Who knew??

I can't remember a time when I haven't longed for a buckskin horse. The awesome feeling you get when you saddle up and head for the trails. All the smells that go along with horses like the leather of the saddle, fresh hay, even that smell they have when they are sweaty from a ride. These are all things I remember from Utah and from some experiences here and there at the pay by the hour horse stables. My expectations, dreams whatever you want to call it are some what the same, pleasant.

I imagined that once I had horses that everything would be lovely. Just like in the movies. Always calm, always fed, always clean, always mannerly, always fun. All I would need to do is stick some hay and feed in the stalls and then I would be free to saddle up and ride when I pleased. No big deal, right!

MEET BUTTERCUP...

This horse has pretty much just fallen into my lap. In the country you see, people have this thing where they trade stuff when they can't or don't have money. I am pretty sure that city folk would call that bartering. Is that even legal? Doesn't matter, because ma-maw's sister's husband's son is the mayor so it's okay. Evidently when you get a horse, it doesn't come with ANY accessories! Now according to Jason I should have thought about it a little more before I brought her to the house.

So, technically she has been my horse since she was 18 days old, the day I finally convinced Jason I knew all about taking care of a horse. But physically she has been mine since she was 4 and a half months old, which was not the original plan.

Before I brought her home, I went everyday sometimes twice a day down the road to the pasture where she was being kept while she was still nursing. Now my reason behind my visits were totally selfish, I just wanted to see MY HORSE. I found out later that the earlier you begin to interact with a horse the better. Jason thought that was my reason for going, since I know all about horses and all. I don't see any reason to tell him otherwise.  NOTE: Find the nearest copy of Taking Care of Horses for Dummies soon!!

On my last visit to this pasture, I find her with what look like saddle marks on her back and belly. This is obviously unacceptable! So, after Jason trying to relay the message to me that we DON'T HAVE ANYTHING READY FOR HER, I insist on bringing her home. So he pretty much says she is my responsibility. I'm okay with that. Well, I was until I realized we didn't have anything for her other than the halter she was wearing and the lead rope I was holding while looking at the HUGE un-mended gap in the fence that I totally forgot had to be fixed, the pile of stall panels that still needed to be assembled and before Jason asked where I was going to put her hay since she was no longer in the pasture. What did he mean hay, isn't that just for horses in barns? The fact that I had been demoted from grad student to preschooler quickly set in. It has been an adventure ever since.

So, all the horses I have ever been around have been "broke". Well, I thought broke meant that you could ride them. I had NO idea that they didn't just let you do everything else without some form of punishment. For instance: 

brushing tail- evidently that is a VERY sensitive area and did you know horses can kick their legs sideways; Believe me, for an animal that only has forward and reverse, these guys can do one mean sidekick! 

applying halter- not big on having ANYTHING on face, requires being put in a headlock while dragging human across ground and then a full fledge tackle. Why didn't someone tell me horses could hit that hard with their noses? My tongue and cheek could have been used as dental impressions! She still hates Jason!  NEVER EVER EVER remove with Jason until she is "halter broke". I waited for him to tell me when that was.

cleaning hooves- this should just flat out be done by professionals! I had no idea that horses knew how to partner dance. Warning! Their version ends with leaning all their weight toward the unsuspecting human wrestling with their leg. Did you know horses will literally try and crush you?

She is now 7 months old and still full of surprises. But even after all this, hard learned lessons and all, I wouldn't trade her for the world. She can be the sweetest thing, but when she wants to be.