Minouri
07-04-2006, 01:28 PM
Well, today was interesting.
Yesterday my neighbor was complaining about how his TWH is not eating because he's so lonely. (He's had him.....5days? a week? I'm not sure.) I felt really bad for the horse. I DO see him pacing back and forth all day long and looking over the yard at our horses.
He said he was going to get a free horse to keep as a companion but wasn't sure if he could afford all the expenses.
I talked to Tony about it and we offered to let his horse visit during the day with our horses. We've got about an acre and 1/2 fenced off right now (albiet temporary fencing) and let our boys run free during the day.
Last night we introduced the horses and all seemed pretty calm.
He put in horse in the paddock today (went to work) at 7 am and all heck let loose.
Snowy....my 22 year old mostly blind horse (he can see better in the bright light of the day) decided to run that new young horse around. I thought the game would end but he ran both the new horse and Scooter for over an hour.....down to one end of the yard.....ran them up and threw the round pen which has two sides open......back down to the pasture in the back and then around again. It didn't stop.
It was probably calm last night because Snowy can't see from Dusk to Dawn. Now that I think about it. He didn't leave the round pen to even check out the new horse. Only Scooter did.
So I'm standing there deciding what I'm going to do and.....
Then my neighbor who helps out with the horses came over and was all upset that we had the neighbor's horse in our yard. He does a lot for us (pulling Tony out of ditches when he gets the tractor stuck.....putting the horses away when it storms) but I couldn't really understand the outrage. Course, these people have known each other for decades. We're the new element here.
I didn't like being told to tell my neighbor to keep his horse in his own yard. On the other hand, I didn't like the potential injuries that could come from three horses running around a lot where wer'e still building paddocks...not to mention our horses don't test our fencing but they don't tend to run around either.
In the end I put the new horse back in his paddock next door. I'll tell my neighbor that it didn't work out.
I guess eventually new lines will have to be drawn between us and our horseless neighbor. I really like him and really appreciate what he does for us......but I also don't want him to think that he has a say in what goes on in our yard. We are allowed horses here and could have another if we wanted......our variance only allows two in the barn (because of how close it is to the neighbor's yard) but that has nothing to do with the back area. I think he thinks we can only have two horses period.
I was well on my way to deciding that having another horse here that doesn't belong to me was too big of a responsibility.....but I don't want to be told not to do it.
Neighbors. So far so good with the new place and new neighbors.....I hope this isn't a sign of things to come.
Yesterday my neighbor was complaining about how his TWH is not eating because he's so lonely. (He's had him.....5days? a week? I'm not sure.) I felt really bad for the horse. I DO see him pacing back and forth all day long and looking over the yard at our horses.
He said he was going to get a free horse to keep as a companion but wasn't sure if he could afford all the expenses.
I talked to Tony about it and we offered to let his horse visit during the day with our horses. We've got about an acre and 1/2 fenced off right now (albiet temporary fencing) and let our boys run free during the day.
Last night we introduced the horses and all seemed pretty calm.
He put in horse in the paddock today (went to work) at 7 am and all heck let loose.
Snowy....my 22 year old mostly blind horse (he can see better in the bright light of the day) decided to run that new young horse around. I thought the game would end but he ran both the new horse and Scooter for over an hour.....down to one end of the yard.....ran them up and threw the round pen which has two sides open......back down to the pasture in the back and then around again. It didn't stop.
It was probably calm last night because Snowy can't see from Dusk to Dawn. Now that I think about it. He didn't leave the round pen to even check out the new horse. Only Scooter did.
So I'm standing there deciding what I'm going to do and.....
Then my neighbor who helps out with the horses came over and was all upset that we had the neighbor's horse in our yard. He does a lot for us (pulling Tony out of ditches when he gets the tractor stuck.....putting the horses away when it storms) but I couldn't really understand the outrage. Course, these people have known each other for decades. We're the new element here.
I didn't like being told to tell my neighbor to keep his horse in his own yard. On the other hand, I didn't like the potential injuries that could come from three horses running around a lot where wer'e still building paddocks...not to mention our horses don't test our fencing but they don't tend to run around either.
In the end I put the new horse back in his paddock next door. I'll tell my neighbor that it didn't work out.
I guess eventually new lines will have to be drawn between us and our horseless neighbor. I really like him and really appreciate what he does for us......but I also don't want him to think that he has a say in what goes on in our yard. We are allowed horses here and could have another if we wanted......our variance only allows two in the barn (because of how close it is to the neighbor's yard) but that has nothing to do with the back area. I think he thinks we can only have two horses period.
I was well on my way to deciding that having another horse here that doesn't belong to me was too big of a responsibility.....but I don't want to be told not to do it.
Neighbors. So far so good with the new place and new neighbors.....I hope this isn't a sign of things to come.