Panama's big day

Panama moved to his new home today. Overall, he handled it well: He was nervous at first, but by the time he'd been there a few hours, he acted almost as though he'd always been there.

My trainer arrived at the stables early this morning, thinking she would have a hard time turning the truck and trailer around in the drive. As it turned out, she didn't at all, and we were able to get Panama loaded up much earlier than we had expected.

We arrived at the new place at about 10 o'clock this morning, and I didn't leave until 3 this afternoon. I watched Panama progress from being really nervous about the place, to settling in and making friends with the other horses. I was worried originally about turning him out with the other horses too soon, but after a little while I realized he seemed to want to go out into the pasture with them.

The cutest thing was how Panama was so aware of where I was... or wasn't. At first, we had him turned out with a flake of hay to snack on. He was pretty focused on eating, but if I walked away from the fence to go inside the barn or to my car, he'd come to the fence and start looking for me. He clearly felt more secure when I was nearby.

As he started becoming more comfortable in his new surroundings, he also became much more vocal about wanting me close. Even when he was in the pasture with the other horses, if I disappeared for too long he'd start whinnying for me. I know his voice and can easily pick it out from the other horses, just as he no doubt knows mine. It makes me giddy knowing we have that connection.

Anyway, the day was a complete success. Panama already seems happier in the new place than he was at the old stables — it was a joy to see him running and bucking across the big pasture, socializing with the other horses, and checking out the various nooks and crannies of the new place.