Besties

I think we all know Sophie can be a total pain in the butt.

I still wouldn't totally bet against a shipping mix up where I was sent the wrong pony who is actually a year or two younger than the one I thought I was getting and is some kind of manic Welsh/Arabian cross or something. Kidding, mostly. There is the mystery of the brand she supposedly has on all her paperwork and vet checks but that I've never seen. Meanwhile, she's still sporting a scar from a tiny cut two years ago, so ?

Hmmm

Anyway, conspiracy theories aside, even for a just turned four year old mare she's REALLY immature mentally. Obviously, there's something wrong with me because I actually think it adds a tiny bit to her charm.

4 years old next week! (and finally filling out a little more)

Bridget, of course, is the exact opposite. She probably was born a mare, cynical, and jaded to the world around her. Things that annoy Bridget: people, horses, drama that is not hers and therefore not meaningful, excessive energy, exercise of any sort, basically everything that Sophie embodies.

Bridget's happy place: far away from everyone, eating.

So, I've been pleasantly surprised that trying to turn them out together again this spring has resulted in two happy ponies. It didn't work out so well last year, so some kind of negotiations must have taken place over the paddock fence this winter. B is a super good influence on Sophie. She is doing a good job of being the benevolent dictator, so Sophie is on very respectful behaviour to us all 24/7.  We're all doing a good job because recently Sophie came cantering up behind us and I turned and put my hand up and she sat on her butt immediately and slid to a stop...about 50 feet away from me, lol. She also seems a lot more settled - she's not a fan of fending for herself in the 'wilds' of her own paddock.

Look! Sharing space, no mare faces!

This is extra shocking but Bridget, who dislikes most and tolerates a few, actually likes (?!) Sophie. I've owned her for 6 years and last week when I took Sophie away for a bit was the first time I've heard her whinny for a friend. Just once, of course, but it happened! There's no mutual grooming or any of that touchy feely friend type stuff (Bridget is so not that girl), but B lets Sophie share her food, which for her is probably saying it all.

Napping together. They're really so cute.

Sophie still spends most of the day galloping laps of the field and practicing airs above the ground, but by some kind of miracle she actually tempts Bridget into a little halfhearted playing now and then. That's huge for the pony whose preferred state of being is standing and eating. They're on grass at least 12 hours a day, sometimes 24 depending on the weather and they must both be moving about a lot, because while Bridget is definitely round, it's within an acceptable pony roundness.

The way these trees are fenced off invites a natural racetrack for her

Of course life is not perfect and Sophie now gets extra panicky if she's the one left 'alone' in the field (I use quotes because she has horse and mini pony neighbours in the paddocks next door always). I'm slightly concerned we might ruin her months of good behavior and revert back to some 2019 style fence smashing if I were to leave her there.

Realized right in this instant that we all 'abandoned' her in the 'wild'

She's happy to head out with us and leave Bridget behind (excited to do so, in fact - she loves her people! Horses are so fickle like that) which is so much more tolerable than horses who just want to worry and focus on other horses no matter what.

Bridget: "Take her away please! (and leave me both dinners)"

For now, I'm putting Sophie in the round pen with a hay net and letting her express her feelings there the odd time I take Bridget off property. I feel bad for the farm owners having to listen to the screeching, but I think that's just going to be the trade off for the group turnout thing that is otherwise working so well for everyone.

Working off some energy in a more structured and farm owner approved manner :)

I'd like to hope someday soon we can get back to a regular riding and training schedule for us all. For now, though, I'm so happy that all the extra pasture time and being paddock mates seems to be doing them both good and grateful that the weather has been kind and there are so many little spots for me to ride and play with the horses at 'home'.

There used to be a lot more horses living here, so there are empty areas all over the place that you can ride in if you're a little creative.