Makeover 2024 Phase 1

Viola added the final handful of hay into the hay net and dusted off her hands. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, prompting her to check it. A message from Mei popped up. 

‘They’re headed your way.’ 

The estate manager had been keeping an eye out for the stable's latest arrival. Viola had agreed to help out one of the local rescues. A loshenka had come in who they couldn't care for and they had partnered with Sagebrush Sanctuary for it to be part of the loshenka makeover. Lavender Locket Estates had space and Viola wasn't terribly busy at that time, so it seemed like a good idea. Now that the horse would be arriving soon, she could feel the pit of butterflies stir her stomach up into a roaring ocean versus the simmer it had been on for the last week or so. 

Slipping her phone back into her pocket, Viola called to her Wiltshire Spaniel. “Jocasta, come. We'd better get out there to meet our new guest.” 

The white dog stood with a shake and trotted over to her side. She reached out to pat the dog's head before leaving the stable. 

Down the road, a four-wheel drive with a trailer drove towards her. She waved in greeting and they pulled alongside her. “Where do you want us?” 

“If you could just back it up near the stable that would be great,” she gestured towards the old stone building. Jocasta stayed by her side, the dog knowing to stay well out of the way of cars. 

The driver nodded and manoeuvred the vehicle into place. He quickly hopped out and lowered the ramp for the trailer, revealing her first look at the rescue loshenka. He was a red roan sabino and as he stepped off the ram and into the sunlight she immediately noticed his overgrown hooves. She could see that he was uncomfortable even in the few steps he took. But she had hope that they would be able to help him, having already called in the farrier and the vet as soon as the rescue had sent through his information. The farrier would be there in the next two days and the new vet sometime around then too. 

Jocasta stepped a little closer, curious about the new horse. He didn’t seem to be startled by the dog, more interested in scoping out his new surroundings. That brought Viola some relief. First that he was alert enough to be interested in where he was and second that because many of the estate’s employees and students had dogs she wouldn’t have to make sure that they kept them away from the rescue loshenka. She didn’t want to have to ban them from the stable or worry about one getting too close while he was in the field. 

“Where do you want him?” the driver asked. 

Viola shook herself out of her thoughts and put on a sad smile. “I’ll take him. Thank you for bringing him.” 

He nodded and handed over the lead rope. With a brief goodbye he hopped back into the vehicle and drove off. 

Turning her attention to the estate’s newest member, Viola smiled. “Hey, boy.” She reached over to scratch his neck and his ears flicked towards her. “I hope you’ll like it here. We’ll make sure that from now on you’ll always be taken care of.” 

Jocasta yipped as if in agreement and the rescue regarded her curiously. 

“Come on,” Viola clucked her tongue. “We’ve got a nice stall prepared for you. One with soft bedding and good hay.” 

He followed her easily and her heart broke that someone hadn’t bothered to care for the sweet boy the way he deserved. She would make sure that he never suffered under such neglect again.