get requests to adopt a horse or two, and requests from people that are looking for a horse. I may have to start a matching program. I still firmly believe that if you have had an aged horse for 15 years or so, it is not fair to move them to a new and strange (to them) situation. It is much more humane to put them down. This is not a rule set in stone, every situation is different and the temperament of the animal should be considered. Will they pine or worry in a new homing situation? Will they get along with a new barn mate? Etc. There are so many things to be considered and difficult decisions to make.
Trailblazers are still showing up at the barn on Saturdays no matter the weather. Last meeting they were able to ride in the field, then I saw a couple of videos of them riding in the ring bareback without shoes. Now where did the shoes go?? One thing the kids do learn at the Sanctuary is responsibility and with that comes self confidence and leadership with a wide array of practical skills. It gives me a good feeling when shortly after Trailblazers arrive, they get right to work: the buckets are prepared, hay and water in the stalls and the herd is brought in. Their teamwork is commendable. There is no indoor arena at the Sanctuary, not always does the weather cooperate to ride. On the miserable days, the hours are spent grooming and hugging the horses, cleaning tack, making sure the tack room is tidy. There is no shortage of chores to get done and I always have a list!!
The Sanctuary directors, the herd and I, wish you all a very Merry Christmas, a festive holiday time, and the very best for the coming year of 2024. I wish good health for the horses, kindness to all. Love and hugs from Yogi and the herd.