Just a boredom inspired whine...

[here to stay]

In my endless pursuit of relief of my old mare's itchiness, I slather her midline with NuStock every day or two.

This morning I was fussing around a bit instead of taking care of business- feeding the horses being the only business of concer to them- so she was standing in front of her hay box instead of in her pen when I went to do the morning application of ointment.

Normally she just stands there and lets me rub it into her itches. Twisting her body in enjoyment. I then go get their hay. Routine.

But this morning I obviously had tested her patience with the delay- AND SHE BIT ME. Just swung her head aback and nipped.

I automatically went into my horse scaring routine of yelling and throwing my arms about that is my way of making sure they know that they have gone too far in presuming on my good will. It tends to get their attention when the horse servant goes off her rocker. And I do admit she was much more agreeable when I finished the rubbing. But I certainly had a fairly long period of thinking things like 'ungrateful expensive useless beast.'

That is the third time in over 20 years that she has taken a nip. Not bad I suppose but geesh- we both too old for such things....

[Woodpecker]

I grew up with horses. My father was a trainer, for trotters. Gussy wind was the only one to win a race. One thing I vividly remember was my dad saying..." You can never trust a horse" even though 20 yrs. and only 3 nips isn't bad, be careful always. My dad was injured many a time by his horses. His love of them lasted always though.

[here to stay]

I come by my horse addiction naturally. My grandfather was a teamster at the point when teamsters still drove teams of horses. He eventally died from complications of a kick that damaged his leg. My mother told me there was never a horse he wouldn't ride even then.

[aoconnor]

I, too, come from a long line of horsemen. My great grand father owned a livery stable in West Virginia. Did all his own farrier work, rode, treated, tamed. He loved them all, always. ME too, even when they are naughty:-) But they certainly do get corrected when they are naughty, usually with an equal response like a nip back at them with my hand on their shoulder of rump, whatever is closest to me!

[Woodpecker]

Although I grew up with horses and rode until I was in my 20's , now I am afraid of them. The last time I went riding, it was the 1st time in about 20 yrs. I went with my younger sister. Told the stable that I hadn't rode in years and was a bit Leary. He assured me, I'll give you a nice calm horse that a man in his 90's rides. Brought out a huge dapple gray . We started on the trail...well as soon as we got to an open field, the horse bolted into a canter! I reined him in and it wasn't easy, then promptly got off the horse and he ran back to the barn without me:) I walked back, as my sister couldn't stop laughing. Never rode again. Hence, as my dad said, " you can never trust a horse" they are beautiful animals though.

[Deleted]

aoconnor , pth pth pth that's me thpitting the imaginary horse hair out of my mouth LOL

I've been thinking a lot about whether or not horses can ever be trusted......and why we risk it?  After my injuries in December I really should never ride a horse again.  My family thought they had my dad and I both convinced to never ride again, and yet here I go getting a second horse and planning trail rides  You only live once, right?  I think about all the women I used to see at the barn........the one walking with a cane from back injuries and the one who lost the vision in one eye because barbed wire went through it when she got thrown.....and I think "Why, Stacey?  WHY must you insist on riding a horse again?"  But we only live once, and often not for very long, right?  Might as well enjoy life and there's nothing more exciting in this whole world than horses.  I guess that's why those women kept going back to the barn.


Woodpecker, you stayed on!  Injuries aren't keeping you off of horses.....I guess wisdom must have kicked in.

[aoconnor]

Jul 28, 2016 1:03:42 GMT @fffarmergirl said:

aoconnor , pth pth pth that's me thpitting the imaginary horse hair out of my mouth LOL

I've been thinking a lot about whether or not horses can ever be trusted......and why we risk it?  After my injuries in December I really should never ride a horse again.  My family thought they had my dad and I both convinced to never ride again, and yet here I go getting a second horse and planning trail rides  You only live once, right?  I think about all the women I used to see at the barn........the one walking with a cane from back injuries and the one who lost the vision in one eye because barbed wire went through it when she got thrown.....and I think "Why, Stacey?  WHY must you insist on riding a horse again?"  But we only live once, and often not for very long, right?  Might as well enjoy life and there's nothing more exciting in this whole world than horses.  I guess that's why those women kept going back to the barn.


Woodpecker , you stayed on!  Injuries aren't keeping you off of horses.....I guess wisdom must have kicked in.

Lol! I guess I should have said I use my hands to "nip" back, or a solid bite sometimes with my fingers does the trick!!!