They have gone to stud!

I have been so worried that I was not doing the right thing that I have barely even thought about the actual process of taking Hannah and Troy to stud. It only dawned on me last night that he has not been in the trailer since he had his ‘little’ operation, but I need not have been concerned.

We loaded Hannah first and she stood quite quietly while we concentrated on Troy. He kept backing away from the trailer and because Hannah was getting a bit worried my Dad and husband tried encouraging him from behind like we did the first time he travelled. However, he was much smaller and lighter then!

I could see him getting a little stressed and worried by it all, so I asked everyone to step away and I gave him a minute to think about what he was being asked to do. I put some pressure onto his halter, and he took a few steps forwards loosening the rope a little. Then I asked for him to come onto the ramp, and as soon as he placed his front feet on it, I let the rope go slack and gave him a scratch on his head while he thought about what he had achieved.

When I applied the pressure again, Troy stepped onto the ramp with his back feet, so I allowed him to have a look at the ramp, but he was no longer suspicious of it and was confident enough in me to relax. I then asked him to walk into the trailer, and he just walked straight in and stood completely still while we closed the doors and put the ramp up. I was just so proud of him!

I could hear Hannah moving about in the back as we set off, but apart from that she seemed really quiet. When we got to stud, I was dreading dropping the ramp. I don’t think you ever feel confident when you are travelling a mare and foal! But again, I had nothing to worry about. He was quietly suckling when we looked, but poor Hannah was wet through as she always is when she travels. He did not have a bead of sweat on him!

Hannah was unloaded first as she was nearest to the ramp and I expected Troy to run after her and leap off the ramp. But he walked down as cool as a cucumber, and stepped off as though he had been travelling for years... what a fantastic little man!

They have settled in really well and will be going out tomorrow and gradually introduced to the others. I am sure he will soon be as happy as pigs in muck playing with the other foals and getting to be the baby he really is. I am hoping to go over and see him this week, but I am going to miss them both so much while they are away!