First day

If there is a heaven on earth, I surely was there this morning. I went out to see Dakota for our first day together in her new home. Surrounded by mountains, lying in a valley, the stables itself is a place to visit! What a beautiful, peaceful setting. Allen, the stable owner, is funny, kind and very laid back. And he takes excellent care of the horses et al. It seems like a really nice, unpretentious group out there! My kind of folk!

Dakota was eating peacefully, though apparently there was a bit of whinnying for her herd last night. The rest of the stables responded, so I'm sure she felt welcomed and comforted by that! It must have made a bit of a din at the time, but she seems to have accepted things very well. We went for a long walk around her new home, walking down the aisles of other outdoor pens, getting to know the other horses a bit. We went into the barn, spent some time in each arena. She sniffed and explored many things. Even manure tubs are new and surprising to her! And the sound poop makes when I dump it into a bucket (have to clean up after my horse, after all!). I let her off her lead in the arenas, but she stuck to my side like she was glued there. Or attached by a long rubber band. She'd go towards something to look at it, then immediately come back to my side. In her pen, if I even go to momentarily check something out she follows. I feel like a horse whisperer, because it is just like that. She follows every move I make. So interesting how that behavior is imprinted in horses!

We did some foot lifting. Definitely have to keep working that one, but she learns quickly and we made progress. I can touch and scratch her everywhere. I threw my jacket on her back, rubbed her with it, tossed it around on her head (doesn't make a very good hat), did all kinds of crazy things with it and she didn't budge. So I guess she trusts me! We are doing some yielding work as well. She's doing great with that though she definitely has a 'piggy' side. Her left side moves away quickly and she will yield her left legs to me no problem. Right side, a bit more stubborn!! So that is her piggy side, the one she'll be pushier with. Harder to get her to yield, to pick up those feet, especially her right back foot. She also has a bump on her pastern, so it may be a little painful too.

But she's learning and I'm amazed and happy at her progress. She's a smart horse with tons of common sense, which will come in very handy on our adventures to come! Yay, Dakota!!!!!