My hubby and I were having a discussion about Love last night. She is such a sweet mare, but still has the exuberance of youth when it comes to her playfulness. I love it that she is so happy to see you that she will trot (or even canter) up to you in the field. She always stops when she gets to you, and loves attention. But she is not yet careful about where she puts her feet. The older horses have learned to watch out for the munchkins, and stand very still around them. But Love gets into a good scratch, starts leaning into you (which is totally fine for me) and all of a sudden steps widely across without checking what might be there first. The more I groom her, the less I see of this (thank goodness!)
Last week we went for a family walk and on the way back Love followed the kids and wanted to be petted. I started scratching her neck and she loved it, but Love proceeded to step widely towards me and the kids - and I had to guard the kids and move them away just to be careful. (I'm always there with them just in case). I think the "kid" sense - or "hoof" sense is something horses get with age.
Heaven knows that Sweetie (now 23!) stepped on my toes a multitude of times in her younger years - I still have clear memories of 20 years ago when she smashed my foot a few times in the cross ties. I always thought she did it on purpose back then, but it was just her being 3 and distracted (combined with too much time in a stall which I didn't recognize as an issue back in the day - I have learned so much since then!) Man, come to think of it, no wonder she was so restless in the cross ties - she had been up in the stall too much and full of 3yo TB energy. I can't blame her a bit.
Back to "hoof" sense. I really do think horses become more aware of it with age. At the same time, I also think some horses have it naturally. Penny sure did. Maybe some of it comes with being a mother to a foal. I also remember Charlie when Goose was first born. Goose was sleeping in the grass and Charlie saw me coming (still not sure about her new owners) and woke him up by rubbing her giant 10" hoof on his body. I thought for sure she would squash him, but she knew just how gentle to be and he jumped right up. Mother horses don't step on their foals. So how do you teach a horse to be more aware of her hooves and my kids feet? Let her step on mine and say "ouch?" (No, I wouldn't really do that, just wondering.) When I groom her and she moves around I say the horse woman "Aaa aa!" sound. (How else do you describe that?). It just has been a while since I taught standing - I know the next step is that every time she moves, I need to put her gently back where she started. I appreciate how much she loves being groomed and enjoy her happiness, but I also need to remember that I am training her and its my job to remind her to stand still.
So why the title of the blog about size? Well, as my hubby and I were talking about Love - my perspective was how sweet and affectionate she is, and he reminded me that it's just her size that makes it seem not so scary. Love is about 14hh. It wasn't long ago that we had Goose here on our property - at least 17hh, 3/4 draft. He was a giant. And he was just as "friendly" as Love, but when a horse that big comes running up to you (and the kids) in the field and doesn't have "hoof" sense yet because he is only 3, it is downright SCARY. I recognized his affection and friendliness, but around young kids it was just plain unsafe, which is why we sold him. I don't regret it, and I know that with more training he would someday become a safer mount. I just couldn't go through his youth constantly worrying about the "what if's" around the kids.
So, Love is 4-5yo (per my new favorite vet). The first vet that saw her thought about 8, but I trust this one more (not to mention, I agree with her :) ). Love really is on the young side for a youth's mount, but I can see her potential! I have entered the Rescue Horse Training Challenge with her, so I hope I can teach her a bunch by the Bluebonnet Horse Expo - have her learn her "hoof" sense and how to be ridden, etc. Because if we aren't ready to adopt her then, I have no doubt some lucky person will adopt her in a heartbeat! She is so gorgeous, and has such a wonderful personality! I want a horse with that kind of loving personality for my kids, but I also need them to be safe. Her sweetness reminds me of Penny so much, it is sometimes hard to be objective about it all. :)
