The animals and I have arrived at our forever sanctuary in Sheep Ranch, California! And it is truly wonderful.
The flock and herd at their new home
As it turned out, I drove the truck pulling the horse trailer with all the animals in it to get us here. (Thanks to Kimberly Carlisle of the Flag Foundation for lending the rig and to Mary Marohn and Lewis Griggs for helping persuade Ulysses to join us!) This was after a longer loading process than I had anticipated. Ulysses (still a young donkey) absolutely refused to get in, even when all the others were standing in there looking out at him. I had given him over a month to get used to the trailer, but no…Chloe thought he had the right idea, however, and kept coming out of the trailer to join him. Eventually, we had to resort to pushing and pulling. When he finally put his feet on the floor mats of the trailer, he lay down, seemingly overwhelmed by the whole experience. He soon stood up and joined the others though. The trip took 5 hours at trailer speed. I stopped and checked on the animals a few times on the way, and they were standing calmly side-by-side. Seeing them like that, instead of sweating and wide-eyed in anxiety, as they had been at the start, reassured me and I began to relax too. I definitely had to cowgirl-up to do this drive. I did it!
When I had gotten the trailer into position, backed up to one of the pasture gates at the new place (no easy feat), I could hardly wait to open the back door and let the animals out to see their new home. This was the moment I had looked forward to the whole drive, and long before that. When I pulled open the heavy trailer door, I was horrified to see Chloe down. Even as I rushed to her aid, I noticed how the other animals were standing respectfully back to keep from stepping on her. Worried this elder sheep had collapsed from exhaustion, heart attack, or some other malady, I soon discovered that it was simply that she couldn’t get her footing on the slippery floor to get back up again (a reminder to use wood shavings when trailering). I helped her up and out of the trailer. The other animals followed, save Ulysses who again hesitated at the transition required. It comes to me now that he doesn’t completely trust his footing because he was born with weak back feet. As always, the animals have their reasons. After his brief hesitation, Ulysses leapt out, joined the others, and we were all home!
Taking a walk
I fed and watered them immediately. They ate and drank and then took a walk. Traveling in a loose line, they all went together to investigate their territory. They walked slowly through the series of pastures that run in a U shape around my house, taking it all in. When they got to the woods, they turned around and came back to where I’d placed their feeder under a big oak tree next to the barn. That was enough investigation for the day. They stayed close to the barn for the rest of the evening—home base already.
When I looked out a little later, Chloe was lying at the base of twin oaks on the other side of the barn from the feeder. With head up, she was serenely regarding the world around her. Since then, she is often to be found lying in that same spot. I think of it already as Chloe’s tree. It made me happy that she found her peaceful place at our new home so quickly.
Chloe's tree
My circle calls this place the House the Goddess Built. And it truly is. More and many thanks to everyone who helped us get here.
Pegasus in the barn
