Hickory

I've had a secret for a couple weeks. Well, not really a secret, but more of a 'don't want to say anything in case it is all too good to be true'. We've got a new horse!

His name is Hickory and we happened upon him while visiting Skoog Farm in New York. He's a 13 year old Quarter Horse gelding, not too big, kid old lady broke and here's the kicker - he's brown.

Huh? Why would that matter for anything?

I've been looking for a well trained, safe, fun, not too young, not too big, Quarter Horse gelding for about a year and a half. The night before we even heard anything about Hickory I had a dream that I got a brown horse.

Lori and I were sitting chatting in her awesome kitchen where all the food magic is done and she decided to call a friend of hers to see if she knew of any good horses for sale. I was only slightly interested, but as she wrote down all his perfectly matching specs and added "liver chestnut" (brown), the hair stood up on the back of my neck.



Hickory's mom and grandma drove all night to get here this morning so they could get him settled in and then get to a prospective equine student program at nearby Midway College. We are only 3 miles off this state highway, but I figured a tired driver not used to our winding one lane roads could use an escort for the last jag. It was appreciated.



Paige unloaded a no worse for the wear Hickory, hand walked him for a few minutes and we introduced him to Hank. Hank's not thrilled with horses because they tend to get too close to his sheep and T-Bone has chased a few. He immediately let Hickory know that he was not to be messed with.



It took a few minutes for the sheep to venture around the corner.

"Um, Mom? Someone put a horse in our barn."



"My name is Woolliam. We don't really like horses."



"My name is Marcel and I'm pretty scared of horses too, but wanted to say welcome to our farm."



"I'm just telling you horse. You stay away from my sheep."



After letting Hickory settle in for a couple hours and giving the rain a chance to let up, I turned him out in the front field. Just in case there was going to be any trouble with Hank, I asked him to wait on the other side of the fence. He did, but stayed right nearby just. in. case.



When all looked copacetic, I let Hank back in. He ran over, had a few words with Hickory and walked away.



"I can't do anything about you being in here, but I'm staying between you and my sheep."



Hickory ate for awhile and then romped around for awhile.



Gato, T-Bone and Handy joined in from the back field.



And Hank (and Lila) kept a close eye on 'all them stupid horses'.



I'm sure Hickory and I have our work cut out for us, but I think I got pretty lucky.