The suspense of waiting for my new horse is killing me. I'd be happy just to hear something.
Those of you who have been reading here for a few years might remember Anchor. He is the big bay who was my first choice when I got Tonka. He'd be, let's see...10 years old now. 6 of those years owned but avoiding people. I worked my but off for a couple months with that big dude, 3 years ago. I removed his rotten old, broken halter that he'd worn for 3 years. He was leading pretty well, but I was still very nervous when I took him out of the mustang pen. He's so strong, and wasn't really trusting me. I had managed to trim his front feet with a chisel, a hacksaw, and a lot of patience. Eventually I even picked them up and worked on them in a more conventional way.
Anyway. Anchor is still looking for a good home. I know he'd like it here. I know I'd enjoy working with him. But I don't know if I could make him a good riding horse. He's so old, and has been so successful with his mistrust of humans.
Seems like horses are coming out of the woodwork, and all of them I like. But I don't feel like they're The Horse. And I'm not hearing back from the BLM! So hard to be patient!
I wish I could bring Anchor home. If I had unlimited budget for pet horses I would. I did love that boy. At the time, I told them I wanted him, but since he'd been halter broke they wanted to continue with him. Then life happened, they had other broke horses to ride, they had jobs, not enough time, and they had a baby. You know how it goes. They're good people. I'm glad they never took him to a sale.
Crap. I'm almost talking myself into this. Stupid.
In other news, I have a reliable, paying job! I'm still doing the equine dentistry assistant job, of course, but that's just a few days here and there. Now my vet assistant job at the spay/neuter clinic is no longer volunteer! Well, only for one day a week, but soon it will probably be 2 days a week. Yay! It's only part time, but it might be all we need to make ends meet. I hope. Because that still leaves lots of time for horse work.
5 comments:
Poor old guy, he doesn't look very happy does he? Not as in abused unhappy but as in, no longer free unhappy. I'm sure if someone with the time (and know how) could take him home he could have a job which would maybe keep his mind off of the fact that he isn't free anymore. Do you suppose he still remembers? He sure is a nice looking guy though.
It sucks that we can't save them all doesn't it? I see a lot of horses that need help, they need rescued, or just need to be someplace other than where they are. I want to help them all, but I have already long exceded my own personal budget for horses. If I was still on my own, I'd probably still only have one. Good old stringhalt Danny.
In someways I envy the people who still see horses as tools. Their hearts don't break when one goes down, or when they see one being wasted. On the other hand, they never get to know the pure joy of that special bond between a horse and its human. So maybe I don't really envy them at all.
YOUR horse will come, I have no doubt.
He wasn't a super active guy that would be traumatized just from being in a small pen. But I'm sure it's not the same as being out in the wild, sparring with other boys and maybe hoping to win himself some mares. Of course, now he is assured of feed year round...
I don't envy the people who just use them. Everything good that I get out of working with horses comes from putting my heart into it. But it sure doesn't feel good right now. I've never had a loss like this. I can hardly force myself to go out and spend time with the horses I still have. I'm not sure how to fill up my days. I find myself counting down to bedtime. Not good. I'm sure it'll pass. It'd help if I had a new horse to play with.
Listen to your instincts first and then your heart.
Good news on the job front :)
~Lisa
I can sense your tug/pull clear through cyberspace. All horses should have a person like you to care for them.
Yep, I can't even be bothered riding if it isn't a horse I have taken the time to develop some sort of relationship with. I don't know how anyone can enjoy riding along with a horse who ignores them or even worse, resents them, underneath! It's all about the TEAM!
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