The new arrival .. with a pic

RuthnMeg

RuthnMeg

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So, we went and picked up Penny foal today....
Arrived on time (always a good start!). As soon as we were there Penny and her dam came into the stable yard 'free range'. The dam Sparkle took herself into a stable for feed while Penny stayed with us. Soon we had a head collar on her, was making friends and she had a mouthful of food too. Led her towards the trailer, a bit sticky but considering she was leaving her mum she was very good!
I had allowed hours (if needed) for the actual loading, but she led right up to the ramp and was so engrossed in the feed bucket she actually stepped on the ramp without knowing. WOOPS!! It made a noise, she shot backwards - looked totally shell shocked, and then came forward for the second time. Took all of 5 mins for her, on her own back to put all four feet on the ramp - then she just walked in. Bless. Not a squeek from her (or her mother for that fact).
Rightly or wrongly, I stayed with her in the trailer. Iam not a fan of taking a foal off its mother 'just like that', and felt it would be equally unkind to travel her for her VERY first time in a trailer completely on her own. My mum, the driver is very experienced and drove very quietly and 'we' had a smooth ride. Took about 25 mins to get home, and all the way she was cuddling into my arm and had a few picks of hay.
She unloaded like a dream (Meg take note!! lol) and I led her into her stable after a quick photo shoot. She obviously is very people friendly, and very calm when we are with her, but when we go out of sight!!! She understandably is confused and wants to 'get out'. We have now barracaded (sp?) her into her house. (I don't have a 'typical stable' so no access to a top door.)
She will stay in for a week until she gets used to us, the noises, the general chaos that the farm provides. She has to get used to the dogs (clearly never seen one before!)) and the children rushing about. I will lead her out every day, for some grass and a leg stretch, not to mention lead practice and to get her used to her suroundings.
When that is going well, I will turn her out with Juno and bring Meg in for a few hours. Get her used to us catching her and leading her away from Juno again....
Big plans in progress!! Will take time, but i've got time on my hands..
Will create a Penny diary too... today, day 1 has been a long day for her, not to mention a tad stressful.

Welcome to our family 'Fools Gold' aka Penny!!

Penny1-1.jpg


Penny2-1.jpg


Penny3-1.jpg
 
She is beautiful, I LOVE that mane! :D

Sounds very uneventful considering the circumstances and I hope she settles in well :) The two times I have brought home a weanling I have always slept out with them :D
 
how stunning!:D have you had youngstock before? if not I can asure you it will be a happy and rewarding experience!:D
I agree about not taking foals of their mums "just like that" and was probably wise of you to travel with her (I have done this many times btw)!I have warmblood yearling and have just put deposit on traditioonal coloured foal who won't be ready for a couple of months yet!

Have fun and do keep h & H forum users posted on her progress
 
Thanks for your kind comments.
Although I have dealt with a few 'babies' before, Penny is personally my first. Everything is and will be new along the way, but I like to think common sense and 28 years of being around horses will stand us in good stead. - If not, I've got you lot to help with those 'tricky' moments!
I don't live on site, but my mum is all of 15 yards away from her 'stable' and is keeping an eye on her for me.

PS, my OH is unaware of her presence - I feel so naughty!!!
 
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Also *note to self* I really don't look very flattering in the pictures... must get onto that slim fast diet and lose quite a bit me thinks!! -Start monday!!
 
Update via my mum!
Penny has tried to climb out, mum is very tired of making her baracade foal safe. Penny is behind a 5 bar gate, hung about 4'6'' high. Gate is boarded so no legs can get through the bars. Above the gate is 'full grill' - can see through but not look out. This is secured to the gate using currently working random methods. Hung about 6ft high from the top is a rail. The gap now filled with the grill and rail is about 2ft (over the gate). How Penny could possibly think she can leap out through 'nothing' is puzzling, but poor thing, a night on her own in a strange place I can't blame her. Now its dark she is quiet, but my mum is very tired! Iam up early in the morning, can't do much til then. Mum will check her before she goes to bed, and my step dad will in the middle of the night while he is watching the grand prix. I feel very lucky to have on site help when i can't be there.
 
Gosh what great support your mum and stepdad are!!! Foaly looks lovely, I'm very jealous! Hope for a peaceful night :) xxxxxxxxxxx

PS, when will OH become aware of her presence? lol!!!
 
PS, when will OH become aware of her presence? lol!!!


^^ I haven't worked that out yet, in time somewhen. Iam sure to post about that day!! lol
I do feel very lucky to have the support, but at the same time, I have to think possitive, she can't get out and it would be nearly impossible for her to hurt herself in trying to do so. I've done everything I can. My mum is a worrier, so unfortuanlty its affecting her more. Iam trying to give her chilling out vibes!!! Penny will soon settle..... I hope!! She will.
 
Lucky you, she is gorgeous, our weanling filly arrived very stressed, never having been away from mum, never had a headcollar on, she arrived with rope round her head, never been on a trailer so hardly surprising the state she was in, we left her with our old boy in the stable yard with access to stables, being able to meet the others over the fence and she settled in lovely.
Do you not have adjoining stables where you could put another horse, just knowing one is close would help calm her down, I'm sorry I don't know how many you have but she would be better with company of some sort, a radio perhaps.
God luck with her, young uns are such fun and very rewarding
 
Arhh, maybe a radio is worth a try ... something i hadn't thought of.
Meg and Juno live out, and don't enjoy being stabled. We don't have 'traditional' stables - a converted garage, and a corral in a open shelter type thing! I know she will manage, first day is very traumatic and she will settle. There is 1 other horse here now too, he is out in a paddock barely 20 paces around the corner from Penny's place! Penny has seen him and knows he is there, which in a way might not be helping!!
 
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