A Friendship is Formed

Finally after seven long months, I picked Scout up yesterday. She had a long journey and is still a bit bewildered by it all. We pulled in with the horse float and I could see her in the distance - a striking buckskin colour against the grey sky. Nothing could have prepared me for just how stunning she is. Pictures just do not do this horse justice! She exudes a very gentle and grounded energy and has a beautiful presence.

One of my friends that came with me to pick Scout up, walked over to her and Scout whinnied to her and showed her alot of interest. Sonia looks a little bit like Leslie (Scouts previous owner in the USA) and I think she thought Sonia was Leslie from a distance.

She loaded easily and floated very well for the hour journey home. The whole day it bucketed down with rain so I locked her in the stable for the first 24 hours as the ground was so wet and slippery out. My friends and I stood talking for awhile in the stable with Scout and I noticed that she had rolled 4 times and was sweating somewhat. She was ravenously hungry when she came off the float so I can only assume that she didn't get much to eat in the 24 hours prior to me picking her up. That combined with a long truck ride had caused a mild bout of colic. I called the vet out and she had awful trouble nasal tubing her. I was horrified at the discomfort the process was causing Scout. This was the last thing she needed. Finally the vet got the task done and after dosing her with parrafin oil she took bloods to ensure everything else was ok.

I decided to try to spend the night in the stable with Scout in case anything went wrong. She was stressed due to all the changes and she couldn't see the horses in the neighbouring paddock at night which stressed her more. She was much calmer when I sat with her. I lasted till 1am before heading home due to the weather being so bad and Scout every hour or so nudging my pillow (which was my backpack). She knew there was an apple in there and wouldn't let the idea go that perhaps I would give it to her!

I got up early this morning and headed back out to the paddock. The vet had called me and said that her bloods suggested she had a change in white blood cell which suggested infection so she was to be injected twice daily with antibiotics. I was really worried about this news not only from the point of view of Scouts health but also this was not the best way to start our relationship off - me needling her twice a day!

I decided to drop in on my good friend and horse trainer Gavin to ask him to come out with me. We arrived at the paddock and I was quite surprised at the change in Scout. It seemed she had appreciated my company the night before as she came straight over to me asking for a scratch. I had established the day before that she loves a good neck scratch. She stood with me happily and Gavin said to use that opportunity for injecting her. He suggested I have her head turned towards me and reward her with a rub. Then to scratch her neck and poke my finger into the area I would inject then scratch her again. Then no more procrastinating put the needle in and rub her once it is done. Well she did not even blink, flinch or try to move away. She stood like an angel for both needles and this afternoon when I went up to the paddock to give her the 3rd needle I didn't even have to put a halter on her. This mare is just amazing!

After the shots, I opened the stable and let her into the paddock. What a pleasure it is to watch this horse move. Despite the slippery ground she was a picture to behold. She has a beautiful action and just seems to glide above the ground.

I spent alot of time with her today - just the two of us. Alot of horses can be pushy when you find their favourite itchy spot but Scout just politely places herself a respectful distance away from me tilting her neck toward me waiting for me to start rubbing her.

After lunch I went back to the paddock to spend some more time with her. She was in the stable and seemed pleased to see me. I sat with her for awhile and then realised how tired I was so laid back on her hay pile to have a nap. Not long after that she laid down beside me and we rested together for awhile. I am completely in love with her already.

Later when we walked back into the paddock, she was reluctant to graze until I sat down and she came over and ate the grass around the area I was sitting, always making sure she was facing me and occassionally coming close to sniff my boots.

I still have a sense that she is not feeling 100% so I will be keeping a very close eye on her and spending as much time as I can with her this week in between moving house. It has been a busy weekend!!!

Well it is safe to say that I am officially addicted to this breed and completely in love with Indian Scout.