One of the things that attracted us to the property were the “lawn ornaments” as Innkeeper Brian jokingly called the resident horses. The land orca – Shadowfax - a giant draft who sometimes is mistaken for a Holstein out in the field; Cheyanne, the camera-shy mare; Moses, the spunky Morgan often seen carousing with small and fearless Donkey; and the Thoroughbred, Coyote, with a sheepish expression on his handsome face.
Since purchasing the property, the Chamberlains enjoy a great relationship with Christina, the barn manager. Christina owns and cares for her own horses as well as four to five boarders at a time. She also provides weekly lessons and runs summer horse camps. Her dedication to caring for these majestic animals twice a day every day is commendable, especially as she works a full-time job. This past summer Christina was able to erect a barn on her own property across the river, so on August 31, 2024, most of the horses moved to their new home. Two boarders, Taz the Appaloosa, and Shannon, the ruling Quarter Horse mare, remained here at the Oxbow. This was their home prior to Christina’s management, and their owners asked if they could stay. Although this commitment added to their innkeeper duties, caring for critters is something Brian and Maria both love to do! It has made for a very busy fall. All this time, Christina occupied the lower level of the barn, but now that it was emptied of her tack and equipment, Brian could take a good assessment of what needed repair and reconfiguration. He immediately went to work constructing a run-in for the horses and opened up stalls to create hay storage. Plenty of hay was procured for the winter, although with this warm autumn, there is still good grazing available. Brian claimed the washroom for his tools since Maria had slowly invaded upon storage space in the garage Lastly, he completed his summer goal to support some of the beams and replace posts protecting the integrity of the aged structure.
All this work for two horses? Well, there’s also the sweet horse, Finn, who came to the Inn at Oxbow Acres in June of 2023.
With the other horses off the property, Finn, Taz, and Shannon have bonded, and the three amigos are quite happy together. That is especially good for old Taz. In the larger herd, Taz was pretty much “the outcast,” but in this tight-knit group, he has found companionship.
It’s funny to watch – Shannon is the bossy mare who puts the boys in their place, and they dutifully obey her, but there’s times when it seems they are whispering their annoyance behind her back! Yet Shannon and Finn share one thing together – FEAR. Horses are naturally “flight animals.” They consider themselves prey, hence they travel in herds and run from danger. What is there for them to fear???
Since the barn and fields are no longer leased, Brian and Maria can now fully create their own little farm, which was their original desire. However, they soon realized that they missed Christina’s donkey. Donkeys are like watchdogs. They protect the herd by alerting the farmyard of danger. Rather than flee, they fight. With the many packs of coyotes and bears around, the Chamberlains missed having this security alarm for their animals. In mid-September, Maria decided to browse listings to see if there were any donkeys for sale. A pair on Craigslist caught her eye – two white donkeys! The listing was a few months old, but she sent an inquiry along with gallery pictures from the inn website. About two weeks later, the owner called to say that they were still available. Not only are they white donkeys, but they are also wedding donkeys – from an event venue! The sweet pair have been used in photos, as ring bearers, and as farm attractions. The owner had recently undergone cancer treatment and wanted to ensure they went to a good home before winter. After seeing the inn website, she felt that Oxbow Acres would be a perfect fit! Joy and Charlie are mother and son, and they are the sweetest little pair. They happily graze in the front pasture and sleep in the shed that was erected last winter.
But Finn and Shannon…were TERRIFIED! Although three times the size and three times the weight, they acted like they had seen Scrooge’s ghosts! (They ARE white after all!)
For days they kept a six-acre distance whinnying in fear, ears back, and Finn snorting nervously. These two horses are VERY food motivated, but no amount of treats or convincing would entice them to come closer. Mind you, the donkeys are in a separate pasture and eighty feet from the barn. Charlie and Joy were nonplussed. They quickly adjusted to their new surroundings, were quiet and affectionate, and gave no cause for alarm. But in the horses’ minds, it was like an elephant around a mouse, even though they had been around Christina’s donkey with no issue. They refused to come into the barn – even to eat! Old wise “bottom-of-the-totem-pole” Taz was completely unaffected, and even seemed mildly curious, so Brian put him in the adjoining pasture. Immediately he greeted the newcomers and made friends. When he rejoined the horses, they had a newfound respect for the old man! Again, it seemed as though there was farmyard whispering. “Taz is okay - those strange things didn’t hurt him. HE’S not afraid! But they’re so weird. WHAT are they?”
After about a week, Evie, Shannon’s owner, and I started walking the donkeys near the horses’ pasture. Eventually, Finn and Shannon started approaching the fence line - apprehensive but slowly accepting. Fortunately, they are now over their original terror and becoming friends.
Oh – and speaking of new friends, the Chamberlains picked up two new little barn kittens the same day the donkeys arrived! Misty and Meshach are from different litters, but they instantly connected with each other and the innkeepers! The adult cats Moses and Nova, do a great job keeping the rodents at bay, but with all these extra hay bales in the barn, reinforcements are needed! The two kittens won’t be on outside prowl patrol until springtime, but they are so snuggly that they will serve as great footwarmers this winter!
The Inn at Oxbow Acres is definitely a farm stay. Maria is thankful to have this beautiful acreage to live out her childhood dreams. Farming is in Brian’s blood, and although he spent most of his working years with aircraft, it’s evident that he is in his element. He loves working on outdoor projects, talking to the animals, and telling stories about their antics. Fluffy Echo the dog, cats, chickens, and various equines are not merely lawn ornaments, they are part of the family. One may never see pink flamingos in the yard, but there will likely always be a donkey or two to draw attention!