Amy L. Wink, Ph.D.

Archive for the 'nature' Category

Making a herd

amywink July 4th, 2010

I put Will and Blessing together last Sunday. After 2 weeks sharing side-by-side pastures, with only each other as company, it was time to open the gate between the two. Blessing immediately went to investigating Will’s pasture and trotting through the gate as soon as I opened it, to begin snooping around while Will was resting after our drive. Clearly, her brother’s “room” was totally cool.

While Blessing snooped, I put Will into Blessing’s pasture and he sniffed around and just decided to stay and graze. He didn’t make any effort to go to the other end and through the gate. I watched for about an hour and neither horse made a move toward the other.

So I left them to their own devices to work out their relationship. Lisa reported they were drinking together, and had a few scuffles but nothing major. Expect at feeding time. Will had a little episode so I came out Monday to see what we could do. Only on Monday, Blessing and Will were back into the individual pastures so no issues to solve.

Also by Monday, storms were popping up all over and we didn’t drive, though the skies were lovely:

By Tuesday, the skies opened and we had rain every day for a week. Will and Blessing would just have to work it out without many witnesses. I had to stay home.

. . . . until Saturday.

Two steps forward, one step back

amywink June 18th, 2010

The horses scared me this morning. When I arrived, I couldn’t see Blessing anywhere. Will was standing in the corner, looking as if he was watching something off in the next pasture and I couldn’t see Blessing.

Oh no….

Then, I saw Blessing…..a mound on the ground in the corner.

OH NO!!

Then, as I am getting in the gate as fast as I can, she raises her head and looks over. Will looks over. Two blazes in the shade.

And I started breathing again. Whew.

And she stood up. Double Whew.

And really, it’s a good sign of a growing bond, Will watching over his herd partner while she sleeps.

Except, of course, later, when he thought I was giving Blessing too much attention, and maybe a treat:

Where’s the love, Brother?

Blessing took it in stride and just moved off from Mr. Crabbypants, and went to visit the dogs.

Slow and steady….

Getting the Hang of Things

amywink June 17th, 2010

My plan continues apace and both horses are getting the hang of things. Today Blessing knew how things were supposed to go, including grazing along the fence with Will.

I do this as we walk to the standing tree and start out grooming sessions. After Will gets all spiffy (and relaxed), it’s Blessing’s turn and today she knew it, trotting over to the gate when I came with her halter. She had watched as I groomed Will and I told her that Will could pick up all of his feet–and darn it, if she didn’t do better today picking up her feet! Maybe there’s something to this sibling rivalry!

She has learned to stand stead at the tree very well too, though she’s not quite as good as her brother:

After our grooming, she goes back in her pasture, and I walk Will back down to his pasture make sure he’s had enough attention before playing with Blessing. He’s stayed closer today too, with no over-the-fence antics.

Blessing seems to be enjoying our time together quite a bit, especially the camera:

Today, I also work a nice floppy hat and she really liked nibbling the rim–no photos of that because she was just too close. But at least she wasn’t scared by it, just curious. She is enjoying out time in the pasture together and she does follow me around, particularly if I move off to see Will. But she’s independent enough to comfortably walk away and graze–until I do something interesting!

Spending time with her, I remember my time with Will when we were bonding, almost 6 years ago. She’s much calmer, but equally curious. Her brother is an emotional horse (as his recent temper tantrums illustrate) and so far, I’m waiting to see whether that’s true of her as well. So far, she’s steady and curious and happy.