Adversity

Jill always told her students that if she hadn't had to do horse work to help support her horse habit, in her horse history, then she would not be quite the horsewoman she has become.

That besides the obvious stregnth and fitness benefits, there is something more.

Jill said that the riders that show up for lessons and hop on a horse and ride do not know the animal as well as someone who feeds and waters it, leads it to and from the paddocks for turn out, administers the first aid, holds the creature for the vet, dentist, farrier and chiropracter and so on. Or, even manages "simple" tasks like pulling their mane -- now, there's a training exericize in the making for many ponies!

There's comfort, experience and communication built up with such contact and its something that money CAN'T buy. And, what about the learnings taken away from some time just watching a herd? And then, to know how to load and drive a horse trailer? And tractor? "Well now, let's not even get started on the COOL factor!" she laughed along with her students.

Roomie thought the dog rescue might be a staged affair, with the enthusiastic black puppy locked up in the new tenants apartment for the show of the search mission, and dedication in finding the animal, as a way of garnering credibility with the owners. But, regardless, she advised Jill to take the high road, and let time show the true nature of each new employee.

"Besides, at a certain point, you just have to trust your animals to take of themselves." Jill's new friend's father was an abuse counsellor, and Jill thought her new riding mate looked so cool, bareback on her pony by leadrope only, with her little dog running alongside.

Jill wished the other farm dog at the new place was allowed to come with her to the lounge/office, overlooking the arena, and into the barn with the horses. Instead she asked if she could use the Ken Danby prints she'd found rotting in storage, as decor in the furnished apartment she'd rented. "When I used to go visit my aunt and uncle's for overnight stays, i'd always sleep in my cousin's room. He played goal, and he had that goalie print up on the wall beside his bed.

Was it true that well-behaved women rarely make history? She asked for more time with this new horse pal too. It was so cool how they had sapped/stolen each other's Facebook profile quotes. "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way the animals are treated." ~ Gandhi and "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds" ~ Albert Einstein

Roomie called the event she was organizing Tom Sawyer Camp. "I've been inventing it my whole life." inviting kids to help in the barn chores and making it fun.  She also mentioned in passing "I can't imagine going to the gym after a farm job, but that's just me. I've never been at place with too many grooms." Roomie was very sad to see Jill have an amazing training scholarship, in a rare horse sport that was good for couples to share, alone. But she didn't say much, she was distracted and she couldn't stop thinking about how her dad kept mentioning his brain kicking in.

"Well, being in the paddock with them created quite a fuss." Jill said, having invited the owner to join her in saying a hello to the horses.   They acted up when the owner was around.

Her first time on the property, Jill had asked the farm hand, "What do you think about bringing in the pushy chestnut with the halter?" The other horses were all extra nibble and busy with their mouths because of sharing life with such an orally-fixated beast.  The farm hand laughed and advised against it.

Jill brought in the youngster.  At one point, the little bay acted up and started to rear in the cross ties. Jill said "cut it out" and looked at her front feet and to her surprise, it seemed to work, like a command the horse obeyed, and the inexperienced bay put them right back down on the floor where they belonged. When Jill lead her around the arena, she did do one big spook, rear thing. "But luckily, I was calm and my mitt wasn't stuck in the lead line and it all ended up okay…"  She found that sometimes having an episode to school through was even more valuable than an uneventful groundwork session.