What a lesson we have had in the workings of Universal wisdom, applied for the wellbeing of our equines. As I write this, it has been one week since my friend and I drove across New Mexico and picked up a new intake from up north. This mare, Sugar, had been with her family for over a decade. Over time, Sugar had lost her sight in one eye; then became blind in the other. She had a bonded pony up until he passed over last year. As Sugar lost her eyesight, her people had attached a bell to her pony’s (breakaway) halter. When I got the call about taking her into Sanctuary, she fit the criteria. Her family was moving overseas and, even if they could take her, such a trip would not have been fair to her. She’s an elder.
Our trip to get her was eventful. On the way up, with empty trailer, a car pulled out in front of us and my friend avoided a wreck with some skillful maneuvering! This made us decide to take a different route home! We had an option down through small towns on decent roads without big city traffic.
Sugar’s humans are the most loving people you could ever meet. The mare was and is, adored. She loaded in the big, airy trailer without hesitation, and we got her home safely before dark. Her family drove down with us and could reassure this sweet mare that she was not being abandoned.
Sugar went into the Quarantine Pen beside the house and with the road beside it. We watched her all night on the camera and went out to visit and reassure her. One rattling flatbed trailer went by and it worried her. Mark and I talked about her blindness and the vehicles (some ATV’s with flashing pillars of light and music) that use our road… and although almost everyone slows down passing the Sanctuary, we felt concern.
The facts were – we knew Sugar’s history. She had been cared for by her Vet and farrier, lived by herself, was essentially “in quarantine” at home for ages. Healthy and gentle, Sugar could break quarantine right away without it being a danger. Heck, we knew more about her health than that stallion who used to get loose and “visit”! So, we shifted horses. Sage went to DH1; Andy moved over beside the track; Billy moved over to where Andy had been, opening Billy’s stall/pen for Sugar. This put Sugar right beside the pony, Jasper.
Well, the Universe does direct things. A pony was just the thing for Sugar to feel more at ease. And Jasper, who shakes (literally) in fear around other horses and ponies/minis, just warmed right up to Sugar! That night after moving Sugar, the ATVs were up and down the road. We made the right decision.
Sugar’s people had given us tack, her blanket and an assortment of ropes and halters… including the pony halter with the bell!
The halter fit Jasper perfectly. We put a leather, breakable crown piece on it. The bell is securely attached and just makes a “clinking” sound that, of course, is familiar and soothing to Sugar. Now, we all know where Jasper is, and Sugar has settled in. This is home now.
Sugar wears a fly mask all the time and has a break-away halter, herself, so we don’t startle her when needing to catch her. We got pool noodles to attach to the one corner in her pen (like we did for Gita, who was blind), for a cushion. Sugar has learned the boundaries of her fences and knows where her stall is. It has been quite remarkable and only a week has passed! We had thought we could move her to the pen Gita had, but this is too perfect to change.
Jasper has a friend, Sugar has a pony, they are a bonded pair.
Stablewomen 