I have never done this before so I wasn't really sure what to expect. For the most part, I'm a skeptic, but I'm also open minded. There is a part of me that always avoided these things because what if my horses hate everything about their lives with me?! Wouldn't that be terrible to find out? Sure would. Thankfully that's not what happened. Phew.
Before the call Sharon asks for a photo of your horse and then I think she asks for their name. I can't remember. And pretty much as soon as we invited him Al was all in the conversation. He was very chatty and let me know all the things he likes that I do for him. He likes when I kiss his nose, and he loves when I wipe his face with a towel. He let me know which brush he prefers (which I already knew, he's made that preference very obvious) and he also asked me to get some treats that I have't bought in awhile. But he said he likes pretty much all treats but those are his favorites.
Next he talked about some things he'd like to work on. He said he has a hind foot that is a struggle for him and he's open to trying a different shoe or something for it. (He has a heel that likes to contract, and nothing we've changed so far really keeps it from doing that. When it contracts too much, he stocks up and I can tell it bugs him a little.) He also said he wants to do some fun exercises to strengthen his back end but he did not specify what. When I suggested trot poles he said he'd do those but he wants something different. So um... throw some ideas at me guys! He said he wants to jump more because he really likes doing that. Sharon told him it was supposed to get very hot so he might want to wait until after the heat wave, but he said that was okay, he's ready for the heat. Which made me giggle because he is NOT great in the heat. But also is kind of something he would say just to do what he wants to do. I told him we would jump, but it was up to him when because he had to flat nicely without spooking before we can jump. So far, we've not achieved that.
He said otherwise his body feels good, but he is a little tight in his back/SI area. Also something we've noted, probably from his tummy discomfort I'm guessing. He said his stomach feels good, but maybe that's because he's been on the meds almost a week now? He mentioned that his saddle is comfortable too. (Thank goodness.)
He said that he likes the property here for the most part, but he feels a little lonely because the horses here don't want to play with him and he really likes to play. He asked if we could get more horses. I said no, that's not really in the cards, and he said I was afraid you'd say that. So yeah, having horses is like having kids... they all want their own pets!
Then it was my turn to ask him questions. So first I asked if he liked his wardrobe and he said yes and he thinks I always put the appropriate blankets on for the conditions. Then I asked him what we've all been wondering. How can I make him feel less anxious when we're riding and just in general. And he said I don't know what you mean. LOL. GUYS. My horse is in denial about his anxiety problem. He said that when he looks worried in the stall it's because he can smell the coyotes that are around. (Fair. We abut state forest so there is a lot of wildlife pretty close by.) As for the nervous behavior in the ring he said he didn't like the neighbor. He hates how he ignores him and then makes scary noises. Sharon told him that the man is annoying but won't hurt him, so if he could just acknowledge what the neighbor is doing and then carry on, that would be the right thing to do. Al said okay, but then he did not do that at all yesterday, so I dunno guys. I don't think we've really addressed the main problem.
Next she said he was saying something about liking the allergy meds because he has allergies and I said that didn't make sense because he's never been on any (and he doesn't have allergies). So she said she thinks it's another horse coming through. At first I thought Eros because he IS on allergy meds. But then I realized it was Shiny. I had told her the day before that it was Al's session but if there was something she needed me to know she could jump in. So she did apparently. As for the allergy meds she was talking about her Ventipulmin which she is not on anymore. She LOVED that stuff though. Couldn't wait for me to give it to her. She said she wants it again because she has allergies, but I think she just wants it because it tastes good and she's a fiend. She then went on to say that she doesn't like wearing anything except her bridle. She doesn't get cold so she doesn't need blankets. And she would like to ride bareback with nothing on all the time. Honestly, all of that tracks. She will wear whatever you put on her, but she gets cranky when you put her clothes on or the saddle/bareback pad/girth. I said that she does have to wear a saddle at least for some of our rides and she asked why. I said because she has a job and that job means riding with a saddle. Sharon kept asking "but why" and I was getting kind of annoyed until I realized she was speaking for Shiny which fully tracks with her personality. Finally I just said because it's hard for me to stay on without a saddle and she said oh, I guess that's okay then. Pretty sure the real reason she wants to be bareback only is that she knows she doesn't work hard in that set up. Ponies are such manipulators. Oh and she said she wants to eat carrots all the time. But I had Sharon explain to her that she can only have carrots sometimes as a special treat because we have to be careful with her sugars. And Shiny was like Fiiiiine.
And then our fifteen minutes were up! I think it would be fun to do again and include Eros and Rita too. I'm sure they both have plenty to talk about. Eros will likely just complain about the low food supply, his aches and pains, and the audacity I have expecting him to ride six days a week. But he deserves to be heard all the same. Overall, I don't think it cured our issues, but it was fun and she said things I already thought but completely unprompted from me. Like the back foot and the particular brush. (And pretty much everything Shiny said... lol!)
No comments:
Post a Comment