My last day working with H’Appy was Sunday when I made a whole lot of small changes that had a big impact. My intention was to check back in with him early in the week, but you all know how the best of intentions go.
Monday I canceled my afternoon and left early due to Wyatt throwing up everywhere. And when I say everywhere I mean everywhere: the floor in his classroom, my car, the side of the road, the line at Walmart trying to buy him ginger ale, my office, the kitchen floor. EVERYWHERE. So I left work and ended up snuggling on the couch all night with my favorite blonde haired boy.
Tuesday I was exhausted. Wyatt had been up until 2 am and I go to bed by 9 pm. This nearly 40 year old doesn’t do all nighters. Heck, the 20 year old version of me didn’t do all nighters. Dusty took off work to stay home with him Tuesday and by the time I dragged my butt home from work, I changed into pjs and crashed. I’m crazy like that.
Wednesday night I had a work dinner meeting which meant I didn’t have time to ride, but i did have time to bring the horses in for dinner. At first I was a bit worried when H’Appy was no where to be seen. The other two were nickering at me to go inside, because knee high green grass isn’t filling enough apparently, and typically H’Appy can be found trying to bulldoze his way between them and generally being a pest. But Wednesday night, i got both Gem and Pete inside and still no sign of H’Appy.
Eventually he came sauntering over to the gate with a dazed and confused look on his face and disheveled hair up his right side. The big orange man apparently fell asleep int he afternoon sunshine and the Dynamic Duo left him for the predators so they could come inside and eat the handful of ration balancer they get. Great herd mates.
But…..
Here’s the thing.
I slipped his halter on his head and gave him a pat. He swung his snake like neck around and tried to bite my hip. He got smacked with the end of the lead rope and then I thought “hmmm…lets see if Sunday stuck at all.”
I asked him to walk on in a mini 6 ft longe circle with the lead rope and you know what? Big Boy walked on calmly with an ear cocked to me and licking his lips. I then asked him to halt and he did spot on right away. I asked him to walk on again and he did without trying to trot, or throwing his head around in a big tantrum.
Huh. I let him halt and gave him a pat as he lowered his head and chewed. We walked out of the pasture to the barn, where his friends were out of sight and which would typically cause some rushing and bullying on his part. I walked about 5 steps from the pasture gate and then stopped. He stopped, no tension on the lead rope. I took a couple steps back without touching the lead and without using my voice. He also took couple steps back. When I stopped, he stopped. When I walked, he did to.
I stared at him.
For all the grief I give him, he is actually really, really book smart. He has ZERO common sense, street smarts, but that is due to his upbringing being treated like a big dog instead of a horse. Give him a job and ask him to learn something and it sinks in a stays there.
I need to get smarter. Fast. This horse is teaching me the very definition of a horse that needs a job. When he has one, he is great. When he doesn’t, he will find something to occupy him and it will 100% not be something I like.
And to that end….
I HAVE A LESSON SCHEDULED WITH SOMEONE I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT ON 3/15!!!!!!!
The Roaming Rider 
so so so exciting about the lesson 😀 can’t wait to hear about it!! and really glad to see H’Appy retaining the work you’re doing with him! hope Wyatt is feeling better too!
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He is on the mend and back in school. I’m about bursting out of my skin excited to go to the lesson and get learning again
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Yay for progress and lessons! It seems like you’re starting to figure out what works for him. Fingers crossed it continues.
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Thanks. He is so different from Gem. It’s taking me a while to get out of old routines and habits and form new ones with him
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I literally just screamed out loud at your last line and woke my dogs up. Sorry Ollie and Gretch HA So happy you have a lesson scheduled. Go with an open mind! and have fun…
and he (H’appy) was probably not quite awake yet when he tried to bite you. Remus is the GRUMPIEST after he is asleep. Then after he is awake he is like oh sorry was I being grumpy and trying to crawl into my pocket. Horses!
Glad the stuff seems to be working with him making him listen to you! And LOL on Gem and Pete leaving him to the wolves 🙂 nice pair. And I hope Wyatt is better now. that sucks when kids are sick. Sucks when we are sick! I hope you lysoled your pillow 🙂 HA
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He is on the mend thankfully. Kids bounce back pretty quick.
I’m so excited for the lesson. 100% open mind ready to learn attitude about it. Mostly I hope I don’t embarrass myself by having verbal diarrhea all over the poor lady which I tend to do when nervous.
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YAY LESSON!
Aren’t smart horses the Worst Best ever? It’s hard to stay ahead of them at times, but so freaking fun when they’re on the same page as you!
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Getting him on the same page has been hard. He is smart and lazy. Gem was smart and evil but at least she was always ready to work.
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Apps are smart! He is going to teach you all the things that Gem didn’t. Horses are like that.
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He is smarter than I thought. He is teaching me all sorts of stuff
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Woohoo! Congrats on a lesson scheduled!! I’m glad he retains that info well!
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He retains what he wants to. I really think with more effort and time he is going to be an awesome partner for me.
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Yay for lessons and Eeyore retaining stuff! As for his friends abandoning him, too funny!
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It’s an odd dynamic. Gem puts up with him but mostly ignores him and hopes he gets lost or eaten. Pete loves to play with him and instigates fights all the time but then when he isn’t in the mood gives him the cold shoulder. They are helping him learn how to be a real horse
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Great news about the lesson! Applies are so smart, my dads is the exact same. Needs a full time job lol
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If I were boarding I’d be finding a half lessor for him but that’s tricky at home
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Yay! I am so happy you have a lesson scheduled!
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I’m so excited!!!!
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