cause and effect

The Cause:

A regular garden hose

The Effect:

Can you find the damage?

Today was absolutely beautiful! Half day of work, awesome lunch with coworkers and a coworker who went to work in Pennsylvania and came back to visit. Sun, nice weather. . . what a perfect day to work with the pony, right?

Wrong. 

I took my time grooming Shyloh and trying to get as much hair out of her as possible, while eating as little hair as possible. Then I hooked her up to her cart. I stood at her head to turn her around when the shaft brushed the hose. Shy felt it and lurched forward. The hose got caught and off Shy ran. And ran. And ran. And ran. She ran a million miles an hour with the cart behind her. She ran and bucked and was just wild. 

But Shy finally stopped herself and some other people at the barn caught her. I was shaking I was so upset. I didn't know if Shy was hurt, if the cart was totaled, if anyone else was hurt. . .all I knew was that the whole winter I spent working with Shy was gone. Gone. Damn, I could have spent all winter warm in my house and not freezing my ass off with Shy. And the cart needs to be welded and needs two new wheels.

After me and two other people checked Shy up and down, we concluded that she amazingly did not get hurt. No cuts, no scratches, no heat, no swelling. She will probably be a little sore, so I gave her some bute (the first time I ever had to use it with her) and continued to keep and eye on her. 

Then I had my meltdown. I cried. And anyone who knows me knows I am not a crier. I can't even remember the last time I shed a tear. I was beyond upset. I was going to have to start all over. At the beginning. After we had come so far. I sat on the ground crying while the people at my barn got my cart, brought my horse over, gave her some hay, and were just awesome. I love the people at my barn. 

With the meltdown, came the doubts. Doubts that Shy could be a cart horse or even a riding horse. Doubts that she can do this with me teaching her. Doubts that she will ever be a safe horse for me.  While I was wallowing in my pit of doubts, my crazy horse seemed to sense I needed cheering up and started doing this:

Silly. So hard to stay mad at her!

But I pulled myself together and my Shy work. I put her harness back on and took her line driving. I took her line driving everywhere she ran. She had no reaction. She was walking with her head down, stopping and standing when I asked, no problem steering. She was a little clenchy with her butt and when I dragged my feet she scooted a bit, but other than that it was like nothing happened. 

Pretty tail

Maybe there is some light at the end of the accident tunnel. Maybe we won't be put back quite as far as I thought. I have some great friends in Ohio, here in Michigan, and at the barn that are all willing to help. We might just get to that place we are searching for yet!