Spring at the ranch

 Our herd is complete.  Chance was the last addition – a 16-year-old Paso Fino who has the manners of a Knight and the personality of Abbott.  Or Costello.  He’s funny, that’s the point.

 And Merlin is so content now that he has a big herd to share his pastures with.  He’s been training lately and seems to enjoy the special attention he gets.  The carrot rewards at the end of the session help too.  Today he showed off his jumping skills in the early morning, after breakfast. 

 Life at the ranch is busy.  The barn is built, and the stalls and tack room are going up in the coming days.  Finally, we’ll be a real horse ranch with barn, stables and green pastures now that spring has arrived in full force.

 

It’s been quite some time since I posted.  Not sure where the time went, but Merlin’s herd has grown quite a bit!

 December 27, 2019 we welcomed Skye, an Icelandic pony whose fur is like spun gold and who has a personality bigger than life.  Merlin was so happy to finally have a friend with him in his pasture.

Then came several boarders: Penny, Storm and Bella.  And in early fall of 2020, we also adopted Frosty, a 23 year-old TW who thinks he’s a big lap dog. While the story of his previous owner is sad (an accident forced her to give him up), we know his own story has a happy ending with us at our ranch. He was an unexpected gift who brings us joy every day with his corky personality and loving nature.

 And let’s not forget Esmeralda, Endora, Zelda and Serafina, the 4 hens who gift us with delicious eggs every day.  Yes, it’s definitely feeling like a real ranch, especially with the barn being built and almost ready to be enjoyed by the herd.  We are ready for the summer months, although we hope it will be a bit drier than last year.  On top of the horrid pandemic, Central Florida was drenched from July to early October!

But the weather has finally cooperated and it’s a beautiful winter so far in Central Florida. Sunny, 60s, and breezy.

  

Stormy night

It's pouring rain and Merlin is sleeping in his shelter. It was a cloudy day, we had to cancel his training since the rain moved in early afternoon, and Merlin tends to get anxious when the weather is cloudy and windy. But he did have a couple of hours in his favorite pasture, grazing the still green and juicy grass, even though it is middle of December. Winter in Florida is not bad.

So, normally most people are used to associating the name Merlin with King Arthur. And sure, Merlin - a 13 year old thoroughbred rescue horse who used to race - can be quite the little wizard. But he's also quickly become the King of our ranch: Blueberry Heaven Ranch.

As I mentioned, he used to race, but he wasn't very good at it. He likes to take it slow, and being in a hurry on a race track was not his speed. And, as too often happens with these horses, he was discarded and sold, and eventually ended up in Central Florida. Long story short, when we found Merlin, he was living alone in a pasture, surrounded by cows and donkeys, but there was nobody there to keep Merlin company, other than an old lady who couldn't do much more than feed him and love him. I was so happy when she decided to leave Merlin in our care when she sold us the property.

He's no longer alone, he has a trainer and our company every day, and all the carrots and apple slices he can handle. Soon, we hope to bring home another rescue horse so Merlin has company the way horses should. They are herd animals and shouldn't live alone. And I suspect he'll be excellent at holding court with his new companion, whomever that might be.