The New Adventure Begins

     Chessa is our newest addition. She is only 5 months old and yet she stands almost as tall as her Mother Star. She is a Quarterhorse Paint Arabian Mix. Quite the smorgasbord of blood lines. When I first laid eyes on Chessa she was housed in an outdoor pen with her mom at our trainers farm. No green grass and limited space seemed like a sad environment as I am used to green pastures for our horses.
     The first five minutes that I encountered her I knew she had spirit. She was happily playing around Star, bouncing and dodging. She even tried to climb upon her mom's back at one point. Jubilant and happy she tossed her head and tucked underneath Star for a sip of milk.
     Last month she and Star came to stay at our farm. While Star is temporary, Chessa is home. After a bit of a comic escape while loading onto the trailer for the first time, she Chessa finally followed mom onto the trailer for her short ride to our place. She would be joining our other horses, Cody, Daisy, Lacy, and Cowboy. Plus a few other "farm" animals. A donkey, a few cats, some chickens, and cows to the south, another neighbor horse to the east, dogs all around, and a rather ornery neighbor to the north. As she followed her mom off the trailer into the paddock, she seemed to be at ease and ready for a new adventure. Star seemed to be a little more wary. But the unloading went smooth and quick. Youtube video of unloading.
     We decided to separate the other horses into the back field with a fence between the established herd and the newcomers to avoid any injuries. The hope was to let them all get acquainted over the fence before allowing them full access. Star was actually already acquainted with Lacy and Cowboy as they were herd-mates and relatives from their "childhoods".
      Chessa immediately zeroed in on the head mare Daisey only to rebuffed. Daisey has always been "pissy" with her Standard-breed blood and had to always been monitored any time a new baby was born around the farm. She was always trying to steal the babies for her own, so caution needed to be heeded. But Daisey seemed uninterested, much to Chessa's chagrin.
     Chessa and Star settled in for the evening with what appeared to be calm and happiness at having actual green grass to graze on and open space to run. There is nothing more mesmerizing to me than to watch a happy horse kicking up their heels in exuberance. Until I start worrying about a misstep that might lead to injury...
     The next day we introduced Lacy into the pasture with them. After some nickering, running and stomping of feet with a few nips thrown in for good measure, they settled into a peaceful coexistence. The next day we decided to introduce the rest of the herd together. All was going well as one by one they came to investigate up close and personal the new arrivals. At least at first...
     The very one that is usually the calmest and most easy going, the one that I assumed would be fine was the very one that exploded into a wild eyed monster. You know what they say about assume (makes an ass out of you and me)...Well old Cody boy-the head gelding-took out after poor Star biting and kicking unmercifully. He chased her until I thought he'd have a heart attack. Poor Chessa was terrified and I was terrified that she would be trampled in melee. Cody's meeting with Star
     After what seemed like forever, we were able to separate them into front and back pastures. Poor Star was chewed up pretty bad with superficial bites, Chessa was frazzled but uninjured. Wow, that was pretty intense. I knew that the hierarchy had to be worked out but this was scary to watch.
     A couple of days later we reintroduced everyone one at a time and with lead ropes attached so we could step in immediately if needed. Not even a hint of aggression this time. They all act as if that first encounter never even happened. The hierarchy has been established and all is well. Its been a month now and it makes my heart swell to see how peaceful they all are now. They have been so patient with Chessa as she tries to run rough shod over the whole herd.
     Daisey has taken her under her tutelage and allows her to follow her every hoof beat. Star is going about her business as if she has lived there forever. Cody is calm and lumbering again and Lacy is doing her own thing. Poor Cowboy, as the former youngest of the herd, has always been low man and is trying to make Chessa understand that he is older than her and dang it she needs to behave; but is unsuccessful. It's quite comical to watch.
     All in all we are having fun with Chessa, but now the real work begins in her training. I predict that we all have some learning to do. As she dances around with her little tail held erect, tossing and leaping, her Arabian spirit is evident. While she lifts my spirit just watching her, I recognize that she will most likely try my patience many times to come. I will keep you posted as to the progress. Both hers and mine....