For horselovers - The Accidental Smallholder

Posted: Thursday 10 May, 2007

by Rosemary at 9:40pm in Equines 7 comments Comments closed

As you will know, Smokey and I have been learning to drive over the winter and into spring. It's all been going very well and he has been an absolute star.

Last Wednesday, however, we had a bit of a setback. For various reasons that I won't bore you with, there was a bit of a carry-on in the field, so Smokey was a bit hyped up. I wanted to take Smokey driving (a pal of Dan's was going to backstep for me), so I caught him, harnessed him up and started to lead him along the track to the road, where I usually get on. I'm not really sure what happened, but Smokey got more distressed and bolted. I simply couldn't hold him. He went along the track, on to the road, round a 90 drgree bend, then tipped the buggy at the next 90 degree bend.

By the time we caught up, the buggy was on its side, Smokey was on the ground facing the buggy and trapped in the harness. I told Dan to call the vet - I expected him to need a humane killer. We unhitched the buggy (I have safety devices on the swingle tree - thanks, Claire) and cut him free. Then he stood up and walked away.

He had a cut on his off hind leg, on his nose and on his eye; his knees were grazed as was his neck. But he wasn't lame at all. The vet gave him a shot of penicillan and an anti-inflammatory. When I looked out the window on Thursday morning, Smokey was having a really good roll.

I have a broken finger and a few bruises. I can't believe how lucky we are. I thought I'd lost him.

Anyway, this is really background. The real point of this post is Smokey's head. Although he wasn't badly hurt physically, he was so uptight and spookey. He's always been a very laid back horse - left brain and dominant. But he couldn't stand still - at the slightest noise or movement, he was off. I was pretty upset about this. We've had our ups and downs over the last five years, but I've tried to work on our relationship and I thought I'd lost it..

So I've been spending quiet time with him. Just having a carrot (or bread and Marmite, which is lick lippy), a scratch, a lean on each other. This morning, I walked up the field to give him his bread. As I walked back, I heard hooves coming fast behind me. It was Smokey, just checking in for a scratch.

Tonight, I was taking the empty feed buckets out the field, when he came trotting down for a scratch. I was leaning on him, scratching, when Johnny came over. I sent him away (protecting my herd of two). As I did so, one of our dogs started barking at him and he took off up the field. To my delight, Smokey chose to stay with me. He didn't even move. It made me cry.

A few years ago, Smokey and I started to follow a natural horsemanship journey via the Parelli Programme. Recently, for a number of reasons, we've drifted from it (although I try to follow the principles). Last night, I watched a DVD of Linda Parelli working with a scared horse. And I knew we were doing the right thing by not doing very much and I know we're going to be OK.

I've booked today to go to the Parelli event at the NEC in August. There are a lot of people now promoting natural horsemanship (which is great), but the Parellis are something special, not just in their horsemanship, but in they way they can communicate with us ordinary mortals, and let us communicate with and understand our horses.

I realised today that the most important thing for me isn't DOING anything with Smokey but it's about just being with him, in a relationship. If all I did with him was hang out in the field, and he wanted to be with me, that would be good for me.

I'm sure all you horselovers will understand.