Osteopath Yannic

Today Yannic, who is a vet and osteopat came to have a look at Whoopi. I must say that I am AMAZED how flexible Whoopi is. She was a bit stiff here and there but the way she can bent her legs waw. She is half a ballerina ! Whoopi loved the stretching on her front legs so that is a little excercise that Yannic told me how to do so I can do that myself. Her back was a bit stiff and she is more stiff on her right side then on her left side - same as I am :-)
Yannic told me that she could see that Whoopi was treated before by an osteopath -thanks to Herr Rittman. Whoopi has a very good condition for her age.
Meanwhile the snow keeps on falling and there is not much what we can do. Even the horses get annoyed by it and think it is funny to fool around with the people when it is time to feed them as I could experience yesterday myself. I got pushed around a bit by a few clowns with 4 legs...

For now Whoopi and I wish you all a merry X-mas !

Pictures of Whoopi and myself.

Find the similarities between Whoopi and me !

Snow, snow, snow and more snow !

Hiking in the new environment

Today I took Whoopi for a walk to show her the new environment. Pien, the owner of the stable and Evy were taking 2 foals for a walk (Allegria and Layla). I took the opportunity to join them with Whoopi. We walked for an hour approximately and things went very well. No hassle, no problems besides ME tripping over a pile of wood. I went flat on my belly and Whoopi looked at me as if to say "What are you doing ??? Are you coming cos I am waiting for you..." She stood 5 metres in front of me, waiting for me whilst I was trying to get back on my feet !

Below pictures of Whoopi in one of the sheds where she can seek shelter.

And today I also like to introduce to you Kayuga, the white shepperd of Spirithorses who is in charge of "Security". Kayuga defends her terrain fiercely. No other dogs allowed is her motto !!! Its her place and all of the horses belong to her :-). Sometimes she just sits next to Whoopi and there seems to be a conversation going on between them but I have no clue what they are talking about...probably the security rules ;-) as Whoopi went already once through a fence...!

Winter Wonderland !

The pictures speak for themselves I think. I was quite worried about her cos last night it was -6°C and by Friday night temperatures will drop to about -10°C but she seems to be doing fine and the rug she has keeps her warm with temperatures to -20°C and up to -23°C even. Let's hope it won't get that cold - bbbrrrr...

Hay, hay, hay and more hay to stay warm. She can eat hay now as much as she likes to keep her internal heating burning to stay warm in these temperatures. This is a new experience for Whoopi, it's like these restaurants - eat all you can for 5 euro's...;-)

Whoopi (with blue rug), Olivia in the middle (she is the boss !) and the huge Friesian mix Ciara (who is 6 and is the wana-be-boss). For the time being Whoopi is not impressed she has more the let's wait-and-see attitude.

Whoopi can really take a pose when I take pictures, she likes it when I take pictures of her !!!

And finally our door mat with snow yesterday...

Whoopi LOVES foals !

Layla is the Andalusiar foal of my riding instructor Evy. Whoopi adores the foal, they stood nose to nose for a moment and then Layla had to go back to her group.

I could see Whoopi think when she was standing there; how can I get to Layla.

Whoopi gets very disturbed and she whinnies as if to say please don't go, I want you to stay with me !!!

Rolling in the sand - 23rd of November

After having met Dafner I let Whoopi run around a bit on the riding place so she can sniff around a bit and she takes the opportunity to roll over and over again in the sand. Sorry Julia, she is not clean anymore...she becomes more and more a horse that lives outside with a bit of dirt here and there.

Tuesday 23rd of November : Meeting Dafner

Dafner is a 9 year old Welsh Cob mare, Whoopi seems to like her. Dafner arrived 2 weeks ago. The group in which Whoopi will be living in is rather new. Amie has been there for several years but Moira only arrived about a year ago as did Amber and Quiberon. Olivia arrived on the 1st of October, Ciara a few weeks after Olivia. Most of these horses have the same background and lived untill shortly in a stable on their own.

My new neighbours...

My new neighbor scares the hell out of me. What is that weird black thing that has 4 paws and makes that awfull sound - IAA IAA IAA IAA. It has huge ears, I do not understand why it has such strange ears and what IT uses these for. Everytime IT makes that noise I jump around on my four feet. IT scares me !!!

And what are the things with the horns ??? Mèèè Mèèè Mèèè

I have never ever seen such strange things in my whole life !!! And I will NOT go, I repeat NOT go anywhere near them not even for a carot, they look like aliens !!!

On Monday morning Whoopi's trauma bout the weird things is over, she stand nose to nose with the mule; we are making progress !

Arrival at Spirithorses

She came of the truck and was clearly surprised that she was somewhere else. During the trip she was very calm, we just heard her whinny several times as if she was calling on her old friends to see where they were.




Have a look at the website of Whoopi's new home : http://www.spirithorses.be/

Saying goodbye to Whoopi

Saying goodbye to her friends !

Verena (next to me) made sure Whoopi could go to a new nice home and would not be sold to a dealer again. Thank you so much Verena ! Without you I would never have met Whoopi. Whoopi's add landed in my mailbox on the 20th of October 2010.

Sunday, 21 November 2010

D-Day !!! At 7.30h (on a Sunday morning!!!) we are at the riding stable. We prepare everything for a smooth loading operation :-)

Julia will lead Whoopi into the truck and what a miracle, Julia and Whoopi walk into the truck as if they did this every day ! Within 5 seconds Whoopi stands on the truck and we can start preparing our journey back home with her but first we have to say goodbye to all her friends in Höxter.

Whoopi in Höxter

On saturday evening we pay Whoopi a visit, for the last time she will be in her stable. As of tomorrow she will be living outside in an open stable where she can choose to go in and out as she likes.

Getting ready to get Whoopi

Saturday 20 November we are getting ready to drive to Höxter to bring Whoopy on Sunday to Spirithorses. I am very excited and happy I will see her back in a few hours.

Whoopi's new life in Belgium

Let me introduce you to my horse Whoopi. Whoopi is an 18 year old Hanovarian mare who has worked for the Höxter riding stable for the last 5 years. Working became a little bit too much for her and it was decided that she could retire. From a TTeam-practitioner in Training I became her add. Whoopi was to be handed over through a german animal welfare group : http://www.pferde-und-esel-in-not.de/

They would decide which home would be best for her to go to. Myself I love animals and always wanted to have my own horse but it is difficult to decide on what you want because there are thousands of horses out there. So I decided to draw up a wishlist with what I wanted the horse to be and leave it up to the universe to bring me the right horse. And there she was a few days later. A friendly, lovely horse who also watches out for me when I am not paying attention, which sometimes happens...:-)

I visited Whoopi for the first time on the 30th of October. I had some doubts, it was all so overwhelming that I did not know what to think. Whoopi on the other hand seemed convinced that we would be a good team. She followed me through the paddock and didn't leave my side although I was walking away from the people she was familiar with.

Julia was Whoopi's best friend in Höxter. She was always taking care of Whoopi, taking her for a ride or cleaning her. Julia was very sad to see Whoopi leave. Whoopi and I hope that Julia will visit us very soon.