The day was bright, warm even for the thinner coated and clothes beings wandering about the property; people at work, horses at work, dogs and cats sleeping away in the sun. A truck and trailer pulled up along the gravelly pathway, the engine shutting off just as it reached the modest barn. One man came out, hat settled in place back on his head as the sun shone down on him, crossing his arms as a woman left the cabin of the truck.
"This her, Serris?" He asked, broad shoulders lifting with his query. The woman, platinum hair in a tightly braided bun, smiled and nodded.
"This is her. She's pretty agitated, will probably be a weaver if we leave her in a stall. The round pen free until she can get settled in?" Serris asked, voice tired but gentle. "Had to make a few more stops on the way home than I'd have liked at the start, but she settled in when we hit the freeway. Things okay while I was gone, Marc?"
"Yeah, fine as can be. Had a couple new additions that you forget to forward on, but they're settled and working with their riders when they're down here easy enough. Have another addition to the staff too, smart one but I don't have any horse freed to be gentled and worked with. Well, besides this gal, now. Akuze has been nuts without you, so she's likely gonna be a bit of a struggle until she realizes you're not leaving her again." Marc chuckled, and just as they headed for the trailer's door they both heard a loud, pleading cry rise up.
"Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Sort of." Serris chuckled herself, shaking her head at her mare; that one was so clingy, it was a wonder she didn't just leap out of her stall whenever Serris took some time away to make a pick-up. But turning her focus back onto the task at hand, they opened the door and set down the ramp, looking in when they heard a nervous snort, hoof pawing at the flooring noisily.
"She's a pretty one, under all that mess I'm sure." Marc commented as he entered, easing up to her lead rope to untie her; but once he had she ripped away from him and Marc called for a passing stable hand to check the entry gate; the young man ran off to do so as Serris jumped out of the way, the mare stepping out nervously and dancing around, unsure what to do. Serris was quick to grab the lead dangling around, not wanting it to trip up the mare, and pulled her quickly around toward the large round pen, rushing inside after a bit of a struggle with the mare.
Once in and the knot halter released, Serris heaving a sigh of relief that it had gone rather well, even while the mare paced all around and snorted and neighed. "Bouvardia, you're gonna be one hard case." Serris muttered as she leaned against the railings, looking over the mare's belly for any sign of other distress.
"You mentioned someone didn't have a horse to work with?" She asked when Marc came up beside her. "Bouvardia's gonna need someone for a while, when neither of us are able to, and her foal. Send them my way when you find them? I'll be in my office."
- Howling Hooves
Thursday 9th March 2017
It’s a bit weird for me really, writing a journal that is…but I have decided to keep an informal documentation of my time working with Bouvardia.
She came to us as a cruelty case, abandoned in a field with several other mares. They had formed their own herd with a young stallion at the forefront meaning that by the time the horses were moved many were pregnant. This too was the case with Bouvardia.
Just looking at her you can tell she is ready to pop!
Anyways I haven’t much to report today so this is Ashlynn signing out.
Friday 10th March 2017
6 AM -
Bouvardia has been in the round pen overnight, with regular check-ups from me, but not once had she rested and even now she still paces nervously.
I spoke to her as reassuringly as I possibly could and offered her food but it seemed to have little effect on her. I will check back on her in the hour and see if there is any change, the vet is coming out later too so hopefully I can get some advice from her.
7:30 AM –
You would have thought she would want to eat something considering her life before but she didn’t touch it at all so I sat and talked to her for a while, she took note of my presence but apart from the occasional ear swivel in my direction I had no response.
10:00 AM –
The vet just left, he wanted to give her a thorough examination so I called on Marc to help me catch her.
Mr. Hope and his daughter (Who is a vet nurse in training) looked her over and much to mine and everyone’s relief declared that she is relatively healthy considering and that he believes that she is due any day now, which is really exiting!
12:40 PM –
Nothing much to report, I have cleaned and prepared a stall for Bouvardia as she can’t stay in the round pen forever and have drawn up her care plans and meal plans.
6:00 PM –
Bouvardia slowed down a little this evening and so we moved her into the stall I prepared earlier, I am not going to disturb her now until tomorrow so that she settles in.
Ash signing out
Saturday 11th March 2017 –
So when I opened the Bouvardia’s stall this morning I found her nursing a foal! I know that the vet said she could go any day now but I didn’t think it would be this soon. I found Marc and Serris and told them of my find and to my delight said that I get to name her, how exiting is that?
Anyways, I fed Bouvardia this morning and to my amazement found that she actually ate some, it was just less than half but that’s good enough for me. To see her eat after two days of refusal just makes me so happy!
This is a cheerful Ashlynn signing out!
Sunday 12th March 2017 –
Sooooo after thinking about it literally all night (it’s a big decision to make) I have finally come up with a name for Bouvardia’s Foal. Being the nerd I am I have decided to name her Seiko, and when she gets registered her show name is “Hang On To Happiness”. I decided on this name as even through Bouvardia’s ordeal something happy came out of it and hopefully the both of them will see a happy ending! (It may also relate to the character she is named after…but let’s not go into that!)
- Ashh out!
Monday 13th March 2017 –
I spent some time with Bouvardia today, I think she has mellowed a bit around her foal. Seiko is just a bundle of energy, all she wants is attention. The contrast in mother and daughter is startling but I think Seiko will do great things for Bouvardia.
Seiko eats like…a horse and Bouvardia has slowly began eating more.
She doesn’t have much room in the stall and I can tell it is getting to her now she has her bearings again so will talk to the boss tomorrow about moving the pair into a field.
- Ashlynn
Tuesday 14th March 2017 –
It has been agreed that Seiko and Bouvardia are to be moved into a field together, over time we will introduce some other mustangs to them and hopefully they will take to other horses.
I have noticed today that Bouvardia didn’t hesitate nearly as much as usual when I offered her a treat over the door of the stall, this is some great progress and I have the feeling it is all down to her overly friendly foal!
- Ashlynn
by chemical. » Sat Mar 11, 2017 1:54 pm 
