These are times of changes. Certainly eruptions and shifts deep within, and some milder changes without.
Yesterday I took our Haflinger, Soli, to live for a year or so in Maine with some friends who voiced the desire to learn to drive. RNB is not doing anything with Soli, I am not doing anything with Soli, and these folks would love to learn from him and with him. It was clear and simple and quick from the start of our conversations to my delivering him.
It was a mini-vacation for me as well. I slept about 10 hours last night in their guest room! I had little idea how tired I was.
Soli -- well, he'll be fine there. I gave my friends the puzzle of his buggy harness and they sorted it out and harnessed him up with few directions from me. I demonstrated ground driving him after he was hitched to the cart, then each of them took over the reins and one by one got into the cart and practiced in their ring. They were great. He is not a horseman, she is. Soli took them both in stride. I've never before seen this man wear a smile as wide as when he had the reins and was steering Soli through some cones.
This morning, we went out in twos (she and I, then she and he) for a drive up the road and back.
Soli is such a social horse. I never noticed as much as those hours there in Maine. I show up and he comes to be close. He offered almost as much eagerness to them as well.
They have two mares who were not very interested in Soli. I suspect that will change but pointed out how for now that can help Soli think well of what the humans have to offer -- not just hay and water and grooming, but companionship.
I'm grateful Soli did not whinny as I drove off. That would have tipped the tears out of my eyes...
1 comment:
That must have been hard for you, but they sound like they will take good care of Soli. I know that feeling of really deep, relaxed sleep when away from home. When I was in St. Louis earlier this month, it felt so weird not to have to wake up to feed the horses. I was free, but there was an emptiness that I was glad to fill when I got back to my routine at home. I hope that all was as it should be when you came home.
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