Envoy and Casper off to Boarding School

My trainer is wonderful. She came to be with me when Sabi was put down. She said that I could bring Casper to be with Envoy this winter. This is a great thing in many ways. Casper will be with his buddy, but live in a separate paddock, which will help him with his separation anxiety. I will be able to ride him and Envoy, which will help both of them. Casper will be ready for the trails in the spring and Envoy will get more rest days. It will be good for my husband, who won't have horse duty after work and can get some rest days. I will have to clean an extra paddock/stall, which will make the New Year's resolution more of a reality.

We pack up the weekend after the New Year. I will need to bring some hay over first, and then we are just about ready.

I'm glad to hear this, Becky. I've been worried about Casper being home alone after Envoy goes back to school.

I would never ask a horse to be alone for very long. They are herd animals, and so need a buddy. Worse to worst would be that I would get a goat. Goats and horses actually are good companions. But, I don't really know anything about goats.

I am glad Casper can be with his buddy Envoy this winter. I was worried about how he'd be alone in the barn. It will be good for both of them to go to school. Casper won't be alone, can work on his issues, see other horses learning (and maybe learn himself by seeing?) and Envoy will have a buddy to help him with his grief.
How long will Envoy have to keep going to school? Just wondering.

The boys went to the trainer's today as a mini-adventure. They were a bit worried when I went to load up. Casper was sure he was going to be alone, and Envoy thought he was going to be leaving by himself. They both loaded quietly though, and once they were in the trailer, everything was fine. They looked happy to be in a new spot for a while. We didn't do anything exciting. We just went to visit. Envoy had a short ride in the arena, and Casper learned that he could see over the fence and into the open wall of the building.

Fiff, school is just my name for it. Really, Envoy goes there in the winter because there's good footing and shelter for riding. If I kept him at home, he'd have most of the winter off because of mud and rain. So, we will go as long as we're invited. The school part is really just like life lessons. Learn good lessons all the time.

Envoy was a bad boy this morning. They took advantage of an open gate. Casper came to me when I rattled some grain. He went right back to his house. Envoy ran around and around the house until he realized that his buddy was in the barn. Then, he ran right to his stall. What a goofball!

What a little . Your trainer is wonderful and I've never met
her. Glad the boys loaded well and that they can be together at school. You know
when they come home a goat might not be a bad idea. I don't know anything about them
either except that the will kudzu and grasses and weeds that horses won't eat. I knew of someone
here in Texas that kept a small flock to help keep the weeds in their pastures under control.,

Envoy, you naughty pony! Didn't take you long to see what you could get away with now that Sabi isn't there to make you toe the line.
Glad at least Casper had the good sense to come when called. Grain is a good incentive!

All good boys today. They did check out the escape route, but I had my brain about me even really early in the morning. It's raining, and the boys weren't too enthusiastic about much. At least it isn't too cold yet. I have a feeling we're in for it later this winter though.

Yeah, long about the end of this week. I assume the escape route has now been blocked?

Yeah, by Friday I figure what we're going to get on Thursday will be where you are Becky. Truly nasty weather on the way. The boys won't have any incentive to try to escape anywhere except back inside the nice dry, warm barn.

The escape route was a gate I stupidly left open. I got distracted by an almost empty water tank and then let the horses out without closing the gate. Dumb, dumb me. I couldn't be mad at Envoy. He just took advantage of the situation.

WEll, can't really blame him then for answering the call of adventure, can we?

It just struck me tonight. I won't have any horses at home once Casper and Envoy go to school. This will be the first time in 12 1/2 years that I won't have anyone to feed in the dark of morning. (The kitties beg to differ.) It's going to be really weird. I need to keep getting up early, but I am SO tempted to sleep in.

Get up with the Kitties, they will appreciate it having you all to
themselves.

I bet you'd have tons of attention from the kitties......after they get breakfast of course.

My thoughts went right to the kitties, too. They're used to you getting up at O'Dark O'clock, and if you think they will let you sleep in just because the horses are away, just wait and see.

It will be different, though, won't it? Best be prepared for some "empty nest" feelings, sweetheart.

Yes. At least I'll see them every day. It will just be at dinner time instead of breakfast and dinner time. This will be our opportunity to get caught up on some barn and property chores. I just need to take some time away from school to do those chores.

I bet they'll miss seeing you at breakfast too Becky. Horses are creatures of habit much like kitties are. No sleeping in for you....the kits will see to that. There is no such thing as a snooze button on a cat who wants his breakfast!

I think they're kinda like me in the morning as long as they get breakfast (and as long as I get coffee), we don't care who we see.

The boys spent the day hunkered down in the paddock with their hay nets. They didn't venture out to the pasture at all. The wind is blowing and it's COLD. They have blankets on, but seemed very happy to come inside. At school, they'll have paddocks of their own attached to stalls where they can go to hide from the wind/rain.

Sounds like a really good set-up for a horse to spend the winter. And, like you say, it's not as if y'all won't see each other -- you'll be spending time with them every day! And I'm sure you have farm maintenance to do to keep you busy (if the cats can't think of anything).

Sounds like a good set up to me. Cats by the way don't have snooze buttons but they
also don't have pause buttons either.

Isn't that the truth! Even on Christmas when you want to sleep in they won't let you.

Sue Short wrote:

Cats by the way don't have snooze buttons but they
also don't have pause buttons either.

That's something Shadow and Phantom have taught me.

Becky I am so glad Envoy is settled. Is there an indoor arena for riding him? It will be good for him to have exercise without (as you said) rain and mud to contend with).