| I am a horse addict and I collect horses. There's no | | | | Worthington's Herbs and Animals website). |
| doubt about it. There's also no doubt that my horses | | | | Nevertheless, the message was clear. Walker was |
| live up to their reputation as "hay burners" and eat | | | | saying, |
| through my budget like biblical locusts. | | | | "Hey, you keep thinking that I'm here for you, that I'm |
| Nevertheless, they are cheaper than shrinks and they | | | | supposed to serve you as your 'reward horse'! Not to |
| provide me more therapy than any licensed | | | | mention the fact that you keep thinking about selling |
| psychiatrist ever could. | | | | me. Well I have got news for you -- you are supposed |
| How's that for rationalization? | | | | to be here for me, too. You are supposed to help me, |
| Horse Therapy from Walker, My Hothouse Flower | | | | you know! We weren't brought together just so I could |
| I have a quarter horse gelding named Walker, whom I | | | | be your dream horse. You are supposed to be my |
| jokingly refer to as my "hothouse flower." Compared | | | | dream person, too!" |
| to the rest of my herd, mostly mustangs, Walker is just | | | | Wow! Now from a Shao Yin horse personality (read |
| a high-maintenance dude. | | | | more about horse personalities on the Horse Harmony |
| I'm a true believer in the barefoot approach, and | | | | website by Dr. Madalyn Ward), that's a strong |
| Walker's feet are as soft and ouchy as clay. He's | | | | statement. Mostly Shao Yin horses want to please |
| super-talented at reining, but the least little scratch and | | | | people, want to get along. Yowza! Now I'm going to |
| his whole body swells up like a balloon. Get the picture | | | | have to rethink the whole deal with Walker. |
| yet? | | | | I've always felt that my horses had to "earn their |
| So I've been wondering what to do with Walker. He | | | | keep," meaning they had to be good at their discipline |
| doesn't fit into my herd of "tough girls" (though he and | | | | and tough enough to stand up to a competitive show |
| Fezzywig, my other gelding, are now getting along well | | | | horse lifestyle. Be it penning, sorting, roping, jumping, or |
| in a pen by themselves) and I've been putting about | | | | trail riding, my horses are working horses. |
| feelers to people who might want to buy him. In the | | | | Walker's message was clear: he wants to work and |
| meantime, he gets supplements out the wazoo (my | | | | he wants to stay with me, at least for now. When a |
| special horse goo times two), bodywork almost daily, | | | | Shao Yin makes such a strong statement, I'm forced |
| and lots and lots of food. | | | | to slam on the brakes and think about this. My thought |
| I have been rather disappointed because I bought | | | | was that Walker wasn't tough enough to hack it |
| Walker, at quite a high price, as kind of a "reward | | | | around here so he was outta here. His thought is that |
| horse" for myself. The rest of the time I start mustang | | | | he needs the healing I can provide for him, so he |
| colts, who are quite the challenge and mostly not built | | | | wants to stay. |
| for reining. Well, come to find out reining isn't really my | | | | What's a zen cowgirl to do? If I were a straight, |
| thing. Hence putting out the feelers to see if the | | | | non-spiritual cowgirl, I'd say, "Tough patooties! You |
| perfect home for Walker might appear. | | | | gotta go." But being a spiritual kind of cowgirl, I'm going |
| Walker Pulls an NCIS "Gibbs" Maneuver on Me! | | | | to have to rethink this. I'm going to have to buy the boy |
| Well, the strangest thing happened yesterday. Walker | | | | some boots. I'm going to have to find room in my heart |
| did the equivalent of slapping me upside the back of | | | | and my "regimen" for a horse who isn't tough but who |
| my head, kind of like Jethro Gibbs does to his team on | | | | really wants to be here. |
| the show NCIS. I had done some bodywork on Walker | | | | Oh boy... another freakin' growth opportunity! Gotta |
| and was sitting on a stool next to him, thinking about | | | | love those! Oh well, everything happens for a reason, |
| selling him. Walker proceeded to put his head down | | | | right? |
| and bop me on the back of my head with his nose. He | | | | So what's the moral of the story? |
| then put his nose right in my face and blew snot on | | | | If you don't listen to your horse's gentler attempts at |
| my face, about 10 times in a row. | | | | animal communication, be prepared to be slapped |
| I've taken a few animal communication classes in my | | | | upside the head. Most animals are persistent if they |
| time, but I don't excel at it (for excellent animal | | | | want something badly enough, so start listening! |
| communication resources, check out Leta | | | | |