Everything is new

It's normal for horses to be stressed when they move home, so many new things to get used to - their new stable, their new field, their new companions need to be sniffed and squealed over. But most horses know about the food that comes in their bucket and that the water available, is for them. The Ugly Brown Foal knew nothing. 

After braving his journey and entering his new stable he pawed at his bed of pine- scented wood shavings, he shoved his head in the water bucket and jumped back at the shock. He grabbed a bit of the expensive green hay brought especially from the mainland and looked over the high door, wondering where he was. He had another look around - this time putting his long, lanky leg in the water bucket and splashing himself before pulling the whole thing over. I lugged two more buckets of water out of the well and tried again. I assume he'd never seen water like this, only being used to an automatic waterer - a small dish which turns on the flow as they push their nose against a button. Water was a big game and he broke two buckets on that first day.

He sniffed and recoiled at the apple and carrots the children had chopped for him. He was scared of his dinner and left it uneaten. He had no clue how to walk down or up a hill having lived all his life on the flat. We laughed at his moon-walk attempt as he negotiated the incline. 

That first day he enjoyed his first taste of grass but hated the way it felt against his legs. He whinneyed to the retired mares who were very excited to see a bit of totty in the next door field. He trotted, he cantered, he did some impressive pony gymnastics and then he started to eat - looking up frequently to us and his new surroundings.

Just one day at a time Ugly Brown Foal.