She's HERE

October 27, 2025

She's HERE

Understandably, the 5 days since Nova arrived in Indiana from Ontario have been BUSY. This post is mostly a photo dump. Enjoy!

The shipper backed her rig into our indoor arena, so we had plenty of light and an easy path to the stalls. We were grateful they traveled on a small enough truck and trailer that it could make it up the driveway. In other cases, we've had to transfer horses from shippers' semi rigs to our own trailers in the nearby Walmart parking lot.

The shipper did a great job delivering her and a friend's mare (Lexi) safely and at the very reasonable hour of 8pm. Nova was a bit bug-eyed upon arrival, but settled very quickly into a stall at Windsor.

Nova: "What..."

"...the HECK?!"

Immediately tanked up at the automatic waterer, not even flinching when it started to refill.

I am smitten

Greeting my husband, Malhon

And Tessa

Making friends through scratching itchy spots

Little girl!

Impressed that her hoof found its way into the tiny feed pan

It's a long way down when you're that leggy!

She and Lexi got to settle for a night, then Lexi went to the final leg of her journey home. Nova wasn't the least bit concerned by her leaving, but she WOULD call each time *I* walked away from her stall.

The sweetest velvety snoot

So far, she comes across as extremely self-assured. Not much spooks her. She's also extremely people oriented, to the point it's sometimes hard to get pictures of her because she immediately wants to walk over and say hi.

She does have a little bit of a stubborn streak (which her breeder warned me of), but I've found if I make sure to stay soft but persistent she comes around pretty quickly. Hand grazing was a good opportunity to practice giving to halter pressure.

Her mane goes every which way

The boys were very interested in this newcomer

Resting like the perfect princess she is

I got to let her stretch her legs in the indoor arena, which she took full advantage of.

Meeting Sandra

"Who's that pretty pony?"

I knew she could move... but it's another thing entirely to see it in person for the first time!

The squirrel tail cracks me up

Fancy baby

There were several "alien abduction" moments

And to think... this is an "awkward" weanling

Helloooo gorgeous

Tessa's not too sure of Nova's intentions yet

That's a big trot for a little girl!

Very active hocks

Pyro has been keeping Missy company as she settled into the barn and pasture just down the hill and across the hay field from Windsor where Miss and Nova will live long term. I'm leasing it from the neighbor, and it took a lot of work to bring it back to a safe, usable condition (topic of a future post), but I think it'll be perfect.

The Pinto Party reunited briefly

Pyro keeping watch over Missy as she rests

After work the day following Nova's arrival, I got to play Musical Horses as I returned Pyro to Windsor and brought Nova to her new home. Jen and Connor were kind enough to provide Nova an escort for the walk across the field.

Baby clacking at "big brother"

Nova and Tessa, walking right with me

I'm not sure we really needed Connor for moral support. Nova led most of the way with confidence, only getting unnerved a bit when one of Jen's dogs ran up behind her.

Missy greeted Nova with soft momma mare nickers

Jen channeled her inner pony club girl for the trip back to Windsor, hopping on Connor bareback with the lead rope as a solitary left rein.

My girls, settling into their home together

Since then, I've been slowly introducing Nova to Missy and her new diet. She was in a dry lot since weaning, so she is transitioning onto pasture in addition to my feed. After the initial stress of trailering, her gut has been quite happy.

Looking from Windsor back towards "my" barn. You can see their pasture through the gap in the trees just left of center.

I was able to make a "walk out" behind the stalls where there's no grass.

Their polite conversations include the tiniest squeals from Missy.

But Missy is pretty sure Nova is her new daughter.

Taking Nova for a tour of the perimeter before her first off lead grazing

Stall toy to entertain the youngster

Graduated to sharing both stalls and the walk out

A friend photographed their first turnout together (will share later), and it's a good thing she was able to make it then. Subsequent turnouts have been pleasantly boring.