Laughter in Difficulties

The farrier returned today to finish up Truman and O Man’s feet today. He’s always a good reminder to me of who needs more work on ground manners or handling their feet, since they seem to play along better with me than others for whatever reason. I suppose because I am their ‘mom’. So, as O Man was jumping about and in general making difficult work of trimming, we both started to chuckle and make jokes.

It lets me know that it is okay to not always be perfect, or have flawless horses. There are times when my horses will not behave 100% as I would like, and that is okay. I would my prefer a horse who responds out of his own feelings, than a horse who completely shuts himself out of the world and what is going on.

I also began to think about the distinct difference that the horses I’ve bred have in regards to their own breed. Being curlies, they do not possess the exact same freeze in place response that many curlies have, which I actually find to be a blessing. While this freeze in place reaction has been praised and promoted heavily in the breed, I find that it is more trouble in the long run. For those familiar with the breed, and how to work with this response, it may benefit them. For others who are unaccustomed to this response and then proceed to increase their force on the horse, they will find a rude awakening when that same frozen in place horse suddenly explodes.

Thinking about it in the way of a faucet, letting a little of the water run slowly, or letting it suddenly escape in a large burst. Which one is easier to stay dry in? Makes me appreciate the cross-breeding I chose to do when breeding, in hopes that it provided my babies a little more “water drip” than explosion..