Good Grooming

"That looks to me like the energy of the kind of dog that could run a horse to death." Jill was glad that the donkey went right after it, the second it ever stepped into the horse paddock.  The Great Dane couldn't get in there so easily, and seemed timid - which often caused aggression - and made Jill nervous.  It followed very close behind her and twice she felt afraid as it pressed its face to her backside, but she joked to the owner "Lookit how slobbery she is, I don't want a kiss or a bite from THAT dog, ha."  In casual conversation that ensued, the owner admitted the same dog had actually just bit someone 3 days before.

Despite the doggy downside, Jill loved grooming the horses in the sunny paddock.  She'd washed all the brushes first with soap and water. The Donkey really loved it too, and followed her into the shade when she'd suggested it.  She had rain rot on her lower legs and they were all scabby under the hair and really needed the curry comb and dandy brush.  Jill was disappointed her friend hadn't already been grooming this condition away for the sweet creature.

When she crawled under the fence to get next door she was disappointed in the Natural Horsemanship facility.  There were way too many horses on way too little land.  They were eating round bales in summer time and standing on mountains of manure instead of grassy paddocks.  There was only 8 acres of land and probably 58 horses.  And, the bunnies weren't any better off either... poor things.  Jill was glad she hadn't applied for the Certified Trail Guide position afterall.  She asked about lessons and took a flyer feigning interest and went back the way she came...

Could the illness of the horse she'd visited come from dirty well water compromised from conditions next door?

She still had to drop off her resume to the place that did birthday parties!  What was holding her back?