Welcome to Bluebonnet Carriage Company

Dear Daddies,
Downtown Summer Camp is fun! I am housed between King and Seymour so I feel really safe. I am doing well in my own stall – except like everyone else I think its fun to play in my water. I also have a habit of charging the door to my cell but Mrs. Bess has learned to tie me to the front panel before opening my gate so I have to wait for permission to come out of the door. I am learning this pretty easily. I wasn’t really sure about eating out of the funny purple buckets they are using but once someone tossed a carrot in it I figured out it was food and ate all my dinner and hay. I got a oat and apple treat for being good and not challenging the person feeding me.

Yesterday Mr. Spike also took me out and tied me to the wash rack with Mac. It was a little scary at first until I saw Mac get his bath then I got really curious. I also watched Mac get his hooves cleaned. then it was my turn! Mr. Spike first let the water run over my feet and when I was okay with that he attached the soap brush and scrubbed me down from head to toe! I was wiggling around it felt so good! Then Mr. Spike cleaned my hooves too and I was a good girl and stood (mostly) still for him for all 4 feet to get washed and gently picked.
While everyone was getting their carriages and horses ready after my bath, Mrs. Bess made me stand and watch. I got a little scared when one of the shafts fell down and made a booming sound but I didn’t run or buck. When Mrs. Bess jiggled my halter/lead rope to back up when I got spooked it took me a few minutes but I did it! I got a cookie for being a good girl and responding to calm voices telling me it was okay.

When everyone got back in the evening, I had been good and didn’t tear up my stall so once all the carriages and horses were put away Mrs. Bess pulled me out and we began working on walking and stopping. Within 30 minutes I had learned “Phoebe hoe” meant for me to stop, and “Phoebe walk” means for me to walk. Mrs. Bess also got me to “step” to the side a few times before I got bored and tried to run her over! unfortunately I learned my punishment for trying to run people over is to walk in big circles over and over again until I respond to my human. Then Mrs. Bess tied me to the hitching post and I worked on standing still for 30 minutes. Then we did our walking and stopping training again and I remember it all!
All in all Daddies my first day downtown was pretty eventful and I learned a lot. Will write again soon with more updates!
Love, Phoebe