Bandon Is Home

I know it's been less than 24 hours, still I have to say that this horse has the warmest heart I think I've ever met. The description given to me by those that cared for him before, saying he was an old soul, are right on the money.

Bandon unloaded calmly, with his head up, blowing and interested in what all of the stuff around him was. The Standardbred still on the trailer (and not thrilled to be there) was protesting and it made Bandon just a little wary. I talked him through it and up to the barn where he settled-in right away.

His manners and handling are where I was with other OTTB's a week and a half into it and I have to say I'm not sad to skip that super hopped-up stage. Bandon's first turn-out was uneventful. Whisper didn't even get the chance to squeal at him as Spotlight pranced around like he was the gelding who owned the place. Bandon didn't care and let Spotlight do his thing.

He walked off to explore and they fell in step behind him.

Bringing in was also pretty tame. Whisper was first at the gate of course. Bandon came up but a quick ear-pin from both the pony and Whisper sent him back out to graze without so much as a lifted warning leg. I went out to get him last and he came right to me when I called his name to be caught up.

For handling he is accepting of all sorts of scratching and pats as long as you don't get near his poll. He has 2 squares of hide where the hair will not grow back in from when he was previously badly burned. I can't blame the guy not trusting me to touch it.

I took Chris out just before bed to meet him and feed some apples. Whisper was being cute because she was sleepy, Bandon gave a full horse hug pulling me into his neck, and Spotlight was the character as usual. The gaping emptiness in Lake's space begins to feel warm again.

Per the contract I signed getting Bandon, we won't be riding or using him until at least 7 days have passed to give him time to adjust. I don't think he'll have any trouble adjusting judging by how easily he cleaned-up his grain this morning and how polite he was at turnout.

I'm looking out the kitchen window at them now, spread out across the pasture, grazing, Bandon is home.