I think Bar and I are both in a retraining period - though mine may be an actual training period.

We are doing a lot of work together to build trust - trust in him that I know what I'm doing and that he knows what I'm asking; trust in me that I can handle this horse.

It's a lot to learn, but he's a good guy and worth it. If only because the spoiled spotty horse now has to learn to share and stop pawing when she doesn't get her treats first.

We've learned a lot in the nearly two months we've owned Calabar. He's the ex-racehorse who thinks perhaps he still is a racehorse at least some of the time.

Figuring out what methods, tips, tricks, etc., will work with him, what will get him paying enough attention to learn whatever lesson it is you're working on, is very challenging. It is challenging and even entertaining sometimes, but also frustrating and exhausting.

But then you get that moment of cooperation, sometimes even more than just a moment, and it keeps that hope and commitment going until the next lesson.

We have Calabar at home, now! Our first two days of adventure are posted here.

And best of all, Lena seems to really like him - as long as he isn't getting her carrots. He's definitely a challenge, but in a good way. I'm already learning a lot, and that's a good thing.

Merry Christmas to us!

I'm looking forward to getting our second horse back to our barn so we can start working with him. I think there will be similar challenges to those we've had with Lena, but I suspect an ex-racehorse comes with a few more to boot.

Calabar is so beautiful, so athletic, and so present. A lot like Lena, only he doesn't have spots. :-)

The other thing that will be interesting is how Lena reacts to him.

I think it will be good for her in the long run, if challenging in the short term.

Not to mention the whole rash of new gossip we'll be providing to our fellow barn members! I'm sure there will be many conversations I won't want to know about having to do with how little we know about horses, but I don't care. We like him and think we can give him a good home and he can be a good horse for us. That's all that really matters. 

We're in the process of getting a second horse and it is so amazing how much advice you get! Some of it good, some of it bad, and most of it very well-meaning.

It's funny how much I can start to doubt my own reactions simply because I haven't been a horse-owner very long and don't consider myself an expert in any way - other than that I am an expert in learning how to tend my own horse. Yes, expert learner, that's me.

I do have to confess that, regardless of my last post about thinking our next horse would be a mare, that the top contender is a gelding. BUT. He's a 7-year old Thoroughbred and by all accounts and our own observations so far, he is as feisty and animated as Lena. Just a little taller. He was a racehorse, so has some racehorse-like injuries, but is sound now and in need of a good home and a job. Loves the trail, just needs more experience. 

No pictures, yet, but hopefully soon. I'll be posting them here, hopefully tomorrow sometime.