Thanks for all your kind words and offers of help and since I'm here I'll give you an update. Ariel has settled in nicely and I've already had first contact with her. She is very attentive of everything around her and has become friendly with my 2 year old QH Mule. She is curious about everything and as long as you move slowly she is ok. Have been using a carrot stick with the mules and just letting her come up to investigate and touch on her own... can't really run her around the paddock as the ice pack is slippery but letting her come to me while I work with the mules is working out nicely. Hoping to get a halter on her soon.


Unfortunately Zephyr, the darker mare, arrived with some serious injuries on her front and back legs on the left side. The vet has been out and we have her on antibiotics but it is going to take some time for these wounds to heal. Don't know yet if she'll be able to compete but I'm still hoping that she will. She has been pretty good about the whole thing but unlike Ariel she has been harder to make contact with and is very nervous about having any contact with people, understandable considering the severity of the wounds.

I must admit that first moment of voluntary contact is exhilarating.