My daughter arrived yesterday with my new horse, Jewell!

She's a 7-year-old sorrel Quarter Horse mare. She's ranch-bred, has worked cattle, been trail ridden in the Tetons for hunting and camping, and done lots of other ranch work. She even worked a bit as a wrangler horse at the dude ranch this summer. (At 9,000 feet I bet her oxygen-carrying capacity is much better than mine.)

Jewell traveled well (ate, drank, peed, and pooped regularly on the drive), and the weather was good for traveling from Wyoming to Kentucky.

She was happy to get out and stretch her legs and crop some grass. We put all the other "critters" in the adjoining paddock so they could visit across the fence (I know, bad for disease control, but my property is too small to have isolation). Jewell was at one farm with no disease problems prior to her travels, and she had been vaccinated and had health papers and a new Coggins. (Only vaccine she needs for Kentucky that they don't use in Wyoming is rabies. Everything on the property, including the goats, are all vaccinated. We had a bad year with rabid wildlife and domestic animals in Central Kentucky this year.)

I let the goats into the field with her yesterday afternoon, and I guess she's never seen goats before, because she certainly looked hard at them. But after trying to herd them a bit Jewell pretty much ignored them (she thinks they smell funny).

We went for a short trail ride yesterday afternoon. Mostly walking with a short jog now and then. My daughter, Barbara, and neighbor, Anna, each rode a youngster, so Jewell was the old pro on the ride. My hubby, Ben, walked along with us for a spell (I think just to see how long I could smile without getting facial cramps).

This afternoon the rest of the herd was let over to get acquainted, and apparently there were a few hindquarters shown, then everyone settled in to graze without a fuss. I'm sure Dusty, the retired Paint gelding, is glad to have someone his own size to do some mutual grooming. The two Miniature Horses and the Miniature Donkey weren't tall enough to reach his back.

Anyhow, I'm very pleased with her attitude, personality, and willingness. I'm sure over the next few weeks and months we'll learn a lot more about each other. (My hubby even made noises about a new truck and trailer!)

Please share some tips on getting acquainted with a new horse; pros and cons!