monday musings by shyloh #5

The lady did not come to visit me today. Actually, she has a name, like I have a name! Her name is Allie. When she drives by my paddock she calls "Shyloh!" and I look up! That's me! And when she leaves, she says "Bye Shy!" and I know that she is talking to me!

We had such a nice weekend. We spent the whole day together. I am really liking Allie! We did some fun things and I do not have to be scared around her. She does not hurt me, so I do what she asks (mostly) as long as I know what she is asking. I try to be as good as I can for her and I get lots of scratches and hugs and treats for it. Although, she did not like it when I nipped her, but I was just looking for food and I have not done it again.

The best part of the weekend. . .Caesar moved! So now I have the whole paddock to myself and I do not have to worry about getting bit all the time. My fur will have time time to grow back before winter starts. I do hope another horse comes out, so I don't get too lonely! Wouldn't it be great if another Haflinger came to live with me? wink wink. . .or  a donkey? 

I hope I can stay with Allie forever. It is great here! All the people are real nice and feed me treats. I get to play with other horses, I get grass (but never enough!), I have a sweet set up to live in, and all the boys just love me!  Maybe they found this old back issue. . .I am SURE that they read all the articles. 

Yeah. . . I live a pretty cool life.

~Shyloh

good dog. . .bad pony

I went out to the barn early so I could take Cooper when I knew there would not be a lot of people there. He had a blast!

Shyloh, on the other hand, not so good. Her cut has not scabbed over and she seems sore on her back end (either from getting kicked or slipping in the mud). Caesar kicked/bit her a few more times since yesterday. Why won't she learn her lesson and stay away from him? I discovered that Caesar is now getting grain, so Shy is probably trying to steal it and he is not letting her. Mike gets real upset that Shyloh is getting beat up. I am not thrilled about it, but they are horses, so as long as she does not get seriously injured, a few kicks and bites are not bad. I was going to work with her on lunging and attempting to jump over poles, but I decided if she is sore, then we will just hang out in the arena. 

After a little bit, Caesar's people came and wanted to ride him in the arena, so I let Shy out to graze. When I went to bring her back in, she bit me! Ouch! And now I have a bruise.  At first, trying to give her the benefit of the doubt, I thought maybe she did not mean it. . .but then I thought again and decided that she did mean it and was probably upset because I was bringing her in from grazing. I did let her know that biting is unacceptable behavior. I think this is more testing to see what she can get away with, as she gets more comfortable with me and the barn. But, I am so disappointed in her, I was just saying yesterday how she has not bit me since I verbally corrected her the first time. 

Cooper is napping as I write this, he is exhausted from his morning at the barn. He never rested, except to lay in mud puddles, as evidenced here. . .

and here. . . Why does he love to lay in mud??

Cooper and Shyloh finally met each other and he finally knew where all that good smell that I come home covered in was coming from.

First meeting! 

They played a little in the arena. . .

Sniff sniff

Shy following Cooper

Cooper checking Shy out as she rolls

And out in the pasture. . .

Cooper made a new friend, Murphy the barn dog! They were tearing it up, running up and down the aisle and out in the pastures!

Running so fast!

Vrooom! Cooper and Murphy! Cooper keeps up pretty good for his age!

All three of them in the arena

Fun times!

I think Cooper has earned himself some more trips to the barn. Now only if Maggie did not act like a wild dingo in public, she could come, too. But that probably won't happen. . .

the honeymoon is over

Head for the hills, it's about to be a bumpy ride! I think Shyloh's honeymoon period is over. When I worked in residential care and foster care with juveniles and at-risk youth, there was a period of time when they first entered care that we referred to as the "honeymoon." During this time, the youth was well behaved, just kind of sitting back and taking in the new surroundings. After about a month, the "testing" testing phase would begin, where the youth would see how far they could push every one's buttons and see what they can get away with.  


I think I am at this point with Shyloh. She was wary, yet assessing her new situation and deciding for herself how to read me. And I think I am about to be tested big time! I have to keep reminding myself to be clear, concise, and consistent. That nip yesterday was the first in a series of a testing and trying time. All I know is that I need to come out on top! 


What is it with people wanting me to hit the horse? Is this really a necessary part of owning a horse? I would really like to get some comments on that. Yes, Shy bit my arm yesterday. Did she mean to bite it, I do not know, maybe. But, I take full responsibility for that. I was letting her comfort herself by licking me when she was nervous. Or so, I thought because it seemed like when I asked her to do stuff that was out of her comfort zone, she wanted to come in and lick. Then the licking progressed to pushing the fronts of her teeth on me. Yesterday, it ended with a nip. So, Shy is done with the licking. She will have to find a new coping mechanism.

