Meet Gabe: A seven-year-old polish Arabian gelding (as of three weeks).  We call him "Guapo" at the farm.  It seemed a better option than "Stud Buns" as people were starting to use due to his self-confident air and love for the ladies.  "Guapo" means "good looking" or "gorgeous" in Spanish, but in a way that also means "stud muffin" to the thirteen-year-old girls that are most often heard giggling the word.  Perfect.  It has stuck. 

Guapo came to Broadfield Stables a week ago thanks to the generous acceptance of Susanna and Alan Kane, the stable owners.  Another person that must be recognized is Sharon, the unofficial barn manager who lives in an apartment just a few feet away from Guapo and has attended to his every need as he has adjusted to his new surroundings.  Another character in this act is Lainy, the golden child.  A six-month-old golden retriever who has fallen madly in love with Guapo.  She insists every afternoon that he sniff her down.  If he is bored with the request she will wiggle to position herself back in his path and he obliges.  She is often found sleeping in his stall and keeping him company.  What do a pampered golden retriever puppy that has never wanted for anything and a recovering Arabian have to talk about?  A question to which I would love to know the answer.

Gabe arrived on the farm without much pomp or circumstance.  A few of the mares in heat trumpeted his presence and paced in impatience.  After all, he had just been gelded a few weeks earlier and testosterone is still strong in the blood.  Something they could clearly smell.  Guapo took everything in and accepted the change.  Within a few hours we let him meet McTavish, an old rescue who had a similarly tough previous life, and a horse that is cherished on the farm for his ability to babysit the nervous new-comers.  They got along famously and were soon out together eating grass.  Guapo started being bossy, however, so we have given McTavish a break from his babysitting duties.  We are also giving Guapo some more time to work the intense hormones out of his system.  He is already calmly accepting pasture mates over the fence.  We are hoping to introduce him to his new buddies within a week or so.

In his few short days with us, Guapo has proven himself to be an absolute gentleman.  He was timid upon approach and untrusting at first, but within a day or two he has learned that humans mean scratching of the withers, brushings, fly removal, treats once in a while, and company.  The first day he was unapproachable in his large grassy field.  Now, he walks eagerly toward me when I enter his domain. 

He is quite possibly the smartest horse I have ever spent time with.  He is unafraid, but has a wonderful self-preservation caution about him.  He doesn't rush into anything and doesn't panic when he gets there.  Getting him in and out of the wash stall for a shower on a hot day has been his greatest challenge so far.  The dark, damp interior, the banging of the washing machine, the hose snaking overhead, the puddles on the ground, the white drain in the middle of an obscure floor, and a million other things and noises I don't perceive all tell him it maybe isn’t a place he should charge into.  He takes his time, refuses once and then agrees, but one step at a time.  Once he is there he has already decided it is safe, starts to chew in acceptance, and rests a hind leg until his spa date is over.

I look forward to hearing his story as he tells it through his reaction to training.  I wonder if he has been ridden or ever worked.  I wonder if he has ever had a bit in his mouth or been asked to complete tasks.  His wonderful ground manners could be a function of the great work of Days End and Paradise Farm, where he has spent the last year until his court case was resolved.  Or, it could be a sign that he is not new to the whole human thing.  Only time will unfold that side of his story.  For now, he is being given time to settle in to his new environment, meet new friends, and adjust to life of the plenty.