Allegro comes home

I picked up Allegro yesterday finally. I was supposed to drive out Monday, but we had a huge snowstorm on Sunday and there was no way I was going to get the truck or trailer out of the snow on Monday, so had to wait until hubby plowed the driveway. So yesterday morning I go out to start up the truck and hook it up to the trailer and ... nothing. Dead. Kev left the lights on. Crap. I'm starting to wonder if the Fates are conspiring against me!

Anyway, a couple hours later, I managed to convince my father-in-law to come boost the truck so I can get on the road (he's the best!). I was starting to feel rushed as I had to get there, pick him up, and get back before the kids got home (3 hour round trip, plus loading time). I drove out of the yard at 10:30 and my kids get off the bus at 2:55. But everything worked out... I was home by 2:15, thankfully. Allegro walked right into the trailer without hesitation. What a guy!

He's 10 months old (born May 17 last year) and he hadn't been handled at all until about a month ago, and never without first being pushed into a chute to be haltered. Once haltered, he was pretty well behaved, but not overly willing. Anyway, once I got him home, I turned him loose with Sherlock and Morris (a big gentle TB boarding with us who has taken it upon himself to be Sherlock's guardian). Morris, however, was not as accommodating with Allegro and the poor guy was chased away. So I let Morris out with the other horses and left Sherlock and Allegro together to get acquainted. They soon became joined at the hip and within a couple hours were getting quite playful.

I went out to the paddock to see if Allegro would let me approach. Nope. He stayed away, but eventually got curious while I played with Sherlock. He came up behind me to sniff me, but would dart away if I turned. So I got a bucket of grain and both he and Sherlock stuck their noses in it and followed me as I backed away holding the bucket. So I left them alone while they ate the grain and took a few pictures. At one point Allegro stuck his nose right in the camera. I didn't try to pet him, but just let him sniff to his heart's content as I'm thinking his curiousity and confidence will allow me to touch him in no time.

Today I walked into the round pen with all my brushes and carrot stick & string. Sherlock followed, so Allegro did as well. I started brushing Sherlock all over (he was in heaven), then approached Allegro. He trotted away, so I pushed him a bit until he faced me, and I backed off (catching game). He came toward me and I let him sniff the brush, then scratched his nose. And that was pretty much the extent of the catching game. I worked from his nose to his cheek to his neck and in no time I was grooming him all over. The only problem was that every time I tried to brush Allegro, Sherlock would try to get between us and park himself in front of the brush! Too funny!

In an hour I was able to groom Allegro all over his body including his legs. And he let me pick up all 4 feet (lift them, but not hold them yet). All without a halter. A pretty good day! I didn't think it would take long, but this still went way better than I thought. I even rubbed him all over with the carrot stick and swung the savvy string over him a few times. No problem.

Sherlock is Mr. Curious as well. He was playing quite a bit with one of the barrels in the round pen and even managed to peel a sticker off the side, making a loud tearing sound as he did, which startled neither him nor Allegro. I think I've got a couple of LBE's!