This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Well, Loki is finally home after a month of chewing my nails, waiting for the day to arrive!
Drove up to Fort Laramie WY on Monday. Stayed at a hotel to be fresh for the drive home on Tuesday. Then, met with Keith at 1:00. We loaded up Loki - m'boy just stepped in with no hesitation, although a bit unhappy to be leaving Beau (calling). Beau is the other Fjord, who's been with Loki for many years. Wish I could have afforded both of them, but it would have been a very tight squeeze (plus, I don't have anyone at home to ride with regularly enough, for all the extra work I'd need to do, in order to pay for Beau as well.) >From there, we went down to the vet, got the Health done. Keith already had the Coggin's done. Then down the road a ways, to the Brand Inspector's office. I saw Loki's registration papers - he'll mail that plus the permanent BI to me, once he's paid in full (that will be middle of July.) This is m'boy - for those who enjoy pedigree stuff: http://www.nfhr.com/ponyweb/ponyweb.cgi?horse=183&HorseName=Loki&OwnerState=WY &Page=1&Sort=0 Cheryl helped me look him up in the NFHR pedigree search, before I left for Wyoming. Then later, up in Wy, was able to see his registration #. I think it's neat, what Cheryl pointed out to me - that four generations back, on the very bottom, one of his grandmare's is a mare from the Broadmore Hotel. Cheryl told me how some of the first Fjords brought into the U.S. were there, in southern Colorado - something with the records happened, so they are identified by "mare/etc from Boradmore Hotel STK". His father is King Gjestar 126A and dam is Eli 2103B -- bred by Nancy Lehnert in Arizona, sold to the McNabb's in Wyoming. He's driving trained and used by Ken McNabb, so he's got the driving down pat. Keith mentioned that the McNabb's said he has been "ridden some" - so I sent an email asking if may call to ask more about him, understand his background more. I also would (after Loki is saddle ready) like to learn how to drive with him. Have been thinking that over, and warming up to the idea. :-) Since Loki knows the McNabb's wagon train trips so well - he'll be the old hand showing me, on one! ;-) There are many sources down here to learn driving from - have been talking to a couple, and one in particular that am really looking forward to (Marsha & Emmy of the southern chapter Colorado Draft Horse Asso.) Well, the trip home was nice and quiet - he took the drive well! When it was time to unload, he did so pretty calmly. I was expecting after a 4.5 hour drive, that he'd be a bit excited - but not really! I board our horses about 4 miles-ish from where we live, at the moment. That property just sold, so sometime end July or August, we move to the new boarding place (15 miles away.) At the boarding place, I have a whole barn to myself - so I have my herd in a large pen to one side, sharing a fence line (steel horse panels, well anchored) to the other side. Loki is in the run while the others are in the pen - so they can sniff noses and get to know each other for a week or so, before Loki is turned out with them. (*Always* a bad idea to just "toss" a new horse into the herd!) After tucking him into his run, I let the herd in from the pasture, to meet the "new kid on the block". Goldie, the 17 yr old Welsh pony mare, notice him first - trotted right over and (sigh) started winking at him. Loki sort of just looked at her, not particularly interested. LOL! Next in came Spirit, the 3 yr old Shetland pony - he runs right over to Loki and Goldie, acting all territorial and studdy! LOL! Again, Loki just sort of looked at him as if to say, "What is your problem?" Next in came Duchesse, the 24 yr old Standardbred mare. She seemed to be curious as to what was up with the two ponies, trotted over. About 15' away, she stops dead in her tracks, ears forwards snorting like a bull. LOL! Took her a few minutes to figure out he was a horse, I geuss. LOL! Today is two days home - Duchesse doesn't care about him now ("Ah, so what, he's just another horse!) Goldie still thinks he's the new love of her non-breeding life. And Spirit is starting to chill out over the "intruder". I turn the herd loose into the pasture during the daytime - this let's Loki have "out time" into the big pen, then. Will let Loki run with the herd in the pasture in about a week. They are doing pretty well the last two days, so don't think it will take too much longer. :-) A trainer will be evaluating him soon - to see how much he knows, for training to saddle riding. Can't wait for our first ride on the trails together!!! Sher in CO
