Phase 1 - First impressions

Malachite Farms - June 1st, 2024 - 7:39am

Phase 1 : First Impressions.

I looked down at my watch, reading 7:39am on a Saturday, it was a brisk morning but yet I was already tired. I had just finished setting up a stall near the end of the newest ‘Exotic Horse Zoo’ … as Kye called it but in my own opinion he just doesn’t like to live a little on the wild side as I do. 

Loshenkas, a breed that originated from Russia, started finding themselves a home at Malachite. I figured the breed would be a nice edition to the show, breeding and kid program, so here i am with quite a few already in my barn. Last month, Sagebrush Sanctuary decided to open a makeover event for these Loshenkas and luckily, by the grace of God, Malachite Farms was approved along with 79 other farms all over the world to take one of these lovely animals home for June, yet with that.. I got an invoice last night about the mare i was given and that they wanted to drop her off today at 7:45. It was very short noticed but yet i was happy to give her a chance. 

I walked through the barn and was now making my way to the trailer unloading, trying to weave the occasional boarder or groom trying to clean up the large estate. I found myself half hoping that Kye would be here to see this new mare but he didn’t seem to be up and about yet. At my destination, i found a seat on a mounting block nearby and readjusted my ponytail before pulling out my phone. The trailer should be here any minute. I opened my invoice to look at the file.. HIP#6442 Flaxen Raspberry Dun mare, 9 years old. The biggest problem in the horse seemed to be sluggishness, a slow moving and reacting horse. At first, my mind went to lameness but the health report on the invoice seemed clear unless that was out of date or faked so she seemed like a more suitable option. 

Rough metal clacking and tires turning were heard in the distance, i turned my head to see a large trailer than was clearly carrying several horses with Sagebrush Sanctuary written in large font on the side. My heart jolted, bringing me to my feet very quickly. I patted myself down to realize i didnt have a halter so with quick steps, i rushed into the Main Barn to grab a halter and lead rope.. one that seemed the right size to fit the average loshenka head. I was waiting on her to get here before having a special halter made.. yet i had temporary ones in my barn, but i forgot it, in typical Val Falke fashion. After grabbing someone’s halter, i ran back out here the trailer was turning around for a safe spot to unload her. I was unable to contain my smile as a gentleman got out of the truck and looked to me, a clipboard in hand.

“Hello!! Are you Valerie Falke?” The man asked, double clicking the pen on his board.

“Yes! I am! I am the head trainer over the Exotic Equine Program here at Malachite Farms, it is lovely to meet you!!” I responded, my excitement clear in my voice as i seemed to ramble on and on. 

He laughed slightly, “It is nice to meet you too, I am Stephan, a transporter for the makeover event for 2024.’ And with that, i was offered the clipboard. “If you wouldn’t mind, please read over this contract and sign at the very bottom with todays date.” Gary added, so i took the clipboard. Audibly, I noticed the side of the massive trailer being opened as another worker climbed inside. 

The contract read of the conditions, responsibilities and everything that came with the mare, including how the horse will be surrendered back to the Sanctuary if they could not see noticeable change in the equine. Quickly, I signed my name and wrote the date at the bottom, handing it back to Gary. It seemed like perfect timing as a little Raspberry mare stepped off the trailer. Gary said something but i didnt pay any attention to his words as i looked over the Mare. She was a little small, probably around 15.2-3 in height and underweight some. She suffered scuffs and scratches from what i assumed to be the sanctuary and transportation.. or maybe even her previous home. Her tail was a little frayed at the top and uneven growth going down it. But she had sullen eyes, and a very calm expression. It was weird, i read the description but still didnt expect something this.. lowly acting. Usually any horse on a new property looks around with ears perked at least. I walked up to her, allowing her to sniff my hand before i pet her forehead kindly. Her colors were a little dull, but the light green halter seemed to contrast her well. The second man handed me the lead rope and the mare stood perfectly still.

“She’s by far one of the easiest to handle in the group, very calm.” The second man stated, so i turned to him with question in mind.

“Where did she come from?” I asked, concern in my voice. 

“I vaguely remember a barn known for tourist trail rides dropping her off.. you know, the ones you see in the mountains standing in knee deep mud.” He paused, stroking her neck to which she only sighed, seeming to close her eyes. “The owner, a lady, said they were surrendering her due to several complaints that the horse would never move or go anywhere, also that she seemed to stop eating.” I nodded, looking back to her. 

