We have been busy....My daughter and I trained our 5 yo MFT mare,Kate, to load in my 3H slantload trailer within two weeks and took her for a couple of short rides around our big block last week. I put her in the middle stall so she would have more room to stabilize herself and have room to spread out her legs. The front stall has a divider that goes all the way down to the floor which has less room to spread out her legs. The middle divider does not go all the way down to the floor. Somehow the middle divider came unhitched behind her and bumped her in the butt which caused her to kick out while we are travelling. We can't figure out how she gets it to disconnect. So, last Sunday(08.01.21) we loaded her up in the morning and drove her on the highway an hour to the trainer's farm in Ionia,MI. We tied the divider open behind her so it wouldn't bang her from behind. I tied her to the ring in the front with her hay bag. Susan, the trainer, helped unload her and walked her around inside of her indoor arena which has lots of obstacles in it. She let Kate see everything and brought her to her own stall and attached turnout area that has other boarders on three sides. She remet her younger half brother(same sire) who is 4 and in a paddock beside her. They look just alike. At first she wouldn't leave us up by her stall but eventually explored the rest of her new area and got acquainted with the other horses. Her further education has begun.
My neighbor,Deb, is giving me a 21 yo reg. MFT gelding(Sam) who developed Cushings over the winter. He is on meds now and improving(lost his long shaggy coat). She knew I had Kate and was looking for a stablemate for her. He has been ridden across Michigan and is good for beginners. I have had him vetted and the farrier has trimmed him already. He will be a good addition to our family.
We just managed to get our hay crop put in the barn with lots of tractor and rake problems and rain delays,but it's DONE!
Next I am taking down my electric tape fencing and pulling up the tposts to prepare for a total makeover of my soggy arena. I have an escavator guy lined up to replace the clay/sand with slag drainage material and arena sand on top of that. When I put the fences back up, I can bring Sam here.
Oh, and I set my retirement date for September 30th!
Marilyn,Kate and Sam
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Topic: Making progress and found another MFT (Read 143 times)