Riding Miss Daisy

If you can't tell by now, horse people don't go without horses for very long.

Sunday found Casey and me once again taking the trailer along to a Maine Mounted Search and Rescue meeting. From there we went to pick up a little gaited mare named Daisy Mae.

Daisy Mae is short, fat, and sassy. Her owner has become afraid to ride her and has spoiled her relentlessly while not giving her any work to do for a few y ears. Daisy is used to being an only child and dominant over her owner, but she has the showings of a good horse. She and Casey instantly had a really great connection, which helped Casey get through the many bucks when she tried Daisy out last weekend!

Daisy is reportedly a good trail horse and has a big motor, which will help her keep up with Renegade. She is responsive to Casey and learns quickly. Plus she's stinkin' cute! Casey decided to give Daisy a try and work with her before committing to buy her.

Right now Daisy is relearning how to be a horse. It's the classic riches to rags story...the beautiful but spoiled princess who suddenly finds herself the lowliest of the low, forced to work alongside the peons. Daisy got a rude awakening when Renegade wouldn't submit to her and is wary of Tanner even though he hasn't so much as given her a cross look. She no longer gets a "Christmas tree" of hay in a hay bag with apple and orange slices as ornaments...she has to eat what the peasants eat: hay on the ground and grain twice a day. She isn't blanketed 24/7.

We're not completely heartless though. She still gets stalled at night while the boys remain loose. She gets carrots and pats. She gets her hay put far away so the boys don't chase her away from it.

However the worst is yet to come...this weekend Casey will start asking her to actually work, including the great indignity of being ridden. Hopefully this will be a story with a happy ending...the princess will have an epiphany and realize that her life was meaningless before and now gained the invaluable wisdom that comes with hard work.

Oozing sass

Funny aside: I came across Amanda's blog via a Facebook thread about something else completely, and quickly discovered through blatant stalking that she had been the person before me to see Renegade! She lost her Tennessee Walker recently (and beautifully captured the process on her blog), and is ready to let another horse into her life.  She also looked at Daisy but decided she wasn't the right fit. So now I feel like BB Acres is the repository for Amanda's cast offs! Just kidding, but it's a small world, ain't it?