When we were just starting to acquire our Gypsy Vanner herd, we purchased Twilight's Royal Midnight Reign, "Reign," from a seller in California and BH Silver Lace, "Lacey," from a seller in New Mexico. We arranged for them to share a trailer ride to our farm in Tennessee. That trailer ride here solidified one of the most beautiful horse friendships on our farm.

    From the time these two stepped off the trailer together, when not separated in different pastures, they were generally found lockstep with one another. They wander together, they meet other horses together, they eat together (often from the same feeder), they play together, they drink together, they share their fears together, and they even shared birthing pangs (will post the video in comments) and foaling week together (in adjacent stalls).

    Lacey is very much what we consider to be our blonde bombshell horse in temperament and mannerisms. She's a prima donna that will stand for hours without a lead line as long as you are grooming her. She is sometimes goofy and silly. She was a huge surprise to us growth-wise, though. She arrived a bit over 14hh, but she's on her way to being 14.3hh by the time she's 6 years old.

    Reign is our big black tank. Standing at 15.1hh, she's the bulldozer at the edge of the fence pushing all of the other horses away so that she can hog the human attention. She's also a very caring and nurturing horse for young horses and has stood in as our "weaning nanny" for a lot of young horses.

    Both of these extra large sized gals are very low on the dominance hierarchy out in the paddocks. They are always last and second to last in dominance, but they are a team. When in uncertain or frightening situations, the larger of the two, Reign, always uses the more slightly curious Lacey as a shield between herself and what Reign perceives as "the danger." Lacey doesn't seem to mind.

We've had a real "time of it" deciding to let these two gals go. It's been over a year now that we've gone back and forth and back and forth and back and forth with deciding that we need to focus on horses of shorter stature and what that meant for the future of these two on our farm. This Friday, Lacey will be returning to her birth state with Reign by her side. It is with some tears of joy that we've found new owners that will absolutely cherish and care for these two together in the next chapter of their lives together. We already miss them, and they haven't yet stepped onto that trailer.

    That is the reason for posting this early. It is also a farewell to two (large) pieces of our hearts.

    Farewell, Reign and Lacey, and congratulations to their new owners! We're sure you will fall just in love with them as we have.