The Arrival

After a long wait, Moselle's long journey was about to begin. She had completed the first part of her trip from the Atherton Tablelands to Cairns. It was her first float trip and she took it really well. She spent a couple of weeks in Cairns and then the day came for her 3 day 2000km road trip. I felt quite concerned for her, and couldn't help but imagine what she must have been feeling. All of a sudden she was separated from her paddock mates of the last 4 1/2 years, and will probably never see them again, loaded on to a truck for the first time in her life, with strange horses, and with people she had never seen before. I am told she just followed the driver up the ramp of the truck. She is a very trusting girl. 3 days later I had to go and pick her up. It was only a 20 minute drive. I was so relived when she as safely at my place.

Now the introductions had to be done. She had to meet her paddock mates, however it would be over a fence for a couple of days. My Paint mare, Amber, has been queen of the paddock for quite some time, I was a bit concerned how she would take it. I wasn't so concerned about the mini, Ebony, more affectionately known as Short Horse, Little Monster, Don't You Bite Me or Shorty, as she seems to be quite agreeable and gets on with most horses. I was quite surprised when it became very obvious that Amber accepted Moselle as number one in the paddock ranking, and slotted in to number 2 spot. It really did surprise me, Amber was a real biatch when she was getting broken in, and had a horse twice her size cowering in the corner of its yard. Shorty is just happy that she has another friend to steal food from.


Shorty is a funny little horse, she is a good mate and more like a dog. She follows me everywhere and is a real little miss attitude at times. That is probably my fault, she is a horse that weighs less than I do and bad manners from her aren't really an issue. She like to play with her food too, she does not have an exotic disease in the photo to the left, just the results of playing in her food.

Moselle had one more member of the herd to meet. It did not go so well. I also have a large goat, a goat that is bigger than Shorty. He dominates Amber and Shorty, and decided to assert himself over Moselle. It didn't work. She gave him a clear warning in horse language, he chose to ignore it, and copped a double barrell kick. He is a bit sore and sorry for himself, but he is OK, and he doesn't try to pick on the horses any more. An angry mare face is all it takes and he backs down now.

So that is it, we are up to date, my adventures with Moselle are just beginning, she is a great horse, and I am sure there will be more ups then downs.