We Got A New Horse!

[babsbag]

I love his socks and his white blaze, he looks very calm and relaxed.
Does your granddaughter know that you bought her a horse? I was completely horse crazy as a young girl, that was all I ever wanted but my family had no land and no money so it didn't happen until I was about 14. And by that time I started to have other things to do, sports in school, piano lessons, church groups, choir, etc. I never was a super accomplished rider, I wish I had started sooner. I think I was about 17 when we sold my horse. It was also hard to find places to ride and you can only ride around a 3 acre parcel for so long.

 

[Baymule]

She knows we have a surprise for her, she thinks it's a chicken. We're picking her up Friday, along with 2 of her friends, to spend the night. And we'll be keeping the 2 year old and 5 month old for the weekend.

 

[TAH]

LOL!
Hope it goes good!

 

[babsbag]

A slumber party AND a new horse. You are working on the grandparent of the year award and I think that it is just AWESOME. Be sure you have your camera ready when she sees the horse, I bet it will be priceless. I started being 'horse crazy' when I was about 7. Rode my first horse at age 9. When I was 12 I went to girl scout camp for two weeks in the wrangler unit...it was our job to take care of the horses every day for 2 weeks. There were many other Scouts and everyone took turns riding but we were the caretakers. We fed, groomed, saddled, checked feet, etc. It was a marvelous two weeks.

 

[Baymule]

Haha, we did get more chickens today....might make her close her eyes and drive her up to the chicken coop.....

 

[babsbag]

 

[Baymule]

Well, it was a complete surprise! We really pulled it off. My husband went to pick up our grand daughter and 2 of her friends from school, they were going to spend the night. He went on and on about the surprise. We had planned it all out..... I was hiding behind the big wood chipper trucks that we let the power line cleaning crew park on our place for the weekend, with the horse. He made the girls shut their eyes and get down on the floor in the backseat of his truck. He drove up to the chicken coop, got them out one by one, making sure they kept their eyes shut. It just so happened that we did get some new pullets the day before....LOL He finally told them to open their eyes and shouted SURPRISE! He kept talking about the new chickens, keeping their attention on the chicken coop while I snuck up behind them with the horse. I got right behind them and DH said, "Now turn around and see your REAL surprise." Grand Daughter yelled "Y'all got a new horse?" DH-"No, YOU got a new horse!" Grand Daughter yelled in disbelief, "You mean he's MINE?" Me-"Yes, he's yours."

Three little girls launched themselves at the horse, screaming like banshees, grabbing and hugging him. A sensible horse would have whirled around and ran like wolves were after him......but he did nothing. he stood like a champ while the girls shrieked their delight, smothering him with hugs.

We put her on the horse. She threw up her hands and yelled, "I got a new horse AND I got chickens!!! This is the best day of my LIFE!"

We saddled him up and they all rode him. Basically I just walked around and he followed me. They were excited and they loved it. One of the girls had never been on a horse, I took her picture and texted it to her mom. We unsaddled and the girls brushed him again, loved on him some more and I showed our Grand Daughter how to feed and water him.

Then began the name game. I suggested Dandy or Beau. Nope. DH really liked Dandy, but the girls voted it down. Stormy. No, he's not stormy. Spirit!! Oh I love Spirit! That's my favorite horse name! But he's not spirited, he's calm and gentle and sweet. We need a name that fits him. We continued to toss names around, then Grand Daughter settled on Tempest. Tempest it was.

We also were keeping our two younger grand daughters, age 2 and 5 months. And they threw in the dog for good measure. It was a lively weekend.

I just wasn't satisfied with Tempest, so I started the name game again. Dh didn't like Tempest either, but she stuck to her guns. I threw out names, the girls shot them all down. They were watching a Harry Potter movie and there was a scene with a Phoenix bird. It hit me. "What about Phoenix? A Phoenix dies and is reborn again to a new life. The horse was in a kill pen, headed for death and slaughter. Now he has a new life." Thumbs up on Phoenix. It was unanimous. Horse has a new name to go with his new life. Phoenix.

The girls played all day Saturday. They ran through the woods, played on the piles of wood chips, played dress up, cooked our lunch (ramen noodles and grilled cheese sandwiches) and later, they made brownies. The baby felt bad, she was fretful, so I pretty much held her all weekend. The 2 year old would smile and say, "I love you Papaw" and Papaw would do anything she wanted. She is working him over already. The girls Moms came and got them Saturday evening.

This morning, we loaded up the kids and took them to Whataburger for breakfast. First time we ever took them all three anywhere. We told that to the lady that brought our food to the table. She laughed and asked if we wanted her to say a prayer for us, and she did. We took the oldest to a friends to spend the day and took the little ones home with us. Our DD came and picked up the little ones this evening.

Our oldest Grand Daughter fed Phoenix and watered him Saturday evening and this morning. Phoenix has started his new life.

 

[NH homesteader]

lovely story! So happy for you and Phoenix!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Ahhhhhh! I love hearing all that. And really love Phoenix a whole lot more than Tempest!

 

[babsbag]

Oh my, the smile on her face is just precious. Being the lover of all things horse as a youngster I can totally understand how excited she has to be. She may not ever want to go home now.