[Equus_girl]

I finally got my new and first horse yesterday!! She is such a sweetie! Berdi has settled in fairly well and I'm keeping her in a corral for a couple days as the field is really big and I just want her to bond with me for a bit. She seems happy in there and is munching away on her hay. I think she's definately lost weight since the fall - she was sooooo chubby before! She still has quite a tummy on her, but that will be corrected soon with the riding I'll be doing with her.

I do need a bit of advice about her though. She was with two donkeys at her previous owners and liked them a lot. Our neighbors have donkeys too and whenever she hears them making noise she starts whinnying and pacing the corral. She doesn't look like she would try to get out but I just wonder how she will be when I let her out in the big field. She's 18 years old and respects fences as far as I know. Do you think its possible she would try to jump out and try to get to the donkeys. When she is in the field I mean as the corral is so high she couldn't get out. Any advice would be much appreciated!

Anyhow, she loves to be groomed and neckreins beautifully. She's the best trained horse I've ever ridden and I'm totally in love with her! Here are some pictures of her. That hay net you see is her slow feeder. She thought I was nuts at first but she got used to it real quick!

I'll put up more pictures tonight hopefully. My internet is real slow today!

 

[Speed Racer]

If she's the only horse on the property, she's going to need a companion. Horses are herd animals and don't do well alone.

If you can't or don't want to get her a donkey, try a goat or sheep.

She's lonely, which is why she's calling and pacing.

 

[Sunny]

Agreed that she should have a companion.
My first horse was ruined because of my ignorance. I was 12 and kept him in a paddock by himself, no other contact. He became too much to handle, and I had to give him away.
Be smart and get her a buddy. Donkey, horse, pony...anything.
There are many free, sound horses that are for sale as pasture buddies.
Check some out.
Beautiful horse, and good luck!

 

[Honeysuga]

She is such a cutie!

 

[my2geldings]

Congrats! you must be so excited! I remember to have your first horse. I remember when I got my first horse. It was such a mix of emotions. It was amazing. Congrats!

 

[ShutUpJoe]

She's really pretty : )

 

[whiskeynoo]

shes a cutie

 

[haviris]

Very pretty girl!

As for the donkey problem, it's hard to say, if you have decent fencing I wouldn't worry unless it becomes an issue. It may not hurt to get her a companion donkey though!

 

[englishrider]

Hey your horse finally got here! YAy pretty! *<

 

[kchfuller]

Does she have any friends at your house? Being that she is older and used to having "friends" in with her it would probably be wise of you to get some friends or a friend.

She is cute! Make sure you work her slowly since she has some extra lbs!
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[Equus_girl]

Thanks so much for the congratulations and advice! I will definatly try to get her a companion. I have a llama that might get along with her. Do you know if horses and llamas usually like each other? I think I'll try it out and see if they like each other. I let her out of the corral this morning and she is staying real close by the house and seems fine. She seems to have settled right in. She's not calling or pacing anymore. I actually figured out that most of her neighing was at the trailer we brought her in. She could still see it in the yard and probably thought she would be taken back to her previous owners.

Any other advice is most welcome as she is my first horse. I'll work her slowly as well since she does have some extra weight there!

 

[Dartanion]

Thanks so much for the congratulations and advice! I will definatly try to get her a companion. I have a llama that might get along with her. Do you know if horses and llamas usually like each other?

D lives with 6 alpacas so I would say that they do . They never fight and eat together a lot. The alpacas pick on each other, I have yet to see them bother D.

 

[Equus_girl]

Awesome! I will see how they get along together. I had to work today, but my mom kept an eye on her as she was loose in the field. She stayed close to the house for part of the day and then she went exploring. She seems to have settled in real well. She came up to me when I called her and I groomed her and rode her for a while. When I picked out her hooves, she not only lifted them immediately, but when I was done one hoof, she already had the other one high in the air for me to do! She was absolutely perfect with everything!!