For the past couple of days, 'Mr F' has been grumpy and somewhat dull. He clearly also was rather sore. At first I thought it might be his hooves, I have taken him out on short walks on the tarmac drive a fair amount. The barefoot trimmer had pointed out to me that there had been some abrasion to his hooves because of it. This was particularly encouraged by coming out of a wet field right before the walk without hoof boots. The hoof is still wet and therefore softer and more susceptible to abrasion.
I am in progress of getting a fresh set of hoof boots for 'Mr F'. We always used to go out with hoof boots.
2 days ago 'Mr F' suddenly started playing his 'catch-me-if-you-can' game as soon as he sees me enter the field with the head-collar. He doesn't just run off, oh no. He makes sure that the other horses come with him too by trying to group them up and herding them away from me because he doesn't want to 'escape' on his own. This in turn confuses the other horses, in this case the youngsters. They look at me puzzled and worried and clearly realise that it is my appearance that triggers this reaction from 'Mr F' yet they don't understand why he suddenly sees me as a 'disturbance'. I am always aware that whatever I do in the field affects all horses present. I am fond of them all and treat them as I would like mine to be treated if handled by another person. I am always trying to make things as clear and simple as possible so that they understand.
Seeing that 'Mr F' isn't having any of it and stomps around getting more frustrated I drop the head-collar with attached lead-rope. I do not want to confuse the youngsters any further, they wanted to come and say hello but 'Mr F' didn't let them as he wanted to herd them away from me. There have been a few occasions in the past where he displayed this behaviour and it is always a clear message aimed at me: "You are not fetching me because you are not listening to what I am telling you."
I have clearly overstretched it again. Too many repeat exercises making him not only sore (bearing in mind that the exercises are addressing muscles he hasn't been using properly) but also bored. Coming out with me was no longer fun for him and he was also not feeling comfortable with his body. That was his message and I had better listen!
Having dropped the head collar and lead rope I sit on the ground in the field and let things be. 'Mr F' comes to me eyeing me up and then walks off. The youngsters too come to say hello and are calm again. After a little while I get up and fetch 'Mr F's feed. He shows little interest in it but that is not unusual. It's a new field with plenty of grass (compared with their winter field the had just left a few days ago) and other food was no longer interesting. This will change after a week when the grass becomes 'boring' and the best blades have been eaten.
The following day 'Mr F' lets me put on the head collar but I can't move him anywhere. We've been here before. (see here - catch me if you can!) I have learnt my lesson, it's best to leave him alone for a day or two.
The next morning 'Mr F' looks like standing death. I have seen that before too. He showed hardly any interest in his feed (I only made up a very small portion to test). Very clearly, he is bored and in discomfort. After months of being in at night from approx. 4pm till 7am (average 15 hours indoors) he is now out 24/7. That is an extra 15 hours of moving, even if it is just grazing. But it's on a slope. And on top of that he has had physio, I did the exercises and overdid them certainly by doing them every day. It is impossible to tell just how the fractured him has healed up but it clearly was still easily aggravated. Not going to put him on bute again, last time he went very dull and it didn't make a difference in his mobility. In fact he was too dull to be bothered to move.
I have to prove to 'Mr f' that I am listening to his message. If I get him to come down to the bottom level (we are on the third level) were the main yard is we can go for a stroll along the drive. He enjoys going out.
He let me put on his head collar this time and quite happily followed me out of the field. But he refused to go downhill. No chance to make 550kg of meat move by just pulling. Shouting at the horse is no use, especially not 'Mr F'. He cannot stand loud angry voices, he goes into distant mode and you might as well talk to a wall. To him, any kind of emotion is unpredictable behaviour and he doesn't see that as secure. That much I have learnt over the years.
At this moment 'Jackie' came to feed her boys ('Rookie' and 'Zac'). When they had finished I asked her if she could give 'Mr f's bottom a few smacks as soon as I ask him to move and he doesn't. I didn't have a wip or I would have used that for encouragement. Although I don't like doing it but sometimes, and its quite rare, I have to revert to this method of phases. I knew he wouldn't kick out, he is not that kind of horse.
It took several smacks before he finally gave in and decided that it might be more pleasant for us all if he would get moving.
I wanted to get him to come with me to go and eat some grass along the drive, like we used to. I wanted him to understand that my appearance doesn't always mean work. Which of course it had over the past 3-4 days, especially when in discomfort. That's enough to 'Mr F' fed up even more so as he has now a nice field together with his young mates.
Eventually 'Mr F' followed me willingly albeit with a concerned expression. I stayed out with him until he was in a better frame of mind.
There is no point doing anything with the horse if it isn't in a good frame of mind. It just won't work.
We walk along the drive for a while but 'Mr f' does a fair bit of neighing and replying to 'Zac's calls. 'Zac' doesn't like it at all when 'Mr F' leaves. It is rare that 'Mr f' calls out for any horses, very rare. It's always a sign that he isn't content / secure / comfortable. He either doesn't trust me right now (seeing me loose my temper, he cannot cope with that, and why should he) or he is in a fair amount of discomfort. Most likely both. We stay out long enough for 'Mr f' to settle down before we slowly make our way back. He is in no hurry to go back really. But more surprisingly: he is not at all keen to go back into his field, as I assumed he would be.
'What do you want?' I wonder ....
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