Morning After:
Dear Diary,
I woke up really early this morning to feed Dale his breakfast.
He was standing as he slept, telling me that he still didn't feel comfortable yet.
Though it was only the first night, so I didn't expect for him to be that comfortable at the start.
I quietly entered and closed the door.
I spoke softly, telling him I was here and that he had nothing to be afraid of.
Jerking his head, he shook out of being asleep and looked over at me.
He didn't seem all that panicy, but he was eyeing me as I moved.
Keeping one eye on me, he watched me move and bring the wheelbarrow closer.
I moved slowely, taking the bag off the wheel barrow and letting him sniff it.
It was a bag of premixed Barley and oats for his breakfast.
I pulled away before he bit at the bag.
Cutting open the top, I poured some into one bucket by the door.
He was eager to eat, which was a good sign.
Walking over, I removed the hanging bale of hay and walked over to empty it out in the area I had set up for food.
I left the door open to his stall, so he didn't feel closed in.
I set up the next hay bale and started to fill up a bucket.
I walked back with a bucket I had just filled up with fresh water and replaced the previous nights water bucket.
Letting him eat, I wandered to clean up any stray bits of wheat straw that he might have kicked as he wandered the barn.
Once he seemed mostly full, I returned to give him a brush down.
I spent most of the time talking with him, still getting him used to my voice.
He seemed calmer then last night and was enjoying the brush down.
As I was brushing, I pulled the red halter out of my pocket.
I continued to brush and talk as I let him sniff the halter.
When he pulled away from the halter, I took it and rubbed it on him.
Getting his scent on the halter and erasing some of the new smell.
He smelled it again, and nibbled on it alittle but seemed to not mind it so much now that it smelled a bit more like him and less new.
Slowing, and a bit akwardly since I was still brushing with one hand, I placed the halter over his nose.
I moved very slowly and carefully, so not to aggrivate or aggitate him.
Finally I had gotten it fully on, over both ears and ready to be tightented.
Placing the brush down, I gently fastened the halter around his head.
I also double checked that nothing might rub or pull on hair as well.
But it was on.
He shook his head, feeling the halter on his head.
He seemed unsure what to make up it.
Though it wasn't uncomfortable, just different.
Clipping a lead to the halter, I lead Dale out of his stable.
He stopped again.
So, I used the method I had used the night before and he gave up faster then the previous time.
I lead him around the barn again, letting him sniff everything I had there.
The blankets, the brushes, the extra halter, everything.
I even let him sniff the posters that were in the wheel barrow.
A sharp No let him know that the poster wasn't for eating.
I lead him along the barn and out one of the doors to the small pasture attached to the barn side.
A double latched door let air in and heads to investigate, while the bottom could be closed to keep out any unwanted guests.
Taking him into the small pasture, I removed the lead and let him run.
He took off, happy to be out and able to stretch his legs.
I watched him for a bit before I went though the door and latched the bottom.
With him out playing, I was able to get my pitchfork and mucked out the stall.
There wasn't much, but a clean stall is important for a happy horse.
Or changeling in this instance.
I placed the dirty straw in the wheel barrow. (after I took everything else out)
And brought the dirty stuff outside, where it had proper ventilation before pickup.
I returned inside the barn to see an inquisitive nose peeking from the door.
He was little enough to not be able to see over the bottom door yet.
I walked over and rubbed the velvety nose and went bakc to work.
I restocked the wheat straw and put in the new hay bale back in the stall.
I refilled the water dish and put up the posters out of reach of a inquisitive mouth.
And as a final touch, I added a hanging playtoy in one corner of his stall.
So he wouldn't get so bored when I left him in here.
Removing the brush I had almost forgot inside his stall, I figured I was about done for now.
Going back to the door, I opened it and let him in.
He bolted in fast from outside, and looked around to see what was new.
The first thing was the posters, the browns of the Ookapi drew his attention right away.
He looked at the ookapi for a bit before he trotted to the next poster.
He looked at each poster before he returned to sniff his stall.
It took him a bit to find the new smell in the stall, and it smelled like apples.
The hanging toy, red in color, smelled like apples.
And when he pulled on the rope, it make a slight clinking sound from the chains.
He seemed to enjoy it.
It also could despence treats, but I wasn't going to hook that up yet.
I wanted him to get used to the usual food before I started to give him snacks.
I left the door to the small pasture open, and gave Dale a pet.
I told him I would be back, I had other things to get done today.
But I would be back.
He gave a whinny and nuzzled by hand.
I figured he understood.
So with a wave, I left out the door and headed to get my errands done.
heart Sheillah
