Akal Ranch

It was a frosty morning today. As I drove over the hill, I saw the sun rising through the mist. I’ll have to find a spot to pull over, as each day provides a different, but always spectacular view towards Mt. Pisgah and the Three Sisters sometimes visible beyond.

I fed the horses and after Vin was done with his breakfast, I took him for a little walk around the indoor. Then left him there to clean his stall. Then I led him around the outdoor arena, where he will be turned out for now. I left him there and put Lily out with him, while I cleaned her stall. The stalls each have small windows that open that way, so I could watch them.

I brought him back for a much needed grooming. I combed out his mane well, but left the tail for later. He hasn’t had a full grooming for a while, so I’ll be tackling it in stages. One of these days, when the weather cooperates, he will be getting a full bath. Certainly not while we have freezing temperatures like this though.

I had found an old cob sized headstall and Paisano’s old plastic Sprenger Duo bit, while sort through tack. I wanted to see if the sizing was okay. I hadn’t planned on it, but decided to try the bit on as well. Vin took to it well, after some initial chewing, of course.

So the lunging caveson went on over that and we had our first session lunging while carrying a bit! It was less than ten minutes of walk trot and whoa. He is learning that whoa on the lunge means not to turn in towards me, but to stop on the circle. I left him wearing the bit in the arena for a little while. There was hay to clean up from yesterday’s filling of the loft. He took it all in stride.

By that time, Staci had come to turn out. The other horses went out first and then we tried Vinnie out with her eight month old colt. EJ is out of Staci’s Arabian mare, by a ISH/TB sire. He is already as tall as Vinnie, so they made a good pair. EJ still makes baby mouth movements. Since Vin spent over a year at the Cayuse in the bachelor herd, he knows what it means to be the smallest one.

Vin and EJ spent the first five or ten minutes just running and running. Staci and I agreed that it will be good for the two of them to have someone to play with. Vinnie has been alone in his acre paddock for a long time, with friends only over the electric fence. This will be nice for him.

EJ has been turned out so far with Silver, a mini gelding who has babysat many weanlings. Once we saw that Vin and EJ were good, Silver was added. It was so cute seeing him kick at Vin, as he only get about a foot off the ground. Even so, he made his place known. He is definitely in charge. Staci, Tonya and I spent quite a bit of time in the warming sun, watching them work it all out.

The three of them make a good little herd. In fact, Vinnie might give Silver a bit of a rest from playing with EJ.
I’m really happy that we have found a place so close to home, where Vin fits in so well.