A Confident Day

[Allyson]

Some days Cassie just baffles me. OK, she baffles me most days. She really has no vices per se. No biting, no kicking, no wood chewing... she's just scared, and is in self preservation mode. I dont know, maybe that is a vice.

But there are some days when she does a 180 and is the most confident, happy, funny horse around. Today was one of those days. Can horses be bipolar?

I knew almost immediately that Cassie was in her good mood. She was at the gate when I first got there, sign #1. #2 she was pacing the fence as I moved about the shed row. We're talking about a horse who for the last few months was avoiding me at all costs.

So, i finally get out to their pasture, and she's waiting for some lovin...and treats. She even stands up to Faith, who usually has free reign to push Cassie around as she sees fit.

On her "eh" days, Cassie will tolerate human touch. she'll brace for the halter, she'll brace for any sort of request. But today, she was Ms. Nosey. Nosing my pockets, sniffing my hair, and following me around as I picked up some pieces of twine hanging around.

So what made today so different from the others? I'd love to get inside the head of that mare. I hope by blogging like this I'll begin to detect a pattern.

[lorsadoon]

Sounds like a teenager! HaHa

[Allyson]

I was pleasantly surprised by Cassie today. I hadnt been at the barn in a few days, and upon my arrival mid-morning, I saw that my horses somehow convinced someone in charge that they needed not 1 pasture, but 2.

I fiddled about, and then set off to go check on them. Once hearing the gate, Faith began her careful descent off the hill to accept her treat come say hi. Cassie's head popped up and saw me, and began GALLOPING down the hill, passing Faith, making sure she was the first one to greet me.

I have to say, my eyes did well up a little. She's definitely turning a corner. Not so much when I have a halter, but that'll come in time. I just need to slow down my own agenda.

Of course, tonight when I brought them in, I peeked in to say goodnight to her, and that spooked her and she banged her head on the feed manger She needs to stop that stuff!