Women and Horses #12

Farrier, Donna, trimming America's hooves for the first time while Maggie and Momma lend moral support and pay close attention.

Today was my 'Women and Horses' workshop at the mustang rescue. The farrier was in trimming hooves (which is done every 8 weeks, possibly 6 in summer). If our mustang was due to be trimmed, we stood with them to help when it was their turn. Before Reno got his trimmed, a couple of the others were trimmed and we were able to observe the procedure and ask questions. Chalupa was also due to have his trimmed. Reno was in the cross-ties and trimmed, while Chalupa stood very close behind him with Mona. Then Chalupa was trimmed while we all stayed in our same positions.

While the farrier was there she also trimmed America's hooves. America had never had this done before. It was a nervous moment for America and her mom. America was one of the mustangs adopted, by Michelle, at the National Wild Horse Adoption Day at the Ever After Mustang Rescue on September 26. Michelle chose the name America for her 2-year-old.

Chalupa joined us while we groomed today and stood next to me or behind me the whole time I brushed Reno. At one point, Sharon, another participant and an animal communicator-in-training, called over to me and said how cute it looked and used my camera to take these photos. Thanks, Sharon! Once the grooming was done, we practiced figure 8's and Chalupa followed Reno and me.

When it was time for class to end, our horses were to go back to their stalls. Chalupa willingly followed Reno and me. But once in the stall, Reno had other ideas. He wanted to go out and graze and when I was closing the door he flew past me knocking me down and took off for the pasture. Chalupa stayed. Every week Mona, EAMR director, asks what we've learned about our horses and/or ourselves. I learned to always be prepared for the unexpected - don't get over-confident or drop my guard, even though I'm having fun!