Gardening and pondering what could have been

11, 11 scratches on Mag's face today! How can he be such a klutz. (I asked him.)

But he's happy, and I'm happy. And I keep catching my husband out spending time with him over the gate.

Today was hoof trim day and Easyboot fitting day and lawn mowing day - hey, apparently all my neighbors have mown their lawns without my knowledge because I was not here, I was in Wuppertal. And I have the neighborhood's most shaggy lawn. Oh the shame. I try to be first each year. Type A.

I dealt with that after the hooves, hoping the dewy morning grass between 7 and 11 AM would soften them, hm. Mag was OK about the trim, I only did the fronts, but I worry, he is much more sensitive than 4 months ago.

I'm not sure about the 2016 model Easyboot Backcountry Gloves - they seem likely to fly off, but we'll see. He was pretty surprised to see a hoof boot on his hoof again. Even the donkey gave it a look, and I said, "It's another of Mag's accessories."

I've been researching again, how to get weight on a hard keeper, because I know that last Summer he was too thin, even in Fall, with no work. So I just ordered a bag of luzerne (alfalfa) pellets, and if that doesn't help. I'll go to rice bran. In addition to his daily beet pulp with oil.

I love doing yard work with my horse again, although the lawn mower was scarier today than the end of last Summer. I love how Mag watches me the entire time, as I mow and freak out when bugs land on me.

My husband arrived home and asked if I'd ridden my horse today. I said, "Not every day, I'm thinking every other day. And today was hoof and lawn day."

"And by the way did you notice our lawn is gorgeous, I mowed, and with all the flowers!?!??!" I showed him.  I worked hard today and the reward is amazing. It's a postcard set. The star magnolias are in full bloom, as well as our cherry tree that Baasha tried to kill by rubbing on it, and the purple ground cover has bees all over it, and the tulips, and the flowering currant is spectacular alongside the newly blooming service berry (amalanchier). We wake to bees humming on them every morning, well, with the awful chicken noises too from the neighbors.

No, I will ride him tomorrow, I explained.

J said, "And the donkey's hooves?" I said, "I need either wet conditions, or a new rasp, to even begin to work on her black hooves."

He seemed satisfied. I wished I had a sharp rasp.

As I moved around my animals today, I realized that I didn't doubt anymore, that there is a connection between my horse and me. I would have called it familiarity last year, horses are always best with routine and people who are predictable.

But as I stopped today, and he stopped at my side, waiting for my next move on our way to pasture, I realized he has a whole 'nother level of comfort in my presence. It's not 100%, but it's stable.

And later when I joined them at the field, he walked up to me casually to see if I had a snack, but there was no anxious whinny of greeting as back in Wuppertal. He's no longer bored or trapped, he is free and relaxed, and still comes to me, but with no urgency.

OK I miss his rumbling assertive neigh when he would see me round the corner. But that was not  attachment, that was boredom.

Hey, for the first time ever, I removed a tick, from my donkey,  with my hand. Ugh. Disgusting. But I had nothing else. Ugh, sick! Then I tried to squish it with my hoof rasp but try as I might, I couldn't. Horrible creatures!

I have to share a photo again that I took in Oxford (that's England, in case you're as bad at Geography as I was). I cracked up, what a great way to put it:

     

I'm not sure this would work in rural Germany.


***


As I shopped for a horse, yet again, there were two (well, 4)  others if you recall, a lovely bay Standardbred mare and a powerful chestnut Russian Arabian mare, both of whom were presented so badly, there was no hope in selling them, not to me. To be specific, they were selling as riding horses, but neither of which I was allowed to ride, and neither of which had anyone who was willing to ride them, including their owners.

But I started to fall for this best-colored Egyptian Arabian, very very tall, but calm, and well started. I was enthralled with him, he was so young, and so calm. His lower lip would flap as I rode.

I would give anything for A BAY HORSE.

     

Then this lovely Welsh D showed up and I had such a great time riding her too - she had all the buttons, she was a school horse, or a go-anywhere horse. I loved her Arabian face.

But up close to her, well, it was not a horse for me. She was massive. I love a powerfully built horse with huge bone, but this was too much. For a Welsh, was she even ......allowed to be that heavy?

She was perfectly trained. I turned her down because of her massiveness.



     


I sometimes think about Majour the bay Egyptian, he was pretty cool, and this Welsh mare who was kid safe.

 If you like, I'll repost the images of the other two prospects. I had been so hopeful.

***

I thought what have I done.

Mag kicks out randomly. I have no idea how to deal with that. I worked his hind legs today at length, currying, brushing, and clipping his fetlocks back there (I hate leg hair on a horse). He was fine, but I never know.

That Egyptian and that Welsh were awesome.

I might have been doing way more now with my horse if I'd bought one of them.

I wish I could tell Mag this story.

I'd love to feel his surprise that he was the choice, after such safe, well-trained options.

I would also tell him,

You're the last, I'm done with younglings.

But you're awesome. Better than the rest. No worries.