Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Sibling Rivalry

So you probably saw the cute photo yesterday of Cinna and Ruby touching noses, right? What you didn't see was the squealing, spinning, threatening to kick, and when Cinna lunged into her stall guards and bent one of my eyehooks.... Haha. Mares, amiright?
Blurry cell phone shot of mares being mares. 
Cinna is quite used to being top dog -- she's ruled the roost with an iron hoof since her dam left almost two years ago -- it's an attitude she came by honestly, as her mother was Queen Bee before her. The geldings mostly roll their eyes and let her buffalo them. But I have a feeling poor little Cinna is gonna get her world rocked as she adjusts to Ruby's presence on the farm. 
The geldings, unconcerned that there was a new addition in the barn. 
Last night we had the last of our unseasonably warm weather -- 72 in December, what even is this? We were under a severe thunderstorm watch, and the 10 day forecast looks bleak (aka cold, which I hate). So I booked it home from work and immediately went out to grab Ruby for a quick workout. I really wanted to ride, but I didn't want to push my luck -- she hadn't worked under the lights yet, and she also isn't acclimated to the goats (which I realized when she almost dumped me riding sidesaddle during our photoshoot last month, hahaha). 
I tacked her up quickly and tossed her on the lunge line. She had a few spook-and-scoots on the side of the arena closest to the goats, and she was listening intently to them bellowing for their dinner, but she acclimated quickly. By far and away the most interesting external stimuli to work through was Cinna on the other side of the fence -- my main dry lot adjoins the arena, and Cinna apparently took great exception to the fact that I was working Ruby and not her. She was waiting with ears pinned and neck snaked, occasionally lunging over the fence and trying to take a chunk out of poor Ruby. After some stern admonishment, she finally consented to standing a few feet off the fence, looking very grumpy.
#mareglareonpoint
I guess I know what my next project is -- hot wire to keep her off the arena, lol. We talked about it when we first built it but the boys give no shits about me working Cinna in there, so I shelved the idea. But clearly I need to resurrect it!
About the time I finished up it started raining, and the forecast was calling for heavy storms, so I pulled everyone in a few hours early. At that point I think Ruby had had about enough of Cinna's bluster, so she put her in her place pretty sharply over the stall guards -- #bossbitch
Waiting for attention
Ruby establishing some ground rules .. haha.


Clearly the pecking order thing is gonna take some time ;) and unattended stall guards will not be happening any time in the near future, lol. They sure keep me on my toes!

16 comments:

  1. Oh mares. There will be a few tears (I'm sure) but then order will be restored

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha they'll sort things out eventually. Just gotta try to keep them both safe during the inevitable squabbles!

      Delete
  2. i love how Cinna is lurking in the background of all your shots of Ruby lol... poor thing, it's hard to be usurped!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't even realize she was lurking in the back of the cross tie shot until after I posted it 😂 Cinna has been used to being the spoiled baby for a *long* time now, she doesn't play well with others. Time to learn!

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. Right now it would be something like "Unbridled Rage" but maybe someday we'll transition into something more peaceful like "Days of our Saddles" or something 😉

      Delete
  4. At least it will be an interesting winter

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Life is never boring with dramatic Spanish mares 😉

      Delete
  5. Poor poor mistreated Cinna. No love for the baby.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She has SUCH a rough life. IDK how she manages 🤔

      Delete
  6. Girls! Sheesh! Haha, hope they work it out quickly!
    In other hot wire news, Badger had to get his paddock hot wired after be broke 32 boards since they got to Florida in September. Kids these days...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My my Badger, that's impressive! I shudder to think what Cinna would do to board fencing 😆 hot wire for dayyyys.

      Delete