Getting to know youuu 🎶

 Since she arrived 3 weeks ago, Nova has continued to be an absolute delight, and I've taken great joy in getting to know her.

Sassy little imp

I've become quite familiar with what I call the "Ears of Uncertainty", her airplane ears when she's exploring something new or unsure of her surroundings.

Remember these from when she first stepped off the "boat"?

They've made a regular reappearance.

Such as when checking out Missy's carriage...

.. or leading around her new stable.

Also when greeting Tessa during her first trim from me.

And standing tied in a new location while I try to get her to stand still for a picture.

As well as the first time I threw a sheet over her.

That said, the filly is NOT spooky. She takes a moment to inspect new things, then carries on. 

You want me to pose over here?

Alright, I guess.

She and Missy have quickly become a little herd. I've observed Missy watching over Nova as she lies down to rest (it's absolutely the sweetest thing), and they stick together for grazing, etc.

My girls <3

It makes my heart happy to see them happy together.

However, Missy takes zero sass from the filly. 

Nova: AH SHIT, IT'S THE COPS!

I don't think I'll have to worry about Missy spoiling her, LOL. She appears to be doing a fabulous job teaching Nova how to "horse". In return, Nova is making sure Missy gets her steps in!

zoooooom

Retirement looks good on you, Miss

Fancy pants

Um, yes, HELLO

The tail! 

Out in a light rain. One of these two was a bit chilled when they came in for dinner, and it wasn't the foal.

Nova got her first round of shots, and things got a wee bit "western". She needed them ASAP after arrival, so I didn't get a lot of time to prepare her for that experience. She tried to swipe our oh-so-patient vet with a cow kick and run away, which led to us going a few laps around her stall before he could get the 2nd shot in her. Although I tried to warn him beforehand, I think her calm demeanor when he arrived lulled him into a false sense of security, whoops. (Vet: "Oh, she really HASN'T had much handling.") Thankfully, she didn't have much reaction to the vaccines themselves, and I've been working with her in hopes of making the boosters go more smoothly. Hopefully her immune response to those isn't too terrible for her.

I like people... but not when they poke me. 

As she settles in, I've gotten the opportunity to show her that I'm a "boss mare", be it when she flirts with invading my space as we walk in from the pasture or turns her butt to me in the stall for doing something offensive like digging my fingers into her coat to make sure she's dry underneath her fluff. It doesn't take much pressure to get her to scoot quickly away from me, and she appears to learn quickly when I immediately relax and leave her alone as soon as she's exited my space. 

She does indeed stay warm and dry under there.

She can be a little sticky when leading still, but I have been able to quickly overcome any stubbornness by keeping pressure light and looking for any opportunity to soften my ask. 

You mean I have to listen to you AND Missy?!

I'm so thankful to have the chance to shape her from the start with these daily small interactions. It feels like I'm making a good citizen one day at a time. 

Plus, I get to watch her grow!

I keep our sessions short (10-15 minutes) and for the time being we're focused on basic life and healthcare skills:

• Catching
• Haltering/unhaltering
• Leading (walk behind my shoulder, stop with me, back when asked)
• Respecting personal space
• Leading through gates/doors
• Manners at feeding time
• Yielding shoulder/butt to pressure
• Standing tied
• Accepting touch/grooming all over
• Pick up feet for picking/trimming
• Novel object confidence
• Emotional self-regulation
• Wearing a blanket
• Vet tool acceptance (shots, sthethescope, thermometer)
• Oral syringe acceptance

Honestly, she arrived doing some of these skills quite well, and I'm just reinforcing them as a part of daily life. 

Working up to wearing the blanket was probably one of the most difficult things for her so far.

However, she got there, and as an added bonus it gave her the chance to start figuring out how bring herself back down after getting tense/anxious. 

She's just so personable and easy to love! 

Nova transitioned beautifully and is figuring out our routine, coming in to her stall when called for supper now that they're on 24/7 turnout. Likewise, I'm figuring out my new routine that combines chores at both barns. I'm learning that, unless I have something to unload from my vehicle for the girls, I prefer to park up at Windsor, feed up there if I have the p.m. shift, walk down to the Mare-ternity Ward to feed and do whatever Nova's lesson of the day is, then return to Windsor to work Pyro and muck his stall. (Bless our well-lit indoor arena now that the Dark Days are once again upon us.) Also, bringing hot water from home in a thermos speeds up soaking Missy's feed a TON. 

Bonus: New resident at the lower barn!

After months of planning and preparing and transitioning, it's nice to get to settle back into enjoying my horses.