Chester Has A New Home!

Nancy & Tonya with Chester

Sometimes all the stars a-line and something really cool just falls together! Chester has a new home. I got an email forwarded from Holly two weeks ago about a lady named Nancy, who has a big farm and her Poitou Donkey (her first Equine) was injured and had to be put down. So she, was looking for another donkey to be friends with the other donkey who lives at the farm, named Arvid. He is owned my Tonya who used to be a CMA member. Nancy said she looked around and found lots of small or mini donkeys, but did not want something that small and then found some larger donkeys, but only younger ones and really wanted something more Arvid's age (15).

I email his history and photos about Chester, and they decided they would like to try him out. I took him over Wednesday last week. When we got there Chester seemed to like the people, place and seemed like he felt safe right away. He was turned out with Arvid and two other ponies. They ran around just a little and would turn to sniff each others hind ends and do half hearted kicks and then turn away. They slowly got closer and closer..... When I left Chester did not even seem to notice, which I was sad about but also thought it was good. Nancy has a wonderful farm with some other rescue horses and several of nearly every other farm/pet you can have.

Today I got an email update and the report was that he is doing well and that Arvid and another horse that really likes donkeys, really like him. She said in her email "He's a Keeper!"

I am so happy for Chester! It has left a big hole in my heart and my farm and I miss seeing his sweet face every morning at breakfast!

The first BIG sniff!

Chester and Arvid consider being friends!

2nd RMF Obstacle Course Day

Most of the Sunday Group!

Kellie & Katie Mae tackle the Pool Noodles!

Obstacle Course Day turned into Obstacle Course weekend because of some horrific storms in the area! The storm brought a tornado to downtown Raleigh, of all places! We were blessed that I did not have any of that weather here, other than some rain and a little wind.

Thursday I drove to pick up Kayla and her horse Chief. While I went to work on Friday Kayla was my very efficient farm intern and got a lot of the final work done around the property. Amiee and Tollie showed up the their horse Flash and mule Henry. After everyone settled in we took a short trail ride before dark. We set up most of the obstacles in the arena lights and decorated things the next morning.

The Saturday morning the wind was blowing some and it was cloudy. Lawson was able to bring over several people to ride the course! At one point the wind caught up the big bouncy ball and sent it bouncing across the course and into the reindeer! Then the monkey and palm tree fell off the barrel! Talk about some de-spooking! All the horses did well and I even got Navarre out to go over a few things. He did really well. The funniest part of the whole day was when about 5 people where standing around Navarre and one of the horses got close. About that time the people moved away from Navarre and he moved too. The horse freaked out because I don' t think he realized that Navarre was alive!! Around lunch the riders headed home and the rest of us headed inside. We watched the storms from the living room TV in between some mule training videos.

Sunday was a much better day! Blue sky, light breeze and mid-70's with no humidity. A friend of mine came from the beach area and she brought her mule, her husband's mule (Cletus the mule, name for mule's Facebook page if you want to friend the mule) and her daughter is about 6 years old. For $200 why bought her a 30 year old white pony mule named Katie Mae. The two of them are the cutest thing ever!
June and Bob Hogan arrived to camp for the night. They were also delayed by the storms. They brought Bob's new mule Tess and two Rocky Mountain horses.
Many other local people came too and we ended up with quite a group!
At Lunch everyone came indoors and we ate nearly everything that we brought! It was nice sitting on the porch for a break! After lunch we went on a short trail ride. A few people went back early, the rest of us rode over to the ponds on the Moss' land.
I was really impressed with people and their mules/horse. I had some pretty hard obstacles this year and very few hand any problems. The pool noodles was probably the most exciting. A few equine jumped through them and others sort of scooted!

Bob and DixieJune & Tess

Cara and NuggetAmiee & Henry

Shannon and SevenChristine and Sadie Mae