Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Connected


Have you ever had a horse so connected with you that she or he acts jealous of others. Not people, but other horses or animals. I lovingly refer to Misty as "my pissed off little pony". I bring this up, because today I spent a little extra time with the girls as I needed to top the water off in their trough and it wasn't so bone chilling cold that I spent the extra time with them, clearing winter eye boogers and removing their halters again and clearly my previous post made all a bit uneasy.{{Sorry}}. I removed Misty's first and as I turned to remove Kola's, Misty reached around to bite at Kola. A behavior I disapprove of while I'm in there and standing in between them. I quickly corrected Misty and she stepped aside. I then turned my attention back to her when I was finished with Kola and she tried to give me the cold shoulder. I softly talked to her and she lowered her head and let me close. I try to give equal time to both, scratches and a little massage. As I left the pen, Fido the dog was lurking between the horses. He always does this. Anxious to get to the horse apple buffet. I was still talking to Misty over the fence and I started to talk to Fido. Misty then reached down and nipped at Fido. I verbally scolded Misty a bit and told Fido to get out from the paddock. Misty then began licking my hand. I promised her she would always be my number one, I whisper that to her all of the time. I just find it amazing that she is that jealous or at least it seems this way. It doesn't translate to poor behavior when I do things with her, ground work, saddling, riding. She is by far the most trust worthy mount one could imagine. Are we that connected? Or this something else? She's always a bit crabbier during the winter as I think alot of horses are as they miss the pasture and the time spent. It's cold here, so the time spent with them, even though it is daily, isn't as much as it is during the warmer months for obvious reasons.

6 comments:

Zoe said...

http://www.wherearethedogshumping.com/horse-makeout.jpg


You might appreciate this, I saw it and thought of you.

Rising Rainbow said...

I have a couple of mares who are jealous of me with other horses and that is the way Scandalous was. Personally, I think it's pretty darn cool just as long as it doesn't cause a wreck that gets me hurt.lol

Grey Horse Matters said...

My gelding was very jealous of my mare. He never liked it when I paid any attention to her at all, so I always groomed him first or rode him first and after he was turned out I took care of her. Horses are funny and I do believe they get jealous of their moms.

Kathy C said...

I had a horse that I felt that deep connection with, but my daughter took him over, and I have fallen from his affections. Of course, now I realize it had more to do with the treats than actual affection for me!

Callie said...

I just find it amazing that she can be so jealous. I suppose it really isn't any different than dogs or so.....but in our household all the creatures have very different personalities.

Anonymous said...

I have a couple I've been working for the last three years; they belong to some friends who've needed help training and exercising. I've worked primarily with the one mare, and she gives me a seriously evil eye when I do anything with another horse. I was shortening a mane and she stared me down the entire time. She's never done anything dangerous, but it's funny how jealous she does seem to get.

She probably doesn't like that one of the geldings flirts with me either...