It is 11 pm and I have just returned to the house, whiffle ball bat in hand, dogs at my side, my heart is slowly returning to its normal rhythm. I am relieved we did not meet the fisher cat face-to-face this evening. It has been just a few hours since the foster foal arrived and I wonder if his initial distress cries attracted the creature that I am sure was responsible for more than a few of my chicken disappearances as well as the loss of a couple of indoor/outdoor house cats.
It’s amazing how a foal can instantly affect your brain and behavior. Unlike the fowl, he was of course safe from the fisher but upon hearing the second unsettling scream I panicked, ended my phone conversation and went running to the barn to protect him. The foal! The truth is, fresh and feisty as he is, he probably would have protected me! Hadn’t he playfully chased the barn cat from his run earlier that evening and gone nose-to-nose with Nata the Keeshond as well as each of the goats loudly announcing his arrival?
When I got to the barn armed, heart racing and ready, he lifted his head, looked at me curiously, eyes blinking in the sudden light, and proceeded to calmly resume eating his hay as though his earlier whinnies had simply been in my imagination. The fisher cat, thank goodness, was nowhere insight. If I was thinking clearly and there had been any witnesses, I probably would have been embarrassed at my reactive, over protective behavior but all I could do was stare and admire his presence in the barn.
Meet Wonder a five-month old chestnut colt with three white socks and a perfect blaze. Social, flashy and full of himself, he is in need of a home. Warmblood? Thoroughbred? Mixed breed? Who knows? I couldn’t tell you for sure and neither can the rescue organization I am fostering him for, "Lucky Horse Equine Rescue" in Bolton, Massachusetts. But I can tell you, he IS fancy and flashy and demands that you take a second look. In my case it was three, four and five looks as I envisioned him as an adult...a fancy hunter jumping over pretty little flower box fences and floating effortlessly across the ground. Eventually he arrived in my backyard—surprising for me since it's usually bays, not chestnuts that catch my eye. But there is no denying a fancy horse and Wonder has fancy written all over him.
This is Wonder's blog. A chance to take potential adopters through the daily life of this beautiful little colt right from the beginning of his foster experience in the hopes that he will make a more successful transition into the perfect home. But it is also a chance for me to keep track of his and my training as he and I improve our skills together. I welcome everyone's comments, questions and tips as we journey.
Wonder's care is a commitment that I do not take lightly. Despite frequent stops at the barn for a quick peek, I mulled over the decision to foster him for several weeks before taking solid action. There seems to be a chronic shortage of time in my life with a full-time business, a long commute in and out of the city and several animals of my own that need and deserve my time and attention, including my own two horses, Sassie and Fling. That said, the fact that my best friend, Sarah, is currently raising her own foal certainly did nothing to deter me from inquiring. And the warm welcome I received from April as I asked countless questions about the foals and the rescue, did not hurt either.
I had been seeking the right rescue to donate to for over a year and none had seemed quite right. Despite the stigma that surrounds the track, I had a lifelong passion for thoroughbred racehorses, animals that just seemed to tear at my heartstrings. I knew I needed a rescue I could somehow tie into that industry and its "leftovers." Although I have a relatively new but strong interest in natural horsemanship, I had always preferred show barns to hobby barns—admiring those show barns which made it fun for everyone...kids and adults alike. Lucky Horse Equine Rescue fit the bill perfectly with its commitment to rescuing Nurse Mare foals from the thoroughbred industry, Century Mill Stables and the perfect foal. On top of it all, it was local. Perfect!
The final decision to foster Wonder (if he was still available) came Saturday, August 15th, the day he was featured at Lucky Horse Rescue's exhibit at the Bolton fair. Three days later he was in my barn.
The adventure begins.
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