She RAN to me~ :)

Today the white mare of my dreams who has broken my heart by running from me this week and last week and the week before....pricked her ears at me and ran To me!  I could feel my heart smiling....watching that lovely face and a soft expression run to me.  Ears pricked forward.  Nice. 

here she is taking an apple from a visiting non-horsey friend--converting her to horsey!

Ironically I was with another horse at the time and when I took a moment to smile at her, nod, and send her love, I had to protect my herd with Boss and send her away.  It was something I didn't want to do but it made her want to be with me more!  Boss is a gem that sadly, I did not appreciate until I found Parelli.  He's an LBI with LBI tendencies occasionally (much less lately)  and funny as heck.  Smart, calm, a rock.  I thought he wasn't good enough for me cause I liked BIG horses.  What an idiot I was.  I hardly ever did anything with him the whole time I've had him and now it's almost too late.  He's getting older...26.  Today I just did lots of belly scratches and the shedding comb, gave him some sheath cleaning and a treat here and there and he was parking out, putting me on the itchy spot and the licking and chewing...wow, his tongue was hanging way out!  funny to see and sad, as our relationship has just started really after 15 years.  I'm ashamed of that, but happy I finally got a clue at what a great guy he is. 

Fiona has been running from me so I must change my strategy.  Today was a lesson learned.  I have to get this.  Not to do the thing that I initially want to do always is sometimes great and wonderful.  I wanted to grab her and hug her to me,stroking her soft and beloved face--which makes her want to run from me.   Today I sent her away, which really was the thing to do as it piqued her curiosity.  She kept trying to come to me...finally I finished with my 26 year old fuzzy bear Boss with a belly scratch and invited her in using the inhale and a tiny backward lean.

She came right to me and very briskly....this is something I have been working on...doing less and getting more.  It was beautiful.  I let her sniff my head and then had to do a little gentle arm block.  This mare can be pushy but she's very sensitive and I feel that in the past I have yelled with my body language when just a tiny 'no, do not crowd me' in a whisper would do.  Today I whispered and she gave me my space while continuing to want to be with me.  She was inquisitive and sweet.  I petted and scratched her all over, did a little front end movement both ways (phase 1), stick with me at liberty, lifted all four feet (found a sweet gum ball in one and got it out with the shedding comb) and just loved on her.  Got her to put her head on the ground, she sighed, and I walked off. 

Today was a really lovely day here. 70F and sunny with puffy white clouds.  A slight breeze, which occasionally made me a little cool.   

Exy (4) and O'Rion (5) were trying to come in but I was with Boss today...so I defended our herd of two.  He's always been very dominant (with me previously and with the herd) and today it was nice to see that he accepted me as leader--just stood there while I ran everyone off and he never gave an evil look or any of the other things he usually does when they come in too close to him.  His face remained soft and calm..  This is not the norm with this dominant horse.  He was content to let me be boss mare...I loved it.  The first day I tried Parelli games with Boss he attacked me.  We have come a very long way and I've had to dig deep for patience with this guy...he will go catatonic on me if I push him.   RBI tendencies.   today he was rocking to keep my scratching in the right belly place and the licking and chewing went on for a long time...tongue just hanging out.  He kept turning and looking at me and licking and chewing.  This is big for Boss and I was so happy that I was able to spend about 30 mins currying him and de-shedding him. 

He has gained weight and I'm thinking of doing a little bareback riding with Boss as he loves to go slow and so do I. 

We're having fun.  Might not be on the fast track but we're on our own journey of discovery and I'm smiling a lot.  Must be right for me.   :)