Post by SandyG on Jul 25, 2017 8:19:53 GMT -5
There is one in our herd that is a loner - by choice. It seems the rare time that she showed her love for a partner horse, it wasn't long after she chose a Sister that the Sister crossed. Leaving her alone. Once again, the loner.
Our Josephina came to us with a peculiar looking baby by her side. We did not go looking for a horse. She found us. We stood and looked at this pair and shook our heads. What did we do? And what do we call her? We were riding trying to shake the loss of Joseph, a small Belgian gelding that had crossed the day before and we now stood here in front of this mare, pawing the ground, ears flatter than I thought possible, head tossing, and nickering to order her baby to "Stay Next To Me!!". In honor of Joseph, this mare became Josephina.
The mare was striking - her blonde coat, white mane and tail, and those eyes!! She had white around her eyes and then the prominent black lines - eyeliner on a horse! Her eyes were the perfect set for those close ups you see in all of the photographer shows. Those eyes that saw everything but showed absolutely nothing.
Josephina is standing in the barn this morning which was reason to call Linda and celebrate through the tears! She's standing and in the barn! One more day to enjoy and baby this mare who no longer paws the earth. She is safe here and knows it. She no longer watches all the other horses for the one that will attack her, as in her past. She is safe here and knows it. She no longer uses those hind legs and those strong hips to shelter her portion of the hay and keep the others from eating her meal. She is safe here. And will be fed here. And she knows it.
Her good hind leg suffered some sort of an injury or internal failure that became visible Sunday evening. And now her good leg is her bad leg which makes her bad leg the leg she relies on. Dr. Rande visited and we talked. Someone who understands the heart and knows their bodies. Her hips are just worn out - those grates at the PMU lines are hard on the hips - and so we treat the injury, support her overall comfort, and wait to see how she handles it. And so we do what we do - we will medically treat her until and for as long as her body and her spirit want to go.
We've been a bit quiet about this one out of respect for the mare. Josephina is a private girl. She opened up only to Faline. She tolerated The Ole' Man and did what we asked of her for his sake. And once her duties were done there, then she returned to Faline for a few short days before her Sister By Choice decided to rest.
There is no fear in her face - only a request for touch and brushing and love and attention and cookies. This morning, as I went from horse to horse to check on them and give them their morning hug, I found a blonde nose in my back as I talked with Clyde Mare and complimented Clyde Mare on her progress with that rear leg. A blonde head asking for a bit of the attention that was being shared. Quiet love. And it is given freely to her at every request and sometimes when she may prefer to be left alone.
Prayers for Josephina. May she be clear as to her wishes. May her body support her for as long as she wants her spirit to remain in this barn. And may we humans be up to the task of supporting her at whatever hour and with whatever her wish may be. Amen.
Our Josephina came to us with a peculiar looking baby by her side. We did not go looking for a horse. She found us. We stood and looked at this pair and shook our heads. What did we do? And what do we call her? We were riding trying to shake the loss of Joseph, a small Belgian gelding that had crossed the day before and we now stood here in front of this mare, pawing the ground, ears flatter than I thought possible, head tossing, and nickering to order her baby to "Stay Next To Me!!". In honor of Joseph, this mare became Josephina.
The mare was striking - her blonde coat, white mane and tail, and those eyes!! She had white around her eyes and then the prominent black lines - eyeliner on a horse! Her eyes were the perfect set for those close ups you see in all of the photographer shows. Those eyes that saw everything but showed absolutely nothing.
Josephina is standing in the barn this morning which was reason to call Linda and celebrate through the tears! She's standing and in the barn! One more day to enjoy and baby this mare who no longer paws the earth. She is safe here and knows it. She no longer watches all the other horses for the one that will attack her, as in her past. She is safe here and knows it. She no longer uses those hind legs and those strong hips to shelter her portion of the hay and keep the others from eating her meal. She is safe here. And will be fed here. And she knows it.
Her good hind leg suffered some sort of an injury or internal failure that became visible Sunday evening. And now her good leg is her bad leg which makes her bad leg the leg she relies on. Dr. Rande visited and we talked. Someone who understands the heart and knows their bodies. Her hips are just worn out - those grates at the PMU lines are hard on the hips - and so we treat the injury, support her overall comfort, and wait to see how she handles it. And so we do what we do - we will medically treat her until and for as long as her body and her spirit want to go.
We've been a bit quiet about this one out of respect for the mare. Josephina is a private girl. She opened up only to Faline. She tolerated The Ole' Man and did what we asked of her for his sake. And once her duties were done there, then she returned to Faline for a few short days before her Sister By Choice decided to rest.
There is no fear in her face - only a request for touch and brushing and love and attention and cookies. This morning, as I went from horse to horse to check on them and give them their morning hug, I found a blonde nose in my back as I talked with Clyde Mare and complimented Clyde Mare on her progress with that rear leg. A blonde head asking for a bit of the attention that was being shared. Quiet love. And it is given freely to her at every request and sometimes when she may prefer to be left alone.
Prayers for Josephina. May she be clear as to her wishes. May her body support her for as long as she wants her spirit to remain in this barn. And may we humans be up to the task of supporting her at whatever hour and with whatever her wish may be. Amen.