What happens with that rescue horse once you bring it home?
Will the horse eventually settle in, or will she show signs of problems that begin to fill you with regret?
A month ago I wrote about going along on a mission to rescue a filly and a colt from a feedlot. Since then, the young horses in question spent three weeks in quarantine at horse trainer Jessica Colling‘s place, where the filly was named Shadowfax and the colt became Maverick. Then it was time for the filly’s owner, Tracy Roberson, and Tracy’s two sons, Dylan and Nick, to welcome her to their farm where they have sheep, miniature horses and a 19-year-old rescue mare named Cocoa.
The filly, Shadowfax, on the left, gets to know her new pasture mate, Cocoa.
Tracy has this account of how it went:
Hello! The filly greets Tracy at the fence.
“This first week has been about just letting her be a horse and get used to her new home. She loves having so much room to run, and older and wiser Cocoa to protect her. They are closed in separately in the dry lot area at night. I have only seen her try give Cocoa the double barrels once, but Cocoa moved fast. I think there were other times so they are across the hot fence at night to be safe.
“At first Shadowfax was not sure about the fuzzy giant marshmallows (the sheep) but now she has figured out that they are fun to herd and move away fast. She was worried about the minis from afar, but once she saw them up close, she just let out a sigh and went back to eating the green grass. They are in a separate pasture. We’re not taking any chances of her kicking them for a long time.
She has not had the halter on since she’s been here, but lets us brush and pet her almost everywhere while she’s eating. And did I mention she can really eat!! Pasture all day, hay all night!
“Today she even let me brush out half her tail before she decided she prefers brushing on her other end. And she’s always looking for treats! We will be working on personal space soon with Jessica. Right now, I just make her back up before giving her a treat. I make her stand and she lets me pet and brush her mid section.
“When I walk, she follows and I say whoa. Then I back her up and then give the treat. She is very brave and trusting of people. I am sure she was loved by whoever had to give her up. She’s just young, playful and goof at times. Today she got spooked by the wind and the giant “panther” on the fence post.
“She’s good with both the boys, especially Dylan (who is 10). Nick (age 5) is not allowed to be around her without mom or dad, but the other night after feeding he fell and came crying to me. I was in with Cocoa and he tried to come through Shadowfax’s area, with the hot wire separating us. I was doing the freaked-out mommy “Stop, right there, go back!” etc. Shadowfax was resting calmly with heavy eyelids, her head down, and he literally stood screaming right under her nose. She didn’t even move. I did get him to back out before having heart failure…
Shadowfax the filly is very gentle with Tracy’s sons. Here, Dylan says hello.
“Ok, last but not least is how sad it was when the trailer drove off with her little “baby” (the colt). I thought she was going to jump the fence. Heartbreaking.”
Here’s the video of Shadowfax realizing her friend had left her, and below that, more video and then the colt’s story:
Here’s a video of Shadowfax being home free:
And how about the colt? The filly had been his surrogate mother at the feedlot, the only herd he’d known for months. How would he handle being separated from her?
Jessica, who is keeping the colt at her farm, had this to say:
“It’s “Maverick” officially, but I still call him Leppy. I didn’t realize how far he’d come, and how much he trusted me, until the day we moved the horses from quarantine to their respective homes. On a whim I tried loading Leppy first, not looking forward to setting up a chute and running him in again. Lo and behold, with minimal hesitation, he walked in after me, and stood quietly while Shadowfax was loaded.
“He hauled well, until the filly was unloaded at Tracy’s house. He was in such bad shape that I decided to ride with him the few short miles to my pasture. I had to keep one hand on him at all times to keep him upright and somewhat calm. It was nerve-wracking. Once I unloaded him he immediately settled.
“I led him into the pasture and he trotted off bravely to meet his new herd. They weren’t entirely welcoming and he spent two days on the fringe. I was worried about him. Not for his physical welfare, as he had food, water, and the other horses weren’t hurting him, but for his emotional state. We had brought him out of the feedlot, yes, but then had torn him away from his only friend–even though she had taken to running him pretty badly in their shared turnout.
In with the herd: The colt leads the way at pasture.
Best buddies: Maverick and his new friend Bear take a stroll.
“Tracy kindly offered to let him stay with Shadowfax for a while, but I declined, hoping he would forge a friendship with at least one of my herd. I had almost given up when my client’s Appaloosa, Bear, spoke for the little guy. They have formed a strong bond. Leppy follows him everywhere, and Bear enjoys having a baby of his very own.
“Whenever Bear is turned out after a ride and rolls in the dirt, Leppy is right behind him, practicing his rolls as well.
Monkey see, monkey do.
“He still wears a breakaway halter, but is getting easier to catch and handle every day. Especially if I am holding Bear.”
The picture says it all: Maverick relaxes in his new home.
