Welcome to Lone Star

After my last writing, Whisper's breeder sent me a detailed explanation of how Whisper was trained to load. I poured over it as I got ready for a sleepless night anticipating a busy morning.

I stayed parallel to her shoulder at all times. I kept a taunt lead only used in helping direct her nose. I used a longe whip with my left hand around my left side to her flank. The way I was told Whisper had been trained to load. Whisper, however, did not get the memo.

Using the whip as a gas pedal resulted in a lot of speed straight back and not using it meant she planted and swung away (even towards and into the whip). She wasn't afraid of the trailer, she just wasn't going to get on.

2 and a half hours, 5 seasoned horse people, 3 cc's of Ace later, she was loaded and every one of us was soaked through with sweat and exhausted by the end of it. She finally just decided she'd give in and go on.

Welcome to Lone Star Equestrian Center, Whisper!

She got out and took a look around.

After taking her through the barn to get unwrapped and booted up for some time outside, I turned her loose. With no horses in the barn during the day, and some muscles that needed some walking to work out, it seemed like the best option.

After a few minutes, she came back to where I was standing and stood right next to me, touching my side with hers. I was the herd she knew and it almost teared me up seeing her trust in me and our partnership.

Then she walked off as the lead gelding came over to meet her.

"Come on and meet everyone else..."

Whisper's trying to figure out why they all keep following her. "Mom, help!"

"No one will ever find me here...."

I went in the barn and made sure her stall was ready for this evening.

When I came back out she was back out with the herd and making more friends.

Coming back for evening feed, Whisper was just another horse in the herd. She came across the acreage at a good time for me to bring her in, blanket her, and feed her. She's tucked in for the night and doing great! The kids love it too, the barn is set-up extremely little kid friendly and they wore themselves out this evening "helping".