Well today we took out young horse for a walk in the park, we went along with two other horses and thought that Sunday was a perfect day for an outing. Usually we don't go on the road but today we thought - nice day - not much traffic! - well a dog barked horses shied - saw sheep who looked like monsters! get the picture. We arrived at the park a little spooked but other wise still happy! Went for a trot then planted the brakes - grew VERY tall (neck like a telescope) KANGAROOS!!!!! Had a look then decided they were OK! Went for another trot up a hill through some grass then planted the brakes - oh my god a LOG! Grew very VERY tall again - had a look then decided to trot very nicely - hocks under body neck nicely arched - tail swinging - Well the rest of the ride was a dream. Arn't horses funny! Well mine made my day.
Mine "make my day", too. Every day.
Just being with them, watching them - how they interact, riding them. Everything.
I introduced a new family member (a small pony) to the "gang" a few days ago. The pony ("Munshkin") has already lived here for a few months - so the others got used to seeing her. While the others were out in the paddock, Munshkin was grazing around the house. I didn't want her being hurt by Nahnoo - who is the alfa mare - and very cranky and jealous when it comes to "new faces"....
Anyway, Munshkin looked a little lonely lately so I thought I give it a try and let her go in with the others. I watched them and this is what happend:
All four of them came galopping up to us. Munshkin stood there like a statue. Nahnoo sniffed on both ends, walked away, Spacky-Luck (gelding with stallion ideas) was next, sniffing - got excited, walked away, next one (Q.T. Brown, 16hh), sniff, walked away and finally the "grand-pa" George. Sniff. o.k.
Then they all walked away grazing.
Later I watched Spacky-Luck "molesting" little Munshkin, who he followed around - permanently attached nose on tail.... (now you must imagine the difference in size - they are both palominos and almost look the same - one small (shetland-size) and one 15hh...
Every time she had enough of this disturbing "attachment", she trotted away, until Q.T. Brown decided "to do something":
So, every time Spacky-Luck attempted to come close to little Munshkin, Q.T. Brown walked between him and the pony, as if she wanted to protect her.
"Romeo" gave up in the end.
Nahnoo, the paddock boss and Grand-pa George watched it all like spectators. It was so funny! I love these guys!
Young horses are just wonderful aren't they? I have a three and half year old WB who is being started under saddle at the moment. We are taking it nice and slow and introducing her to new things very gently.
She works like a dream in the roundyard and arena, and as a precursor to taking her out for a short trail ride with an experienced horse, thought we would plod around the paddocks for a little while.
As soon as she got into the paddock her little body started trembling all over. A friend was riding her and I was walking next to her. She was following me quite happily around and walking past the spooky things - log piles (where we had chopped up a fallen tree), bits of fallen tree etc. After her first walk past and around these "spooks" her confidence grew in leaps and bounds and she was strutting around like she had been doing this all her life.
She is an absolute joy to work with - she almost brings a tear to my eye!