Brandy is going Home

After many happy years here on the farm, Brandy is going home.  It's not a sad thing, but I will miss her.  This mare has been here and has given many lessons to both kids and adults alike.  She is owned by a former student who did not have a place to keep her while attending college and starting a family.  In exchange for providing her a home free of charge, I was allowed to use the mare as a lesson horse for beginners.  Now that her life has settled down a bit, with two girls who just adore horses, she's ready to have her mare begin a new life on her own farm in Minnesota.  Brandy is in her 20's now, but still has lots of energy, but tempered with a little bit more patience and forgiveness after having students of all kinds riding and handling her.  She's at a good age to slow down and enjoy the little ones.  There's no doubt, though, Brandy was and will be the mare in charge, putting all of the youngsters and wimpy geldings in their places.  No one challenges Brandy - when meeting a horse for the first time, she has the sweetest little nicker that draws them into her range, horse speaking in such soft tender tones that she's irresistible.  But once they're close enough, WHAM!  Brandy turns in the blink of an eye and fires with both hind feet!  It only takes one time for her to establish who's boss in the herd.  We've had no other horse seriously hurt, thank goodness, by Brandy's herd initiations!

Well, it's time to go.  Before loading her up in the trailer, I have to let her say goodbye to her friend and companion, Penden.  He's managed to escape her antics over the years and remain her #2 horse in the herd.  He's a 26 year old arabian gelding who has been in the stall beside her at night ever since she's been in the herd.  I know the old guy is going to miss her.  But she's going to a good home and will be well taken care of.  I introduced a companion to him who has become quite a little buddy.  He's a very mischevious oversized mini who shares a corner of Penden's stall when they come in at night.  (He also helps himself to some of Penden's food, too!)  They've developed a good friendship which I think will help buffer the sadness when Brandy goes home.