Thank you for sharing Pam. Great stories. You are on the right track as they definitely are trying to take care of you. 🙂

A couple of months ago I went into their 3-sided run-in shelter to give them lunch. They were snoozing with Cody standing on Asha’s left, his head about even with her flank. In order to get to his feed dish, I needed him to back up a couple of steps, which I asked him to do with the word “back” and a hand signal. Both of them understand this request. He just stood there, so I asked again, thinking that he was still a little drowsy, maybe, and hadn’t wanted to move. Still nothing. Ordinarily, at that point, I’d have stepped closer and gently pushed on his chest and said “back” again, but instead I just asked again. I felt sure that he’d move, but he didn’t (and neither did I), but I asked him a fourth time. Still no movement. Then, before I could move closer and say “back” a fifth time, Asha’s left hind foot shot out and connected with his right leg several inches above his knee—no damage, but he got the message and moved!!! She knew what he was supposed to do and apparently had decided he needed a little extra encouragement from Mom to do it. And, I needed a reminder to go ahead and GENTLY increase the pressure, after the first or second request, rather than allowing him to ignore me.

I don’t want to give the wrong impression about Cody, and so, the second story. A couple of weeks ago I was sitting in the shelter with them, sipping a cup of coffee, while they ate breakfast. I was facing out, they were facing me, Cody on my left, Asha to my right. We’ve been starting the day together this way for the last couple of years. It was windy out, and for some reason, Cody decided to move his feed dish with his nose so that he was within a foot of my chair. I gave him a pat and went back to my coffee. Suddenly, Asha jerked her head up and spun around. Cody immediately started to do the same and I thought my morning was about to become very painful because I was where his rear was going to be. But, instead, he kept his hind feet in place and did the most beautiful turn. Not by crossing his front legs, though. His adrenaline was so high, that he marched himself around his hind end, piaff-like, keeping me safe, while satisfying his body’s need to run. Really wish I had a video of it. I was delighted to know, finally, that Cody not only has the ability to think in an emergency, but that our relationship is as good as I have hoped. With his Mom’s do-it-or-else style of teaching, and me not emulating that, I think that it’s been challenging for him to do what he knows, at times. But, I know now that we’re on the right track.

Absolutely Gina. Go out and just be with him and see what happens. I never would have imagined that Kit would even think of putting my back in place. I just thought that maybe the physical action of grooming him might help me. Little did I know. 🙂

Love it Janet! Mateo sounds amazing. It really is amazing how many stories we can think of about what our horses did that no one would ever believe because they are just so mind-blowing. Horses can be so brilliant at times. 🙂

And your post here is rather interesting on timing. As stated, I thru my back out – silly me. Couldn’t get into chiro for 5 days, thanks to weekend and my work. He helped but it’s still not all the way right. He said I’d be sore, and I am, though I might have helped – I went to gym.BUT I was planning on going to see my horses (they’re boarded) and, on top of 28 out when I woke (but it’s TX so to hit 51), I was starting to lean towards not. I mean, no one wants to deal with an Arabian (or any horse) when you’re not up to par, right? Physically, I mean. Well, you’ve kinda got me going back to going. My boy, Shetan, and I have been together for 11 years. Not that I expect him to do what Kit did (though I wouldn’t stop him! LOL), from an emotional point, it may be what I need at this moment. Thanks!