Hi, its me, Maggie!
So I have been thinking on things for a while.  Today, I had a really nice time.  This lady came out to the gate and said we were going to do ground work.  Personally, I don’t see anything wrong w the ground, other than the fact it doesn’t have near enough grass. So naturally, I though maybe we would work on growing grass.  Not the case.

Instead, she put the halter and lead line on, and out the gate we went.  Over to the trailer. Sometimes the trailer can be a scary place for me, But today, it was all closed up, I could not see that big black empty spot inside where they want to put me, so I say, OK, I will go over there.  So I was tied to the trailer.  Not actually tied, but I didn’t know that…

Hmmm… Can’t really go where I want to. So the idea is I am supposed to learn to stand still and be patient.  Well that is not my strong suit, let me tell you. But never the less, I stood and after 5 minutes I got some treats and we went out in the yard.  Good Girl Maggie, I heard that a few times, I licked and chewed and thought about things.

We did some exercises, I learned that when this lady does certain things, it should mean that I do certain things too!  Like if she wants me to step over, crossing my front feet, or if she wants me to move my butt over, crossing my back feet, if she wants me to back up, go forward, stand still (remember, not my favorite)  that sort of thing.  Lick, chew, lick chew.  I mostly did everything she wanted.  Sometimes I got confused and she had to ask again but then I got it. I’m smart.

Then back to the trailer, and she had me there while she opened it up. I have never seen it open up before. It was not quite so scary, just seemed like another chore.. So we walked part way on and then she had me back up, then walked part way on, going a little further, than backed me off.  Ok, now I am confused, instead of getting me on, she is asking me to get off.  Honestly, I really like that part more than the getting on part, but still, no forcing. And that is my favorite part of all.

So if you have not guessed, I can be a bit oversensitive about things.  But what I can tell you, is that, for me, I need you to do your part too.

What do I need?  Someone who is present.  Who is focused on me.  But with the right focus..  Not in the style of “I’ll make you do (fill in the blank)  but rather, hey lets do this together, follow my lead.

So many humans want to be around horses.  They are many in fact that are horse crazy.  The peace, the beauty, the sense of freedom that a horse can bring, it is like nothing else in the world.  But humans need to do their part. When you come to see us, or ride us, leave your baggage at the door.  If you have had a bad day, struggling at work or with your family, whatever it is, if you are worried about that, when you are with me, I will worry too. When I worry, I am not so sweet anymore.  I feel you. Whatever you feel, I feel. If you are nervous, angry, sad, I feel all of that too. And it changes me.  Maybe more than most horses, but we all feel what you feel.

When this lady comes to work with me, I feel her too. She is so happy to see me. So excited that we will spend time together.  So proud of me when I get things right and encouraging when I get them wrong. How could I not adore that?  Even when she makes mistakes, which she does, I don’t care.  I still try my best to figure things out.  How could I not want to be the best girl ever when she cares about me so much.  When you see a human and their face lights up just seeing you, that is so incredible. We horses, well we don’t talk about that much, but if you look closely, you can tell.

We light up too.

Well that is all I have for now…
Xoxo,
Maggie