By: Admin
My filly has finally arrived on October 31. The 18 wheeler truck was a little late, but the driver kept us posted as he got closer to his destination. While I waited at the drop off area I did not know what to do, the time passed so slowly. So many things ran through my mind. Would she be ok when she got off the trailer, what does she really look like, can I remember everything I have to do next, before I leave for Germany? It was hard to hold back my emotions. I had many flash backs of the colt I got 27 years ago. I still remembered when I met my colt, Snow. It was October also and as soon as he tugged on my coat collar I knew he was mine. A few days later we loaded him in the trailer and went home, the rest of this story is history locked into my mind forever. Today was a new beginning and a sad ending.
At approximately 2:30 pm 30 Premarin horses arrived in a very large truck with gradations and compartments in which groups of horses traveled together. The local newspaper reporter and also the local TV news were there to witness and report the arrival of the rescues. When the horses were unloaded a compartment was unloaded at a time and being one of the 15 volunteers I helped guide horses to stalls. These horses are considered untamed having very little to no handling. I was anxiously waiting to see my filly pop out of the truck when I saw a large filly with black knees and high white stockings trotting down the barn aisle. I heard my friend, another volunteer say “Is that your filly?” At that same moment I knew it was her. She was sporting her winter baby hair and looked nothing like her photo, other than that lovely head with soft eyes. She was much more colorful in person than in the pictures. She is bay-blue roan with a large fish shaped white marking on her shoulder. She was skinny and her legs were very stocked up from the long haul.
Generally speaking all the horses were easily stalled with the efforts of experienced handlers guiding them. Many of the horses that arrived were foals, there were also a few mares and one gelding approximately 3 years old. He was the most difficult to handle in the entire group, but he was also untamed and has a considerable amount of draft horse breeding in him, still sweet all the same. Once the horses were unloaded they rested for some time before given hay and water. All seemed to fair well considering the distance they had traveled with only one stop at the border.
Day 2 came and I went to the barn early before work to help feed and check on my baby. While I was there I assisted loading several horses going to a rescue center in the US. I went to work thinking of nothing but my new filly. I left work early to get to know my filly while she was still at the drop off point. Knowing that she needed to be moved from the facility to her temporary home the next day I wanted to be able to put a halter on her. This took some time. She was frightened at first and did not know what I was asking nor did she want to know. After some gentle persuasion, about 30-40 minutes, I was able to place the the halter on her. It may sound simple, but it was not, I had to find a way to make the transition as seamless as possible so the filly would always willingly accept the halter and anything else I ask of her. To me it is a crucial moment if this transition was smooth and her fear was diminished she would learn to trust humans very quickly.
Day 3 – She was moved to her temporary home and the next day I was off to Germany. It was heart breaking and worrisome to leave her in such a delicate state, although knowing she would be well taken care of she was very skinny, dehydrated and did not really know how to eat feed. A couple of my friends and also the stable owner kept a close eye on her while I was away. I knew they were keeping a close eye on her from the email updates I received, which were comforting, just because I knew they cared also. It was a long week away and last night I returned from Germany at 8:00pm, unable to reach the stable owner, but reassured by my friends I slept almost peacefully, but very anxious to see my filly.
I will continue updating the progress of my filly on a regular basis, so please stop back again soon!
