Nikki's owner, Danni and her husband Ted.
posted by Domnarski Farm @ 10:33 AM
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
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The Domnarski Farm is located on 55 acres of beautiful Massachusetts pasture land and woods, abutting thousands of additional acres of undeveloped and conservation land. We offer horse boarding opportunities and will host monthly trail rides welcoming others to trailer in their horses for a day of pleasant riding. Below is a chronological account of the latest noteworthy developments and events!
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This photo shows Ted and me as we are filming the events as Nikki settles in in her new home. It was a great day to move Nikki on that January morning! We had it all planned out. Several factors were taken into consideration before the move. Some of them were:
1. the weather
2. Nikki’s natural cycling schedule, to avoid the time she would be in estrus (yes, this is one of those mares who seem to cycle all year round, despite of the northern latitude).
3. barn owners being at home on the day of the arrival
4. Ted (my husband) having time off to drive the truck/ pull the trailer.
Ted and I started the evening before and hitched our 2-horse bumper-pull trailer to the truck. This way, we could get up in the morning and immediately hit the road. The drive from Chicopee, where we live, to the Domnarski Fram situated on the Palmer / Ware line takes about 35 minutes.
We arrived at what's now Nikki's "old place", the Wildbrook Farm on Rte. 9 near Ware at 10 AM. Ted backed the trailer nicely onto the property, despite the snow, and I went ahead and got Nikki out of the paddock. When I came to the gate, Ted had already opened the back of the trailer. Nikki surprised me, when she hopped right in. I know she HATES trailer rides. So, we were done and loaded in less than 10 minutes. I had brought my cellular phone, so now it was time to call the Domnarski's to let them know we are on our way.
Matt Domnarski met us in the drive way that lies adjacent to the pastures and barn. Now came one of the bigger challenges: safely unload Nikki, and then lead her up to the paddock. I could hear Nikki impatiently shuffling, snorting, and rocking the trailer!
I asked Ted and Matt to place themselves at the rear of the trailer. While Ted openend up the entrance ramp in the back of the trailer, I entered through the front door and untied her lead rope while the butt bar was still securely anchored. By the time I got into the trailer Nikki was already pushing back against the butt bar, testing if she was free to get out.
Exiting the trailer is always tricky with Nikki! I have spent countless hours of training Nikki in a parked trailer to walk in nicely, stand patiently, and then, slowly back out on command. I quickly realized that this would not work this way today. As soon as the butt bar came down, Nikki rushed backward, and out. There was just enough time for Matt to grab and hold on to the lead rope attached to the halter, and immediately proceed to lead her up the path toward the pasture. I followed right behind them, along the snow covered road.
Matt proceeded directly to Nikki's new assigned paddock area, and then let Nikki go. Nikki rushed up toward the stalls and curiously looked around. There was no panic or fear, just the normal reaction of a horse in a new environment. She inspected the new stall and it met her approval! How do they say? All is well that ends well.
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