Moving to our new home - 'Hill Farm'

Today is the 20th of May 2017.

Today is the day on which I had arranged the moving of 'Mr F'. Everything at our new home, 'Hill Farm', was ready and awaiting our arrival.

On one hand I was eagerly awaiting this day as I could barely wait to get away from 'Buttercup farm'. On the other hand I was concerned about 'Mr F's well being. The accident happened on the 23rd of January. He was prescribed 3 months stable rest. This he has had plus one more month with half turnout, half indoors, just to make sure. For the past 4 weeks I have very slowly started taking him out on walks and he has had turnout in a tiny space right behind the stable together with 'Little Sam'.

Although 'Mr F' and I have been going out on our own all the time before the accident, things have changed as he has been sheltered inside his stable 24/7 for over two months.
In preparation for the move and as general encouragement of recovery I have been taking out 'Mr F' over the past weeks. At first only a few steps but each day (depending on progress) a little longer so that he gets used to being outdoors again. He was quite flighty at first, on high alert and on one occasion a group of loud birds in the hedges spooked him big time. If he could have he would have jumped into my arms ... but as his and my size won't allow such behaviour, he instead just leans against me. He also had to learn to use all four legs again and at first gait was quite wobbly.

The new home was a 20 minutes walk away, if it was a brisk walk. Although I had been slowly re-introducing 'Mr F' to the great outdoors, I wasn't quite sure how he would cope on a longer walk. I had discussed it with 'Suzie' (the VET) and she said he'd be physically fine by now for a longer walk.

Even now, after 4 months, I wanted to make sure that all goes as calmly as possible and I asked 'Fluff Chucker's' family if I could borrow 'Little Sam' as escort. And also asked if he could stay with 'Mr F' at the new place. Only for 2 days / 3 nights so that 'Mr F' can get used to the new surroundings with his little friend. This way it wasn't just all new. There was another little white pony up at 'Hill Farm' that will be 'Mr F''s companion for some months. Thankfully the family agreed to lend me 'Little Sam'.

Realising that I am quite on edge and acknowledging the fact that it will rub off onto 'Mr F' I have to get my act together. 

I decide to stop thinking about what I can not possibly know and instead concentrate on what I have to do and just do it.

All our stuff I had moved on the previous day and this morning I left my car up at 'hill farm' so that I could bring back 'fluff chucker's' wife and daughter, who will accompany me with 'Little Sam' on our way up there.

We leave 'Buttercup Farm' on time. I am glad to find out that 'Mr F' behaves just like he did before the accident, when we would walk anywhere together without any troubles. In fact he strides out very happily, looking at the countryside and enjoying the warmish spring sun on on his body. I do keep him amused by playing our 'chase the cow parsley' game - a game I played with him in previous spring: he tries to get to the flowers and I try to beat him to it and then feed them to him. He for some reason seems to find this most entertaining. 

And so we make our way up to 'Hill Farm', very calmly and leisurely.  'Jackie' is awaiting us. We let the two boys eat some grass and let them take in the surroundings. All is new to them: the multiple barn buildings, the machinery and the people, the ducks and sheep.

Then it is time to let the two boys go into their field. My heartbeat picks up again because I know what is going to happen next: they both will be trotting around while scouting out their field which is completely new to them. At first they simply trot into their field and straight away began eating grass. They were pretty grass starved and had nothing else in mind, until ... 

'Hello Polly!' - 'Mr F' lays his eye on a voluptuous maiden.

... 'Polly' turned up on the scene. Another white pony and she is greeting 'Mr F' very excitedly. 'Mr F' in turn is fascinated by 'Polly' and together they begin their little dance, trotting back and forth along the fence, sometimes falling into a canter.
All the while 'Little Sam' can't care less, grass!! He is normally on restricted grazing as he gets too fat otherwise. This sure was a treat for  him!

As 'Mr F' is eyeing up his new fancy I watch thinking: 'Oh gosh ... here we go. Just don't do something stupid now boy or it's lights out. Up to you now, I cannot help you nor stop you.' After watching them chase shoulder to shoulder along the fence a few more times 'Polly' decided she had enough. After all having curves is all fine and well but at the cost of fitness in this case. 

After 20 or so minutes all horses calm down, albeit 'Mr F' and 'Polly' remained close to each other.

I think its all done and dusted now when 'Polly's current field mate is let into the field. 'Victor', a 26 year old gelding and rather grumpy looking most times. I am informed (and I suspect that he is in pain most days) that 'Victor' had been mistreated by his previous owners may years ago. He has also been bullied by other horses where he was before. So much so that he developed stress laminitis. Learning for me never stops ... I had no idea that horses can develop laminitis caused by stress.

Of course now 'Mr F' has a gelding on the scene. The result: more running around and quite vigorous galloping this time. It was a beautiful sight to see 'Mr F' move like this yet at the same time I knew it had only been 4 month since his accident. Mind you, 'Mr F' wasn't showing any sign of injury!

Another 10 minutes later and all settled down, finally. The older gelding disappeared off to the top of the hill - the field is on a slope and he stays there most of the time. 'Polly' and 'Mr F' however remained together - seemingly having some kind of conversation, to be interrupted by me visiting them.

'It's her (me) again - shhhhhhh'

A different view of their field. 'Polly' still being near the fence. She hardly moves away from it.

The morning had been warmed by the spring sun but now the sky is clouding over. We all watch for a little while as 'Mr F' too is now catching up on eating grass.

Then it's time for me to take back 'Fluff Chucker's wife and daughter. I drive them both back to 'Buttercup Farm'.

Upon return to 'Hill Farm' I finally take a deep breath. Seeing 'Mr F' out there in the field contently grazing as though nothing ever happened is such a relief. I am so pleased for him. And now we are free, in a peaceful place with plenty of space to just be. It will take a while to sink in. At last a quiet  home where I can give all my attention to 'Mr F. No interference, no interruptions, no having to socialise ... just peace! And clearly, there is peace in the air and it seems that 'Mr F' and 'Little Sam' feel it too ... they behave like they have been up here all their life.