Friday, March 8th, 2019
The weather has been absolutely marvelous the last couple days.
I’ve been walking back to the barn (for context: over a half mile one way) because the sun on my face and fresh air have been such spirit lifters. I’ve been able to leave the house in just my barn jacket and rubber boots (no Carharrt coveralls and heavy winter boots!), and be the perfect temperature.
Truly marvelous.
Once back at the barn, being able to open up the barn doors and let fresh air in is just as much a spirit lifter – for everyone, I think.
Our boys grow heavy winter coats, so the shedding process begins early for us each spring, and begun it has! No more wearing chapstick to the barn, am I right? Pony kisses are a magnet for said shedding hair when your lips have any sort of stick to them, haha! That first time is always a rude awakening 🙂
Buck has a lot of hair to begin with, so it never seems to end with him.
However, with the weather as great as it was today, I was able to unbraid and brush out his tail (I braid it to help protect it as it grows back, so it’s been braided for months), and eventually rebraid it after admiring it’s length (two years later, we’re almost back to full length!!). It has also proven to hold it’s conditioner when braided; I didn’t need to use any detangler on his tail when I brushed it out, which was a small miracle. His mane is a different story, however, but we tackled that and got it all brushed out.
I’ve always been an “on the ground” equestrian. I connect really deeply with horses on their level, without the need to ride. That may sound strange, but while I enjoy a good ride, I enjoy a good roundpen session even more. I enjoy asking my horses for things without physical touch and aided equipment.
I like being a herd member, earning and proving my coveted herd position through my body language.
I think this also aids in my barn time with my boys. The act of me brushing out Buck’s mane has become part of herd grooming. He no longer fights it, but instead falls asleep. This hyper alert thousand pound animal has handed over his vulnerability to me; he trusts me to have his back and protect him.
It’s pretty humbling.
He’s always so soft after we work too. So soulful, so gentle. His eyes and body relaxes, and he becomes a teddy bear.
I’ve always had people tell me I could train horses, but I am not qualified under saddle to do any such thing. However, I have thought about buying weanlings, yearlings, and ground breaking them. Can you imagine those sassy, long legged know-it-alls in a round pen under liberty – I’d probably be constantly laughing! A true hoot and challenge, for sure. But ultimately, I’d have to sell them again and I may be too picky in what homes they go to.
I would love it though!
Think of the sweet faces. Oh goodness.
Courtney Weinreis // A Borrowed Likeness 