such a sad girl

It was time for morning chores, we took the trailer down with us to clean out the little presents that horses feel the need to leave the minute they get into a trailer. As soon as we pulled in the driveway, I knew it was a mistake to bring the trailer down. Harmony lit up, she thought the boys were coming back.  She promptly went to the closest corner to wait for them, and...it was just us humans. We didn't think it was a big deal until we fed the girls breakfast, and Harmony wouldn't come down from the corner to eat her grain. 

It's okay Harmony, they'll be back.

I took a handful of grain up to her, and she half heartily ate a few bites. We called her, hugged her, and tried to coax her to come eat what she normally eagerly awaits, and then she did the saddest thing - she lied down.

Harmony is so sad

Cierra had no problem with the boys being gone, she ate her grain and some of Harmony's too - until I took it away. We were so surprised to see Harmony acting this way. Last year when the boys left to the trainers, we put the resident pony in with her to keep her company and she was fine.  This time she even had Cierra, and when she gets turned out, the resident pony too. I began to wonder if something was wrong with her, but she is just one sad lonely girl.

Brad haltered Harmony, and got her up to walk her around. She sniffed around the trailer, and they went for a short walk. Cierra didn't like Harmony being out of sight at all, she is not a talker, but she was today.  Our comfortable little herd has been changed. Harmony was much better after Brad took her for a walk, she slowly started to eat her grain and got lots more hugs. It was Cierra's turn to get some halter attention, but under the circumstances it wouldn't be wise to take her out of the pasture - so they headed to the arena for a short leading session.

Brad & Cierra

I know the girls will adjust to having the boys gone, and then have to adjust to having them back, but who knew we would get this reaction out of Harmony - not us.