Pocket, Mouse and Skeeter enjoy their new home.
Shot from our new front porch while eating breakfast this morning.
Once again our timing was perfect. The move from southern California landed us right in the middle of a “most unusual” weather pattern that has set records for rainfall. It’s been raining for days and days. Seven inches the day the horses came in. The weather slowed the progress of Gail Murphy’s Personalized Equine Transportation Service, causing them to arrive after dark, so we had to shuttle them off the transport trailer, onto our 3-horse which had to be pulled by a generous new neighbor with his 4-wheel drive tractor (my truck would’ve been mud-bound for sure).
Joe and Benji (and Kathleen behind the cell phone camera)
arrive at the Nashville airport.
We put the hillside herd in a paddock that night, not wanting them to experience a brand new (and muddy) pasture at night. Is that another one of those human things like blankets in the snow :). Noelle went into another paddock and there they all wallowed like pigs until morning.
Everyone was in fine (and muddy) shape the next morning and we let the herd out onto the smaller of the two hillside pastures. It was definitely the YeeeHaaww moment so many of you have asked about and predicted. Running, romping, and kicking up their heels! AND Kathleen got it all on video (no stills unfortunately. She still only has two hands). It’ll be a while until I get my computer set up and can put the video online.
There’s was so much mud in Noelle’s paddock that I finally let her go out into the larger pasture if she chose to do so… which she did straightaway, coming back usually at feeding time. She looked rather majestic this afternoon perched up on the hill. It’s obvious that I’ve come to completely depend on Kathleen for photo taking because it never occurred to me to pull out my cell phone until I was back up at the house.
For the last couple of days Mouse has been favoring her right rear leg, picking it up higher than the left. She was the most recalcitrant of the six coming out. Being so young she has never been able to stand still for very long without getting antsy. Still I suspected she had pulled something skiing around on the hillside. It’s been a mess. But today our new vet was out and found a small trauma at the hairline of her right rear hoof, probably where she stepped on herself on the trip over. It’ll be fine.
It’s amazing. Just when you think you have everything figured out God says “not so fast”. We simply didn’t count on record rainfall. And tons of mud in the pre-selected morning and evening supplement feed zones. I’m so excited that the washer and dryer are finally hooked up because I’m sliding through a pair of muddy jeans a day! God just wanted us to know after so much complaining about dust in California that the opposite of dust has its downside as well :).
All the horses learned right away that water is now from a pond instead of a big metal tub, even Cash who especially hates mud. Skeeter immediately got into the swing and went almost up to his knees in the pond.
I wonder how long it’ll take for Mouse to follow Skeeter in. When all is said and done I think everyone is basically well if we can just get them dried out a bit. The rains quit long enough for the movers to work yesterday, but came right back today.
Kathleen is coming over again for the weekend (Yippee!) bringing Shaggy (Lizard Tongue from the last movie) so Benji will have company when I’m away. Benji does NOT like to be left alone; a hangover I suspect from being abandoned.
Someday we’ll get settled in out of boxes and somewhat caught up and I’ll get the new video (from both ends – Noelle’s loading in California was a challenge) on the website. We will definitely let you know when it’s up. Thanks so much to the many who have written asking how things were going and I apologize for the lack of response but it’s been (and still is) a three-ring circus getting through this.
More soon.
Joe
Joe and Kathleen- congrats on the new digs! I just finished your book, and it is my humble opinion that it is your best work! I saw Benji as a kid, and for sure, it stayed with me. But being a horse lover since age 3 and interested in a more natural way of keeping horses, and working with them, as well as TRYING to SPREAD THE WORD, I found your book to be an excellent way to get someone thinking! Not only that, but the resources in the back ofthe book are wonderful and I’m happy to say, I have already been to most of what you reccomended there, and can’t wait to go visit the sites and get the dvd’s and books that are new to me. I was going to let the other 3 people at our private barn borrow your book to try and get them a little more “swayed” toward naturalism, but I’m going to give them the book for Christmas instead, because I won’t lend my copy out! It PAINS me to not be in full control of my gelding’s living conditions…but we’re getting there! He’s been barefoot and happy for 3 years now, and I did that on pure instinct! I’ve always hated blankets, again -instinct, and I no longer can set foot in any “show barn”! It’s like visiting a prison or mental ward. Too sad! Then the research I started to do yielded some support…and now a full on movement has begun!!! FINALLY!!! I trim my horse’s feet. It wasn’t hard to learn and it’s not hard to do. I’m working on 24/7 turn out with a lean-too set up and I can hardly wait!! (it’s not my farm, so I’m limited in what I can make happen and how fast) Anyway, thank you so much for your work, your dedication to the horses needs and wants, and your open mindedness, as well as your dedication to sahre the knowledge in such a nice book!!!!
