Noelle Has a Sweet Spot

Unfortunately it was a tick bite, but at least it served a purpose. I could give her something she loved. This became the routine for more than a week, until the bite began to heal and was no longer itchy. I immediately looked around for another tick…nooo, just kidding. Anyway, around here you don’t have to look far to find ‘em.

I love it when Kathleen comes home, camera in hand. I tend to forget about these sweet moments until I start browsing through her weekend of photos. I didn’t even know she was standing behind me when this next batch was taken. I had paused to play with Mouse for a moment. I’m always searching for easy things for her to do because that brain is always on and always working. Easy for me, not her. She doesn’t need easy because she understands so quickly. She and Skeeter get their morning and evening Safe Starch forage (with our supplements added) in the side shed of the barn (see the Diet and Nutrition page on the website: http://www.thesoulofahorse.com). They each receive a bit more than the other horses, Skeeter because he’s older and Mouse because she’s younger and still developing. So we lock them up to keep the others out. Mouse and I began this-after meal ritual maybe two weeks ago. She was making it all the way on the first day.

I ask her to step up onto Malachi’s platform.

“Now walk on up, Mouse.”

“Now turn. Easy. Keep all your feet on the platform.”
Which is not easy for those long gangly legs.

“Good girl.”
She tucks in and makes the turn
without losing a foot maybe 8 times out of 10.

One day I was in a hurry so after she had stepped up, and walked all fours up, I gave her a quick rub and a treat and hurried over to open a gate. When I looked back she had made the 180 degree turn all by herself and was just standing there looking at me. Where are you going? We weren’t finished. I laughed out loud… and of course she got another rub and another treat.

Cash was taking it all in, and I was hoping the cleverness was being internalized.
Me? Do that silly circus stuff? I don’t think so.

Come back soon my Sweetie. I miss you, and I suspect a few of our readers out there do too.

Joe

Notes: added July, 2011:

Kathleen is at last here for good! It’s been a long two years y’all. But at last we are a family again. Sweet!!!

One fantastic reason to jump into Kindle right now is that Amazon has lowered the price on the Kindle version of The Soul of a Horse Blogged – The Journey Continues to $4.99! Imagine. 175 of Kathleen’s amazing photos in living color! Tons of live video and resource links that you can touch and watch instantaneously. See the horses and moi actually demonstrating what you’ve just read about. Right there on your phone or other device. And the icing on the cake, at least according to those who’ve consumed it, is that you’ll have an entertaining, enlightening, and fun read as well. All for only $4.99.

It’s a brave new world indeed :).

The Soul of a Horse Blogged – Kindle Version on Amazon – $4.99
Includes lots of live video and resource links

Who Needs Hollywood – Kindle on Amazon – $4.99

The Benji Method – Kindle on Amazon – $5.99
Includes an hour-and-a-half of training video with Benji and Joe

All of our books are also available in NOOKbook format on Barnes & Noble, but Nook appears to have issues with video links, at least some of them, so for now if you’re downloading free apps I’d stick with Kindle.

I hope y’all enjoy! And please tell us about your experience. joe@thesoulofahorse.com

Joe