Sommelier: My OH so quiet Chest. Thoroughbred Mare: Sommeiler: Day 1-3

So, I knew that Scarlett (yes, I cringed every time I said her old name!!), was quiet... but she WAY exceeded my expectations when it came time to loading. I brought my friend Ross with me to help if needed, and Lindsay Haselden was on the way with the trailer. I got Scarlett cleaned up, signed the "bill of sale" when Lindsay rolled in. I got Scarlett and walked her up to the trailer <great, and willing so far>. Lindsay was VERY nice enough to put one of her mares in the trailer so that Scarlett would have a friend, and it wouldn't be so so so scary. Keep in mind, Scarlett hasnt been on a trailer in probably 5 years. So we are there, she gets one foot <carrot>, sniffs other mare, steps back. I urge her to come on, another foot <carrot>, second foot <carrot- sniff mare>, back off (just to where her feet are not on ramp). Lindsay and friend grab the lunge line and get it behind her but. A little more coaxing... she walks on!!! No freaking out... once she walked on, she was perfectly FINE being ON the trailer. lots of carrots for her <and for other mare>. Alrighty! She's all packed and ready to go... and I am EXSTATIC!!!

She had a good 30 miles ride to Roswell from Forsyth. Backs off the trailer... looks around... and starts eating the grass we were parked in. Wow. Okay! :-) I pay the shipper, and walk Scarlett down to the arena at the new farm. I turn her loose... she walks around for a second and then then other horses in the pastures kind of start noticing she's there. She runs around back and forth for only a couple minutes (enough time for Marie, the barn manager, to grab some hay to give her). We toss the hay out there... she IMMEDIATELY starts eating the hay and is as "cool as a cucumber" <-- hence the blogURL! :-) And that was it. Ross and I groomed her while she ate her hay contently and the other geldings were running around wondering why she wasn't introducing herself.

Eating her hay while we further beautified her... see the brush bag.

While she was relaxing and I had already groomed all I could groom, I started organizing my tack box for what I would need. It has been a long time since my friend Ross had been around horses, he missed it alot, so he dusted off his skills and worked a bit with Scarlett. She didn't mind!

Ross working Scarlett

Scarlett walking around after we groomed her checking out her surroundings, about 45 mins. on the farm.

I left and was so so so thrilled with my new girl!! Thank the Lord. We shall see how she rides tomorrow.

I had dog training on Saturday, and even left a little early so I could, A: cash a check by noon, and B: I was excited to see Scarlett! It's a GOOD feeling when you are so excited, giddy, and motivated to go see a special horse. I've missed that very very much! When I pulled up to the barn she was just hangin out in the arena still. Marie (barn mngr) had told me she ate and slept just fine and has been very easy going. She walked straight to me to catch her <another HUGE plus in my book>. I groomed her, A LOT... and then saddled her up. She got a lunge lesson and I decided to go ahead and get on. I walked around for a bit, walked over poles, and thought.. .what the hell... lets try some trot. Her transition was just fine, her pace was consistent, not too fast or too slow (well.. I did have to keep encouraging her to keep the trot). Okay.. she didn't care one one one one bit about me on her back, trotting, nothing. Okay... SHE'S A KEEPER!!!!! I'm in love. Keep in mind also, her lunging was PERFECT. Responds to verbal perfectly, she whoa's when I say whoa.. she goes (w/ some encouragement) when I say go. We worked on ground work leg yielding: great. When I was re-adjusting the lunging gear... she stood perfectly still and didn't move muscle until I asked her forward. Same thing when I got off from riding.

She then got turned out with the boys to see how she would do. SHE WAS FINE. No squeeling, no kicking, biting, nothing from her. The geldings took turns herding her around trotting and some cantering... she was a tired tired tired girl after 30 minutes of that, then they all settled beautifully. No problems.

This Sunday morning, I was excited again to go out and see my girl... OH WAIT! I almost forgot... I decided on a name!!!! I work at a restaurant where we have a lot of really nice wines, and we have Sommeliers (Wine Trades/Experts) that come and bring us new wines to taste and host. I really liked it... and with some help from friends.. decided it was unique and fit her nicely. Her barn name would be: Melier (pronounced: Molly). Sommelier (pronounced: Some-mull-yah!). Love it love it! And the French Barn Manager: Marie , liked it also!

Alright, so today, Melier got another spa treatment fit with braiding her long mane onto the CORRECT side of her head, I hopped on her bareback... and yes... DEAD DEAD DEAD Quiet!! We walked alot, more leg yielding, and very little trotting (dont want to trot much until she gets her toessies trimmed! Afraid she might trip with me on her). She is lazy, and dead quiet. I WILL need spurs when I can actually ride ride her. When I was done, she just stood still while I laid on her, laid flat on her entire body, turned to flex her head- no problem. She did-not-move-a-muscle-the-whole-time. I bounced my legs around, even brought them up like I might stand up on her (no I wont do that ..... yet), she did nothing and couldn't care less. OKAY.. today, really, I was completely sold on this chestnut mare once named Scarlett. She is as sweet as could be, is willing... and has a GO problem (the best problem to have, right?!?!)

I could not be happier with my selection. March 10th is the Hunter Pace, and this is our goal!! Well Meleir... lets jump over it!!!!