Kim in CT.
I understand the happiness that Tennessee can bring. I live in NJ and own two horses. My brother and sister-in-law own two farms. one in NJ and one in Tennessee. My two horses lived on the farm in NJ until a few years ago when I took a trip to Tennessee. I fell in love with the property. He has a 40 acre lot in Sparta, TN that looks like your property and has a 24-7 365 days a year stream that runs through his property. So needless to say, our horses eat and drink for free and have constant water. There are only a couple of months out of the year that we need to supply hay, otherwise it is green pastures. I am happy that the move went well and I hope to be able to visit some day. Bell Buckle is not too far from Sparta. Stay well and can’t wait to hear how you are doing.
Barb
Love the update, and the pics. Looks like heaven!
Best wishes to the muddy menagerie, and God bless you all.
Robynne
Virginia Beach
Been keeping you in my thoughts as the days went by, glad to hear the move is complete. I’m sure the horses will enjoy their new environment. Keep the bulletins coming I love hearing your progress. Sorry you have to be split up for a while but it will be worth it—it’s a wonderful thing for all.
I’m glad to hear everyone arrived safely and to see that they’re enjoying the new place. Can’t wait to see the videos. Congrats on your wonderful decision to move, I hope it’s everything you dream of (once it dries out of course!).
So glad you ALL made it safely. Looks like all of your Big animal kids are very happy with their new place. Hope it stops raining there soon for all of your sakes. Thank you again for keeping us all informed with the updates.
Love, Cindy Sprinkle
Will you be creating a paddock based on principles of Jaime Jackson at new place? I would love to follow your planning and development on your blog.
Glad to see you guys all settled in well! Hope you enjoy the new place!
Congratulations on your new, beautiful home :)
Congrats on the successful move!! I love the pictures. North Texas has experienced “unusual” weather, too. The pasture horses all look the same color – MUD! It appears that your herd is adapting well. Best of luck in the coming days to get settled in and into a routine. Thanks for keeping us posted on all of the wonderful life-changing events.
Sounds like everything is coming together for you. Its great to hear the herd made the trip ok. I know they will enjoy all that green grass. I know the rain is causing you some delay, but that rain is such a answere to prayer here in the south. Please keep us updated, and keep the pictures coming. I love hearing about, and seeing the pictures of your wonderful life.
Well the hard part is over and you it will take some time to get your “rhythm” but it looks like paradise and I’ll bet the horses think they are in horse heaven. And Benji too. It looks like dogie (hum, I thought dogie had too g’s)heaven too. It won’t be long before you are settled in and I’m so glad you didn’t get 26″ of rain like Atlanta. We are taking a two week road trip to Savannah and back to Texas and we are planning to go through Atlanta on the way back. I hope it’s cleared out by then. I love the pics. The horses look great. Mine look like a muddy mess right now.
Blessings on your new homestead,
Marilyn
What a joy to get this!!! Have been waiting and praying for safe trip for all! Pictures are Heaven on Earth. Scrolled all the way until I found Cash’s name! Don’t worry, your fan club will wait for you to catch your breath…we have not all had to move such a large family! Love, Dawn
Praise the Lord, you and your horses made the trip safe and sound! The pictures look wonderful! Enjoy your new home! Just heard from my sister-in-law, who lives in a larger city than we do, and has seen “Love Happens”. She reported it to be a great movie! I look forward to seeing it.
Anna =^..^=
Thanks so much for the update. Boy I love the lay of the land and the horses seem to just love it. Oh I wish I could have that kind of land for my horses to run on. I am truly looking forward to your updates. God Bless.
Yay for the move going so well. Muddy horses? No big deal! Glad everyone got on and off the road so well. Only a matter of time before everyone discovers the joys of a POND!