Preparation for the vet & farrier

21 July 2012: vet and farrier booked for Monday and we have the use of yards next door, exciting. So we decide to take the girls to the yards as a practice run. They need to go through the paddock, along the road about 10 mtrs then up the neighbours driveway. Ruby leads nicely, respectful & listens when I ask her to stop eating. Rata does the usual horsey thing in the big grassy paddock: excitedly running around (as well as she can considering her hooves are like clumsy clown shoes). Once Rata is calm, I lead Ruby out onto the grass verge and Rata suddenly sees mum is out the gate. So funny & a beautiful demonstration of approach & retreat: she came to the gate, looked, then took off back into the paddock, a minute later she is back, comes thru the gate for a few seconds then she's back into the paddock ... three more attempts & she decides it's safe to stay out. They both walk down the metal road with Rata following Ruby, up the driveway & straight into the yards no problems. We leave them there for a few minutes & they manage to happily squeeze themselves into a small section to fight over the feed bucket, perfect as that is where we will need them for sedating. We then spend time handling, with Ruby still hesitant around the hindquarters but her owner was able to pick up her hind hooves a couple times. I think for her sake, she will need a light sedation so she can tolerate standing still for the farrier. Rata is still a little wary when I approach but then is happy to be touched around the head, neck, chest & down her front legs & then she tolerates me running my hand all the way along her back. She also allows me to drape the rope across her withers a couple times & when it slides off as she walks away, she turned & sniffed the rope on the ground. Big progress yippee! We then take them back home with no worries, phew, feeling confident for Monday.