Quality Time Is Important

After that bandage incident 'Mr F' just wasn't quite the same. I cannot possibly describe what I mean, it just was 'in the air'. 

He did seem a little 'down trodden' as well and sometimes just stood in the stable, staring into a corner. Something I hadn't seen him before. 

In my head I went through all the possible causes, appart from that incident with the bandages. 

This is when it suddenly occured to me that I hadn't been spending as much time with him as I used to. We didn't spend any 'quality' time together. Our time together over the past months had been either either mucking out, doing hoof maintenance or grooming and the odd ride. I was pre-occupied with other matters.

'Mr F' doesn't react well to harsh words or rough treatment, in the rare situations I should foolishly choose this option as a last resort he quickly makes me understand that this is not 'how things are done' and closes down, refusing to co-oporate until I come up with the right method. 

And looking back it is usually the best method and one that works with other horses too.

'Mr F' is a horse that needs living beings around him. If its a human, than he will make sure for some time that he trusts that person. He may look placid and willing, but you get on the wrong side of him and you'll know. 'Mr F' isn't an 'cuddly' horse, his way of showing affection (and horses do do that) is not so much through touch but more through being close. The only exception is our grooming routine (you scratch my back, I scratch yours). Most of the time when I go to say hello in the field, he comes up and prefers to just stand next to me, his nose very close to my face, side by side. That's all that is needed.

Then we have 'Kitten' who is showing a great deal of her affection by nibbles my neck and skull with her lips. Its her morning greeting. 

So, having come to realise that I was somewhat neglecting 'Mr F' mental well being by not spending the right kind of time with him I had to change. 

Yesterday evening I went to muck out and while I was in the stable, 'Mr F' sort of turned away from me and just stood there, hanging his head, giving a very depressed appearance. Out of impulse I went to place my hands on his body, not thinking but to just feel with my hands 'Mr F's body. I felt the hair of his coat, his ribs, his gentle breathing, the warmth, his scent. It was very peaceful and I felt my palms become very warm. I don't know for how long i did this but at some point my housemate came out to check if I was OK as it was now dark and I apparently had been out here for some time.

I put 'Mr F's' rug back on and stood with him for a while before going indoors for food and sleep.

The next early morning when I went to muck out, his eyes had 'opened up' again, he was no longer distant. We went on a ride with 'Lililan' later that afternoon and I noticed that he was moving much better and 'Lillian' noticed it too.

It appears we are once more reading off the same page.