We picked up Cash today, Sunday March 17th, St. Patrick’s day.

We drove out to Escalon, hoping by a miracle it wouldn’t be too hot out. Jordan worked with the owner’s daughter’s boyfriend to double check the wheel bearings on the trailer (which we just replaced 2 weeks prior) as it was only the second time we had used the trailer.  When we arrived, Cash would not stand still long enough for myself, Jordan, Brandi (the owner’s daughter), or her boyfriend to quickly stick a halter on him. I had to halter and lead the mare in his pasture away with treats so Brandi and the boyfriend could get Cash haltered. After that, he didn’t want to walk out of the pasture, it took a solid 20 minutes of coaxing to get him to move past the gate/entrance, into the street, and eventually into the driveway towards the trailer. Once he and the mare were apart they both couldn’t stop pacing and whinnying. It took us 4 close to 2 and a half hours of trying anything and everything to try and get Cash into the trailer, from treats to alfalfa, to pushing and pulling, to a butt strap, and even a twitch with no avail. Finally the Mexican cattle ranchers from next door came over, linked arms, and were able to get him into the trailer in about 5 minutes. I was shocked!

Amazingly we were able to dive home with only one stop (to check on him), and he was happy just munching away on alfalfa and COB – I thought he would make much more of a ruckus. When we pulled into the stables, Atlantis must have smelled “boy” in the air and started running around whinnying. At first Cash was too afraid to back out of the trailer, but then he finally did and walked around on a lead a little nervously. Then for the next 2 hours Jordan and I proceeded to try and get Cash into one of the stalls, with Cash refusing by rearing up. Luckily no one was injured, he just used it as his defense mechanism. Later that night, a little past midnight we trucked back up to the stables from our warm comfy beds to catch Cash – he had kicked open the stall and was running around with the other 3 horses, occasionally trying to mount one of the mares or kick out at Atlantis. We did all of the wrangling via headlamp. Jordan was finally able to catch Cash and get him into the upper arena with the gate closed and then closed the gate leading to the hill that leads to the upper arena, just in case.