Ringing in 2017 With Casper

Casper is a weanling Morgan belonging to a friend of mine who bred her mare last year.  He was born in the beginning of July 2016 at my friend's place, a healthy black colt with a small star on his forehead.  My friend decided to keep him but he needs a little more socialization than he could get in a herd of just two steady mares at her place.  Happily we decided to bring him here to Bit of Honey Training to live in the gelding herd.

When we unloaded Casper from the horse trailer he was interested in everything, and eager to explore his new surroundings.  I had decided to have him live with Fason, who needed a bit more of a job than he currently is enjoying.  Fason is such a gentle soul, acclimated to all the funny things that happen here like blanketing, mash, turnout and working so he was the obvious choice to take on Casper as a roommate.

Initially I had Fason haltered on one side of the fence, and Casper was haltered and held by his owner on the other.  After they had touched noses and established that Casper was just a harmless baby, we got ready to put Casper in the paddock with Fason.  There was a brief exciting period when Casper startled at Miles the border collie with the bell on his collar.

All my dogs wear a large bell on their collars so that they can't sneak up on the horses.  The theory is if the horses can hear them coming they won't be startled or kick the dogs.  It backfired a little for baby Casper though.  Since he wasn't used to bells OR dogs he had to take a few minutes to figure out what the noise was about.  He has a sensible brain and recovered quickly from the surprise of a new species.

Once Casper was in the paddock with me and Fason his owner let him go, and I held Fason while Casper approached.  Once it was obvious that they were going to get along fine I let Fason loose.

 

Fason proceeded to gently herd Casper around the paddock as though giving a guided tour.  There was only a little trotting and generally it was a boring introduction, just the way I like it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txegFSIe5Nc

Note was the most excited.  He lives in the larger field around Fason's paddock, and he wanted to meet the baby too!

This evening when it came time to feed everyone and replace blankets for the night, little Casper watched me very closely.  Even though Casper, Fason, and Note share continual access to a large round bale of the very best timothy hay, when I took a few flakes of  hay to another horse Casper whinnied at me insisting that he should have some because he was fed meals at his previous barn.  He'll figure out that the all day buffet is actually better.

Casper also had a little startle when I went into the paddock to put on Fason's pajamas for the night.  I just hold up the giant horse blanket and Fason puts his head into the head hole so I can toss the rest of it over his back without having to unbuckle the chest straps.  Casper may not have seen this particular maneuver before, he startled and jumped backwards as Fason dove into his pajamas.  As I fastened the belly and leg straps on the huge blanket, little Casper watched me very carefully and even nuzzled me a few times questioningly.  Already he's having some great new experiences that will prepare him for grown-up horse life.

Uncle Fason has so far exceeded our expectations at being Casper's mentor.  It is going to be great fun watching baby Casper grow up!