Humphries Arrives

Michele and I went to collect Humphries today. It was the first trip of Michele's lovely brand new horse box and Humphries was the first horse to get into it. It was a beautiful sunny day. Humphries was in a loose box when we arrived. I couldn't believe how good he looked (apart from the hogged mane). He also seemed much bigger than I remembered! He didn't know us, so he was a little nervous, but he behaved well when I led him out of the loose box. Michele helped me get him into the box because he was a little hesitant.

Humphries first meal in his new home

Humphries was quite wound up when we arrived in Dromiskin. Tom and Gerry (the goats) came up to the horse box to say hello, and Humphries was very nervous of them because he had never seen a goat before. Michele led him out of the box and put him in the stable, but he still behaved very well. We put the bar across the stable and immediately he slipped underneath and went for a potter around the yard. After exploring for a few minutes, he came back to us and I put him in the stable (with the door closed this time) and gave him a little bit of food to make him feel at home.

Cori talks to me and the goats while J.B chats to Humphries in the stable

We brought Cori and J.B in to the yard to meet Humphries. They all sniffed noses over the stable door, but Cori got bored after a little while and came to chat to me, while J.B stayed to chat with Humphries. Things were going well, so Michele put Cori into the stable with some food and let Humphries out to meet J.B properly.

J.B and Humphries explore the yard together...

Then have a friendly sniff...

and do some more exploring

J.B and Humphries got on really well together, and it was a joy to watch them wandering around together, mirroring each other and matching pace. J.B kept on nuzzling Humphries and rubbing his head against him. It was very sweet. We decided to let Cori say hello, so J.B went into the stable and Cori came out. He ignored Humphries at first, and then went over to say hello. He was not quite as welcoming as J.B to begin with.

Cori says hello

Humphries didn't react aggressively to Cori, and soon things settled down.

Gerry the goat watches as Cori and Humphries wander around the yard

It was very encouraging how well the two boys got on with the newcomer, so in light of such a good introduction, we're going to try him out in the field with the mares tomorrow. But for tonight, Humphries is staying in the yard with the goats.