So, the morning started off with more than a small dose of frustration. Not with Stella. With the stable owner. As I wrote last night, when I was there last evening the water in the paddock Stella was going to move into was both inaccessible to her and covered by algae and thick with slime. So I put Stella back in the paddock she has been staying in since arrival since the owner told me to just put her in the new place anyway and the water would get cleaned out later. Nope, I wasn't leaving my horse in a new place with no water. The last thing I wanted was for her first experience in a new stall to be negative. I would move her in the morning if the water trough had been cleaned.
Well, this morning I got to the stable and Stella wasn't where I had left her. Her paddock was empty. But the doors were closed. So I went up to the place I was supposed to move her up to this morning and she was already there. She also had a new raw and bare patch on her nose, and a cut on her front right foot just above her hoof. Her water was relatively clean, although the trough still had green slime around the rim and the inner seal. Went to talk to the owner about it, and she had no idea how Stella managed to hurt herself, since apparently Stella was an angel for the walk up to the new place (for which she didn't even use Stella's own halter and lead rope, which are both in my assigned container in the tack room). I'm sure that there was just a misunderstanding and the owner must have thought I forgot where she told me to put Stella. And Stella is an awesome horse, so of course she led fine. But still, Stella is a young mustang who has only had positive - or any, really - interactions with people since Thursday afternoon. I am a bit upset about someone who hadn't even seen my horse until yesterday, and who I never introduced to Stella, using her own tack to halter and move my horse without even asking me if it was ok or if I minded. A good many mustangs would not be trustworthy for a stranger to pick up and lead around at this early point in their training.
I believe that Stella walked well even with a stranger because she is a truly amazing filly, but I am frustrated that she picked up two mystery injuries between the time I left her last night and when I got there this morning, when she hadn't hurt herself at all before that since I have had her. And the owner is a nice, no-nonsense woman who teaches lessons with many of the clients and horses at the stable, so I am sure she knows what she is doing.
Oh well, Stella is none the worse for it as far as I can tell, except for a few scrapes and balking going into this new paddock. Whether that means the first introduction was stressful of not, I'm not sure. I had led her up there twice before, and she never balked going in before. She was also not eager to get out of that space before, and today she wanted to get out the gate before I could even get her halter on both in the morning and in the evening. Maybe she just doesn't like the gravel in the outdoor section of her area. And she is much closer to the other horses than she has been before, and they are all older than her by at least a year.
GAH! OK, rant over. I'm just a bit possessive and defensive of my new horse. I have known of too many good horses that got screwed up by stable owners or trainers who thought they knew more than the horse's owner about how to handle their horse so did whatever they wanted with the horse without consulting or following the wishes of the owner.
No, there is not a missing rail in the fence behind Stella. I know it looks like it. There are some new boards in the fence, so they are not weathered and dark yet.
Today we went again to the outdoor arena. I led Stella around the arena for a few laps, then I decided it was time to let her play. She is such a smart, affectionate little filly that I was pretty sure I would be able to catch her again if I let her off lead.
So, I unclipped her lead rope and walked away. Stella followed me. I changed directions. Stella followed me. I sped up. Stella followed me. We ended up going all the way across the arena and back, wandering around the whole place, with her right by me the whole way. When we got back to a shady spot I could sit and watch from inside the arena, I sat down and gently shooed Stella away. Now, the shooing didn't do a thing, but she did look out at the arena and I could see her thinking about it. Then she walked into the middle of the arena and looked about.
Then Stella exploded.
She ran, she bounced, she ran more. Stella ran from end to end of the arena and back again over and over. Each time she went to the end nearest the other horses she would whinny once (they never answered). Seeing her in full stride, Stella is beautiful. I mean, she has been absolutely adorable and I have loved her from the moment I first saw her. But this was different. Today I saw a glimpse of the mare Stella is going to be when she grows up. And she is beautiful.
No, I didn't get any pictures. I was too distracted being awed by the magnificence of my horse to remember to use my camera. I promise to do better about getting pictures of Stella in full stride next time.
In the evening Mom took a turn leading Stella around the arena, then back to her paddock. Stella was perfectly behaved the whole time, except for a minor balk at her stall door going back in, but that was quickly overcome when she was reminded that her stall was where her hay was. Then she walked right in. This little filly is highly food motivated.
Stella and Mom (and a little it of me)
Once inside Raven took a turn brushing and grooming Stella. It makes me happy that both my Mom and my husband come out to share this filly with me. Stella is our filly, not just mine. And that is an extremely pleasing thought. I think Stella might even like it a little better when Raven uses the knobby currier on her than when I do. Raven can apply more pressure, and this little filly greatly loves her scratches and rubs. It is the rare spot on her that doesn't get her to get her lips working if scratched vigorously.
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