The best Christmas gift this year didn't come wrapped in pretty paper, or wrapped in shiny bows. It didn't even arrive on Christmas but rather the day before Christmas Eve.
I got off work early on Monday and the weather was rainy, but it was 70 something degrees outside. So in between spouts of rain I went out and gave Seneca a little bit of a spa day. I felt guilty for not paying enough attention to her lately, and her jungle woman mane was getting way out of control. I didn't feel like dragging her all the way out to the horse trailer so I brought some grooming tools to her while she was munching her afternon hay. Sometimes Seneca is cool with grooming and will stand still, but often she has something more important to do.
That day she stood patiently while I curried the two inches of mud off her brown coat, and combed out her mane. Then I took out the scissors. I know, I know grooming no no to use scissors but she wasn't going to be competing and she absolutely can't stand having her mane pulled. I hacked off about five inches of wild pony mane and while I was doing it Seneca tilted her head around and nudged me gently, then began grooming me in her quiet, sweet way.
The High Queen is not the most affectionate horse on the planet. But every once in a long while she deigns to dole out a sliver of love so that I know she does indeed at least like me a little. That day I almost felt tears trying to form. She and I have had such a rocky affair(ie the two years we did the horse trailering battle) and some days I wonder what would have happened had I passed on her, said no, I don't think she's for me and walked away from her that day at the track.
But I didn't and good, bad or ugly she's my girl, and some days she claims me as her own. In the spring I'm going to try some chiropractic/acupuncture/massage treatments for her to see if I can make her life a little more comfortable. Who knows maybe we'll finally find out the why for the hind end lameness issues.
Until then Merry Christmas and keep it between the flags everyone.
I got off work early on Monday and the weather was rainy, but it was 70 something degrees outside. So in between spouts of rain I went out and gave Seneca a little bit of a spa day. I felt guilty for not paying enough attention to her lately, and her jungle woman mane was getting way out of control. I didn't feel like dragging her all the way out to the horse trailer so I brought some grooming tools to her while she was munching her afternon hay. Sometimes Seneca is cool with grooming and will stand still, but often she has something more important to do.
That day she stood patiently while I curried the two inches of mud off her brown coat, and combed out her mane. Then I took out the scissors. I know, I know grooming no no to use scissors but she wasn't going to be competing and she absolutely can't stand having her mane pulled. I hacked off about five inches of wild pony mane and while I was doing it Seneca tilted her head around and nudged me gently, then began grooming me in her quiet, sweet way.
The High Queen is not the most affectionate horse on the planet. But every once in a long while she deigns to dole out a sliver of love so that I know she does indeed at least like me a little. That day I almost felt tears trying to form. She and I have had such a rocky affair(ie the two years we did the horse trailering battle) and some days I wonder what would have happened had I passed on her, said no, I don't think she's for me and walked away from her that day at the track.
But I didn't and good, bad or ugly she's my girl, and some days she claims me as her own. In the spring I'm going to try some chiropractic/acupuncture/massage treatments for her to see if I can make her life a little more comfortable. Who knows maybe we'll finally find out the why for the hind end lameness issues.
Until then Merry Christmas and keep it between the flags everyone.
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