Last night, just before dark, Stephanie brought over Sienna. A gentle rain was falling through which Sienna saw a whole field of soft new grass. She rushed forward and cantered around the field. She will be kept in quarantine for the next three weeks before joining Joy and Liberté in another field lower in the village.
As Stephanie and I were leaving, Sienna kept calling to us in a pitiful way, afraid to be left alone. In my younger days I think I would have dreamt up some way of staying with her as long as possible. However, I'm older and harder now and drove away, only to find that I did a U-turn in the centre of the village, parked where she couldn't hear the car, and walked back to the field with an excuse in my head that I might not have put back the bottom strand of the electrified fence. She was fine. Pathetic of me really!
This morning, she approached us cheerfully, allowing Christine to photograph her, and showed every sign of settling in well.
Our visit this evening was even more heartening. She stood still while I attached her new halter and when she had finished her maize flakes, we trotted around the field together. She loves her reward of horse sweets and I have the greatest pleasure in comparing the photograph I took of her when she was so unwell (Horses and No Pots) with these latest shots.
This is the period when I hope that bonding will take place and that this little five year old mare and I will develop an understanding: she the spirited chestnut retaining her youthful headstrong character while learning that I am the boss! Already she follows me without her halter and approaches both Christine and me in a polite and friendly way.