“It almost like she’s just depressed.” Gary added into the conversation, my eyes widened.. like a light bulb went off in my head. The mare was definitely depressed acting, and it made me wonder that if i fixed the little health issues she had and gave her things to look forward to, and hopefully a career she liked if she would come back around. But all i could do was nod as i now had ideas as how to help the little mare, which was even better because i had the vet coming out monday anyways. 

“Thank you for bringing her, i know y’all have a lot of other horses to drop off. Steady travels!!” I cheered.

”Take good care of her! I have a feeling you’ll be able to get her back to speed.” One of them called as they walked back to the truck.

”Thank you!!!” I cheered back, attempting to walk her to the soft gravel path. Yet, leading this mare was like trying to drag a cement block through the woods. She was heavy on my hand, but still she followed; like she had just given up on life. This was gonna be one hell of a walk.

She wasnt interested in anything.. at all. She never looked around, never thought twice about her surroundings. But with time, we reached her new barn. A groom was steadily bringing others in from their nightly pastures and all of the others looked to this mare with small whinnies and nickers of excitement. This, somehow, got some reaction from the new Loshenka, i felt her pick her head up slightly and from the corner of my eye, i saw her ears move around in slight curiosity. We continued our walk until i got to her stall, it was a lovely end stall with two windows to allow her to look wherever. It backed up to woodlands on both sides so i knew she wouldn’t get much stimuli. This would be her daily stall until the vet could prove wellness and she wasn’t contagious of anything. 

She stepped into her stall easily, sniffing at the new shavings and water buckets as if she had never been in a good stall before in her life. I took her halter off of her, before watching her take a dew sips of water and moving to a window. She looked outside briefly. 

“How is it girl??” I asked her happily, glad to see her perk up slightly before she went to the far wall and stood, resting her leg with the sun beaming down on her back. My smile dropped.. at least she was comfy. I hung her halter on the hook outside her door and tossed the other one i needed to return to the concrete. I closed the door for a minute to head to my tack room to get a few grooming utensils together. In my walk, i grabbed my phone to see a notification from Kyden, starting a small conversation.

——

Kyden Longebrok 

 Did the new mare get here?? I saw a massive trailer pulling 

out when feeding the dogs.

Val Falke

Yes :) I just got her settled into her stall for now.

She seems to be very gloomy.

Kyden Longebrok

Leave it to you to get the depressed horse, i hope she 

settles in okay. When is she going to be looked at?

Val Falke

Monday morning whenever the vet comes out, but 

I am going to turn her out tonight in her own paddock.

She’s in rough shape.

Kyden Longebrok 

i wouldn’t be too worried about it, i know she’s

in good hands. You’re the only one here id trust

with a makeover horse to not screw it up.

——

I sighed softly, glad someone had faith in me over the situation. I traded out the phone in my hand to my back pocket, and picked up my bag with grooming utensils inside. I headed back down the row to the mare, thinking about what kind of food would be smart. I was hoping she would find comfort in the coastal i had put in the stall earlier but regardless, she didn't touch it. I set my bag down at her stall, noticing her still just standing there. It dawned on me that being an ex-tourist horse.. coastal was probably all she was given throughout the day. On impulse, i went to the smaller hay attachment in this barn and grabbed a flake of the only alfalfa bale we had in there; it wasnt something i fed these horses often as most of them were already off the wall insane by themselves. But i had a blend of several other hays on there i could experiment with. I took her the flake and dropped it in, at first.. she seemed uninterested until i grabbed a small handful and offered it. She took it.. then hazardously went over to the flake and started munching.. clearly something she never had before. Later on, i would have to ask a groom to bring a bale to put by her stall. I smiled, glad to see she was eating and taking interest so far. 

I grabbed a soft brush, gently brushing her body down and looking all over her to see what she looked like. I was careful with all her little scratches but still admiring her coat. She was a simple, but very stunning little mare. She reminded me of dawn.. and all the colors that came with it. 

“Dawn..” I spoke, deciding that would be her barn name, i looked forward to working with her. I brushed through her tail, did my best to clean her hooves despite the stubbornness and put ointment on her little wounds. Man was i excited to work with her, something about it told me this was going to be a very nice horse.