And into the woods I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. ~John Muir
Nature is a great equalizer – It keeps me grounded. This week I’ve been having control challenges with my horses. I left for the weekend and told the woman who was here caring for them that the mares could stay out in the pasture while I was gone. I have normally gotten them in for an evening feeding, kept them in overnight, fed them in the morning, and let them out again. Sometimes I would let them stay out all night if they weren’t cooperating. When that happened, they were usually up in the corrals ready for their morning feeding. That’s not the case anymore.
I also have Ace and Patty who I keep up at night. During the day I put them out to graze with the mares and it has become increasingly more difficult to catch them so I can bring them in. Why bother you ask? I watched as Ace caught his foot in the mud and concrete around the waterer, I haven’t seen him get close to it since and the first thing he does when I put him in is get a drink.
This happened while putting horses in last night. That’s how muddy the corral is where the waterer is running over.
Patty is a stocky little mare and I worry that being on grass all the time will make her sick. She had an episode a few weeks ago where her respirations and heart rate were elevated, not a good sign in horses. After a dose of banamine she seemed better. She was off her feed for a few days. I think she may have had an allergic reaction to something in the pasture that day. Or she may have overheated it was very humid that day. They weren’t out in the big pasture until she was eating normally.
The last few days when I go out to catch them, they have been behaving like toddlers. Ace will stop and not want to go any further because I’m taking him away from the herd. Last night I got them both thinking it would stop this – it didn’t. Although it did make it easier to get him moving again when Patty would move with me. Patty had turned her butt to me and hopped like she was going to kick at me when I tried to get the lead rope around her neck. Then she nipped at me twice while we were coming in.
When these things happen, I think about what I’m doing that’s not helping. Probably the wrong thing to do as I need to be in the moment with them. Sometimes I revert to that little girl who was told that you must make the horses do what you want.
I’ve also been bargaining with the mares. If you’ll help me catch these two you can stay out all night. I’m disappointed that they don’t come in at least once a day to get their supplement with garlic in it to keep the insects away.
I need to revamp what I’m doing. When they feel my frustration and anxiety because I’m on a time frame, they don’t cooperate. I’m in my head, not in my heart and they respond to it. I tend to react. Bringing up those old behaviors that have grown since childhood. They show me when I’m doing this and teach me to do better.
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Onward!
