The
three of us, Tracey, Lorraine, and I, thought long and hard about whether, and when, to amalgamate the two
groups of horses. Both Henrietta and Bella had been in with the Jacks at different times and
settled together fine. Putting together Theoden, who is possessive about mares, and new
Jack, who can be naive and bombastic, was a more worrying proposition.
They have grazed alongside each other with a fence between them for a few weeks
and apart from the odd ogre face over the rails have been calm.
This
morning we decided to take the risk nudged on by the fact that a rail was down
between them, and it was raining so we could close off the barns where one of
them might get trapped in a corner. Nevertheless risk it was and I don't envy
those people who have other horses added to their field without any say,
notice, or supervision. On the the other hand I couldn't live with individual
turnout no matter how beautiful or expensive my horse was - I've met so many
horses that are in trouble because they are 'on duty' all the time and unable
to socialise or synchronize with other horses.
Today's
move was by no means compulsory although it would be more convenient in the
long term if they could all live together.
Here's
what happened. Some of it made grim viewing but most of the time it was
completely peaceful.
