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TexasMadness Profile
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Presenting the newest member of the farm!


On Wednesday I got a call from an old friend. I hadn't spoken to her since I ran into her about 2 years ago and it was probably 2 or 3 years before that we were in regular contact. She said she felt bad calling me up with a huge thing to ask, but couldn't think of a better person. I braced myself!

Turns out, she had rescued an elderly miniature horse a year earlier (the horses elderly owner had passed away) and a friend of hers was pasturing the horse. But that friend now had to move and she needed a new home ASAP. Many questions later, I finally decided we could give it a shot. So just a few days later, we got our new addition!

Cocoa is about 19 years old and was probably a carnival horse. She is super calm and easy, loves kids and doesn't spook at anything!

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We first put her in a pasture with 2 goats and 2 sheep. It's the grassiest pasture (most of our pastures are wooded since that's what goats want).

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Unfortunately, she quickly became enamored with the stallion next door. I had asked my friend if she could share a fence line with a stallion and she said yes, because Cocoa was so old she didn't cycle anymore. Well, cycling or not, it was love at first sight!

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Doc eventually got so worked up it looked like he was going to jump the fence, so we had to move Cocoa to the only spot on the farm that doesn't share that fence line. It's the kid goat pen. Much too small for her for the long run, it's about 50' x 50'. But our neighbor wants to get his stallion gelded so hopefully that will happen and that will be the solution.

In the meantime, Cocoa is getting used to her new home and going out on walks around the farm. She hasn't had much exercise in quite awhile so we are working on building some muscle and getting her joints moving as she is showing some signs of age.

Our first horse!!! Pretty exciting. The girls already love her to bits.
8/13/2013, 3:33 pm Link to this post Send Email to TexasMadness   Send PM to TexasMadness
 
TexasMadness Profile
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Re: Presenting the newest member of the farm!


Oh, I should add these pictures too. Willa knew Cocoa was coming and for the hour before she got there, Willa spent most of the time glued to the front window watching the gate!

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And Mexia got a little ride. Willa is timid, plus I wanted a saddle for her. But Mexia demanded to be put on Cocoa's back, just like she gets to ride the goats!

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8/13/2013, 3:40 pm Link to this post Send Email to TexasMadness   Send PM to TexasMadness
 
Firlefanz Profile
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Re: Presenting the newest member of the farm!


Oh, cocoa is lovely! So glad she's old, gentle and solid. Just what you need for your girls!

And well, stallions are used to impressing new mares, no matter how old. Hope the love story can continue.

 emoticon emoticon emoticon

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8/13/2013, 5:56 pm Link to this post Send Email to Firlefanz   Send PM to Firlefanz Blog
 
muladzh Profile
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Re: Presenting the newest member of the farm!


What a beautiful miniature.. is is good she found a good home... emoticon

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8/14/2013, 2:28 am Link to this post Send Email to muladzh   Send PM to muladzh Blog
 
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Re: Presenting the newest member of the farm!


Oh bless you! Your girls are going to love Cocoa, and what a lovely way for Cocoa to live out her years...in love. emoticon

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“Freedom and democracy are dreams you never give up.”

8/19/2013, 4:47 pm Link to this post Send Email to Queenyforever   Send PM to Queenyforever Blog
 
TexasMadness Profile
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Re: Presenting the newest member of the farm!


Things are going great with Cocoa. On our walks around the farm, she met our 3 yr old bratty donkey Willie Mae. They were vey interested in each other and I spent more and more time near their fence. I was worried Willie Mae wouldn't be nice to her so I had not considered pasturing them together.

Well a few days ago, Cocoa refused to leave Willie Mae's fence. So I prepared the East Pasture for Cocoa to stay the rest of the day. Willie Mae and her crew of sheep have two pastures that we rotate them in. They were in the North Pasture which shares a fence line with the randy stallion. I put Cocoa in the East so they could spend all day sniffing noses along the fence.

Finally in the evening I let Willie Mae in with Cocoa. They were both curious but skittish and were a bit funny together. Cocoa was perfectly calm but Willie Mae a bit apprehensive. And then the sheep started bellowing for their donkey! Willie Mae went nuts and acted like she was going to jump the fence to get back to her herd! I had wanted the two equines to get to know each other without interference but obviously it wasn't working!

I let the sheep in. They have been terrified of Cocoa each time we visited on our walks. The sheep ran along like idiots trying to stay away from the scary mini horse. And Willie Mae turned into a scaredy sheep and ran with them! So little Cocoa is trotting around trying to meet her new friends and they are all running like they are being chase by a wolf. Hilarious but sad at the same time!

Now, a few days later everyone is friends. I think Cocoa is so happy to have a equine pal. She hasn't had one in over a year. The sheep are still timid but at leas thy aren't running from her anymore!
8/19/2013, 5:47 pm Link to this post Send Email to TexasMadness   Send PM to TexasMadness
 
Firlefanz Profile
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Re: Presenting the newest member of the farm!


So glad to hear! I bet things will calm down soon, and the sheep will adopt Cocoa, as well.

  emoticon emoticon emoticon

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- Firlefanz

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8/19/2013, 8:39 pm Link to this post Send Email to Firlefanz   Send PM to Firlefanz Blog
 
Queenyforever Profile
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Oh I think they will all become very good friends. emoticon

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“Freedom and democracy are dreams you never give up.”

8/20/2013, 3:51 pm Link to this post Send Email to Queenyforever   Send PM to Queenyforever Blog
 
TexasMadness Profile
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Re: Presenting the newest member of the farm!


Image

Big Ears meets Little Ears!
8/20/2013, 5:11 pm Link to this post Send Email to TexasMadness   Send PM to TexasMadness
 
Firlefanz Profile
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Re: Presenting the newest member of the farm!


Awwww. emoticon

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- Firlefanz

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8/20/2013, 5:32 pm Link to this post Send Email to Firlefanz   Send PM to Firlefanz Blog
 


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