This summer was dedicated to (finally!) moving to our new home closer to Seattle and making tough decisions about how to downsize.  The horses were a no-brainer - they have all moved with us.  Along with the horses came a few goats and rabbits, and a small flock of chickens.  Hopefully in the Fall the many buckets of transplanted herb plants will find homes in the new landscape.

The horses made an easy transition to the new home.  To make it so, we hired someone who could move the herd together in a large van, which made it much less traumatic than being separated and hauled in pairs.  The babies continue to grow like weeds.  Frosty has been under saddle and continues to prove herself to be an exceptional young mare at just 4 years old.  She still proves herself to be a hot-blooded Spanish mare as well!  Marcos and Bella are both looking less like babies and more like young horses.  Late summer we noticed that Marcos already started to get his crested Spanish neck.  He is quite a handsome fellow.  Wolfie and Fiona have settled into their new routine.  Fi is a decidedly alpha mare while Wolfie is happily at the bottom of the social totem pole.  Johnny, now a senior, had a bit more difficulty with the change and we have made special senior accomodations...much to the chagrin of the other horses.   Johnny gets to be a "yard horse" for some grazing time and peaceful feedings for which he doesn't have to fight.

We are tinkering with stable management changes and changes to our new property to fit our horses' needs, some minor, some major.  I will post on those changes when final decisions are made.

Despite the moving chaos, we did get a chance to go see the USEA Area VII Eventing Championships in southwest WA at Caber Farms.  Congratulations to all competitors!

Hope your summer horse dreams came true...