Lucy Leaves the Herd

Lucy, the American Quarter Horse Bay mare, left the herd yesterday to start a new life in a stable a short distance away. As the day of Lucy's departure drew near, her upcoming loss to the herd became a discussion point. Since horse herds bond as families, when one of the herd is removed the remaining horses grieve at their loss. The thought of Belle, Sammy and Annie missing their friend and/or mother was painful. As the alpha mare of the herd, Lucy told the other horses what to do and when to do it. It was not uncommon to see Lucy nipping at one of the herd to get that horse "in line."

A few weeks earlier, Curly, the one year old colt of Lucy, also left the farm and joined a group of reining horses at a stable about 10 miles away. Reining is a competitive sport where horses are judged on their ability to perform maneuvers similar to a figure skater. Reining horses can earn millions of dollars performing in events across the country. Coming from a long line of reining horses, Curly will be the top dog, errr horse, in the competition. When Curly left the herd a few weeks ago none of the horses seemed to miss him, including his mother, Lucy. There was no running, no seeking, and no nickering. His buddy, the other year old colt, Sammy, stood gazing into space as if wondering where his partner in crime was hiding.

Lucy's departure was somewhat heart-wrenching to this somewhatfortyplus horse breeder. Watching Lucy load into the trailer from afar, I wondered what she was thinking. Her new farm houses several horses, and Lucy will probably check them all out and again become the alpha mare sooner, rather then later, unless the new place has an alpha mare who has stronger dominance tendencies than Lucy. The new owner, a horse trainer by trade who had been with Lucy several times prior to driving away with her, will be back with us on a regular basis as she prepares Sammy for the next phase in his life, accepting riders.

The herd is smaller today. Sorrel horse Belle is pregnant, due in late April or early May. Sammy, the year old sorrel colt, was running and jumping in the pasture with Annie, the five month old filly at his side. Tired from their frolicking in the grass, Sammy, Annie and Belle laid down in the sun behind the barn and took their morning nap, at peace with the world.

Photo attribution: somewhatfrank