Jodie #3 The Arrival

Jodie Blog #3 The Arrival


If you follow me on twitter or FB you already know that Jodie arrived here safely last Sunday the 12th of September 2010. After what ended up being a 42.5 hour trip from East Texas to Central California, horsey transport ride!! I mean OMGosh that was sooo fast. The Horse transport people who make this trip from Cali to TX twice a month must have been flying.

The amazing thing here is that when Jodie stepped out of that trailer late last Sunday night she was sooo fine. (Cali girl here) No really I have never seen a horse get out of a trailer and be so stable. She didn’t even wobble a bit. We were very surprised. The horse transport people called for specific directions and told us their estimated arrival while they were driving. We were worried about Jodie while she was in route. The trailer that ya’ll help pay for was 1st class all the way. The trailer had AC, padded sides, camera feed to the cab, food and water access for the entire ride. She stepped out here at the our ranch (The Full Circle) shiny, safe and sound. Sure she looked a little tired but her demeanor was clam, balanced and very curious. She found fresh herd poo and started her assessment. Our 12 horses, and 2 burros were on the back 30 of our 40 acres. It’s all hilly back there so they didn’t hear us or know anyone had arrived.  That meeting didn’t happen until the morning, when the herd came down for breakfast and to get a drink.

Our little Miss Jodie immediately once stepping out of the trailer got to meet the two baby Brahma bulls (Bram & Stoker) who were curious about the late night visitors. They were so close we had to “shoo” they away (my natural bullmanship skills here..lol) They mooed and she just perked up and look over, no startle, no jumping, no wide eyed surprise even. We took care of the paper business with the driver, Dave, while Dd #2 (dear daughter #2) held Jodie online.  Then Hubby drove back up to the front gate to let out the trailer. (They had 3 more horses inside)

While we waited for Hubby to return Jodie walked with us up to the front of the house and walked over to her “Mare Motel” as if she knew that was where she was going. It will be her home the closer she gets but for her initial penning we want her in the pen down by the barn. It has a better view of the ranch for her, and she is able to have the herd all around her on all sides for feeding time.

Dd #2 and I took turns walking her down to the pen and Hubby followed. We took off her halter, a privilege we are going to have to earn back with trust before she wears another one I’m sure. We squared her up with fresh hay and let her check it all out. She went straight to the hay for a bit then started walking around. She allowed all 3 of us touch a pet her with little concern. Since the herd wasn’t around Dd#2 decided she would sleep in the pen with her. I waited as she walked up to the house and got her bedding. Dd#2 made a night roll on the ground we hung for a bit then hubby & I went up to the house.

Then I called Kindle, and she and I talked for two hours that night, I just love her. We were so relieved and finally calm and sooo excited about Jodie getting here safely. Teehee.. Whew!!

All that abuse, all those scars still visible and here it only being September and Kindle rescuing Jodie in June and none of that showed. Her trust was apparent her soul was soft, she was calm, she had gained soo much weight and she was settled in her forever home.

Jode is but one little Mustang out of thousands in need in America right now. Thousands are losing their land, herds and daily family lives forever. The BLM (Bureau of Land Management) are conducting round ups at an alarming rate. The iconic representative of free spirit and symbol for the American west, the Wild Horse is in a dire situation. Those that have been captured have to look forward to a life of waiting in over crowded long term holding pens waiting for the possibility of being adopted. With 35,000 already residing in long term holding pens back east, the future of the Wild Horse seems more in jeopardy than they ever have been. The genetic viability of several herds is in question as it is.  Truly it seems that one day we will have no wild horses left to run free in the West. This saddens me to my deepest core. I have no words for the sadness disrespect and lack of consideration our government has given to our Mustangs. If we don’t fight now they will be just another species pushed out of their natural habitats and their very right to exist taken away. 

If you want to help with ongoing ligation fighting for our Mustangs and to find out just where everything stands please go to grassrootshorse.com. You can donate for the ongoing legal actions or simply be more informed.

Thanks for reading this far and keep watching as Jodie will surely lead me to more endless blabbering and my need to share it all with ya’ll…teehee…