United States Eventing Association

One of the most exciting occasions for any equestrian is the arrival of a new horse, whether it be yours or a good friend’s. Last Thursday, I had plenty to celebrate as Dorado’s massage therapist and my good friend Meghan picked up her very first horse, a big black and white gelding named Buddy. As I watched the ‘new mom’ lead her baby around the indoor at his new home for the first time, I though back to when Dorado arrived at his new home.

Dorado had a pretty quiet introduction to his new home. He wasn’t quite as careless as my Appy gelding Taz was. His old owners came to check on him about a week into his new life and commented, both happily and sadly, “We’ve been replaced!” But it also wasn’t as nerve-racking as the arrival of my mare Sadie. After living in the same field for the first five years of her life, she was too scared to go into the barn on the first night she arrived. Then, once she was brave enough to go in, she didn’t want to come out! Leave it to Miss Sadie, right? (Anyone who knows her is laughing to themselves right now, as they can picture my little princess doing this!) After a few weeks, she had finally settled in and could walk confidently in and out of the barn.

For my family and I, there were a lot of “firsts” with Dorado as he settled into his new home. The first time he had a blanket on since I’d known him…the only one I had to fit him was a pull-over. I was a little worried about how he might handle it, considering that a few weeks before he left my work, he had two separate melt downs over a weight tape and a polo wrap! Very scary! Thankfully, there were no meltdowns and he handled it like a pro.

Another first? Our first wood chewer! The first time he did it, he bit the wood so hard – and had his tongue pinched in his teeth, by the way – that he actually made himself bleed! So off to the tack store I went to get something to try to make him stop hurting himself. The store only had one type of spray, so I had no choice but to give it a try. I guess I should have expected it to smell gross, but wow…this stuff is nasty! I can’t even describe to you what it smells like, but I couldn’t stop coughing for twenty minutes after coating the walls of his stall. And yes, the product works!

I knew that Dorado has a tendency to make goofy faces and “head gestures” when he gets shod, but I guess I forgot to mention it to my father, who had to hold him one day when I was working. Dad got his first look at this behavior and had his first freak out over our new addition. I got a frantic call as I was cleaning stalls that said, “Dorado is doing this really strange thing with his head! I’ve never seen it before! He stretches his neck straight out and turns his head to the side! I don’t know what he’s doing!” He was less than pleased with me when I told him that this was normal farrier behavior and I may have forgotten to mention it. Oops!

While I’m on the subject of firsts, Dorado successfully navigated his first drop fence yesterday! Just one more step on his road to becoming a great little eventer. He was a very brave boy, stepped nicely down the bank, and was so proud of himself after! Unfortunately at the end of our ride, he threw a shoe, so he’ll be off for a day or so until the farrier can come tack it back on. At least this time Dad will be ready for the funny faces!

Here’s hoping your seasons are going well and everyone is staying safe in the saddle!

Erica and Dorado