When I yelled out in pain and disbelief, someone in the arena commented that oops, I got bit. I turned around and she stated that next time I need to wail my horse. I must have given a sour look at this (I have little control over my facial expressions), because then she added that I could pinch the neck. She stated that pinching the neck is more natural, because that is how the horses correct each other and it feels like a nip to them. I am not sold on this method yet, either. 

Another thing. . . Shy "mentioned" yesterday that I took her halter off. She has not had her halter off (except for being bridled) since the first week she came to the barn. Even then, Robin had fashioned a "catch tab" to attach to the halter. I have since removed the tab and have been able to catch her pretty easily. Today, my only goal was to successfully catch Shyloh and halter her. 


And it worked!! All it took was a butterscotch! After I haltered her, I took her for a walk around the property and let her graze. Shy is quite different outside than she is inside the arena. I wonder if she was ever worked inside before. Outside, her walk was much better, she even trotted while I ran next to her! She refuses to do that inside! She seemed much more confident while we were walking through the grass and did not spook once. One day soon, I want to go into the big pasture with Shy after the other horses go inside. There is a pond that I want to check out.


We visited with the other horses still in their pastures and checked out the new pasture that is in the process of being fenced in. We also went in the round pen. Now, I think Shy has been in a round pen before. I am not sure if it is instinct or previous experience, but when she got in there, she started trotting at the edges. 


After our walk and graze, I took Shy back to her paddock. We had a really good day. Small steps=big success to me! I took her halter off again today. I imagine it being the equivalent to me taking my bra off at the end of the day, sweet relief!

Shyloh completely enjoying her mouthful of grass and a cool breeze! Sweet bliss!

monday musings by shyloh #1

I have so much to share today. . .but that is going to have to wait. I am going to start a new segment called Monday Musings by Shyloh, where I write from Shy's perspective. I think that this will be a good exercise for me in writing and thinking about things from Shy's point of view. It may also be funny. . .so here goes. . .

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So, the people got wise to my grain stealing and put a new feeder out for Chick, my BFF, that attaches to the gate. Now I can't slide the bowl away! But, Chick loves me so much that he leaves some for me. He knows that I am a hungry girl!

The lady came again today. She comes almost every day. I am still not sure what her deal is. Today she came while Chick was out with his lady. I kept calling to him, but he was ignoring me because he was eating grass. I wanted to eat grass! I love grass! It is so tasty! 

The lady is so strange! She didn't come to see me right away, she hung out with Chick and his lady. Then, when she did come to see me, she went straight back to where the water is. I trotted behind her, but every time she looked back, I stopped. Haha. I don't want to her know how interested I am in her, because for some reason she is really interested in me. She always wants to touch me and stuff. But she gives me treats, so I do what she asks of me, for the most part.

The lady really is a weirdo. She hung out where I live for a while, but didn't do anything. I tried to played catch me if you can, but she wasn't interested. Then, I saw the strangest sight. . .a little horse, smaller than me was kinda by my fence. I thought I was the smallest horse ever, but I guess I was wrong! It was the strangest little thing. The lady and the other lady went to get it. There were three total, just loose out front. I guess they took them where they belong, because when they came back, the little horses were gone. 

Finally, the second best part of my day came! Hay time! Nom nom nom! I love hay. The lady stayed and watched me eat (I said she was odd), and kept dropping this thing. I wasn't scared. I had hay and Chick didn't seem to care about it. So it was all good. But then, the lady put the leas rope on me! We went inside and to the place where I she does all this funky stuff to me, then I have to undo it by rolling in the dirt. But I wasn't done eating! Not fair!

Look at all that hay left, and you want to do what with me?

Oh well. I was getting brushed and getting my neck scratched. I love love love getting my neck scratched!  Then I had to stand for what seemed like the longest time ever just waiting. People kept coming up to me and petting me. I am okay with that now, but still a little unsure. I mean, hey, I don't know them! I don't know what they want from me or what their angle is. If they have food, I welcome them to touch me, though. I did get to try something new today! Ryleigh's lady gave me coffee! It was a sugar filled delight! So good, it makes me want to smack your mama, or pucker my lips in a funny fashion!

After eternally waiting, we went into the big sandy area. It was busy in there today! Bob, my first love was there, and so was Ryleigh, Resy, Shamon and Eli. But I was well behaved. . .at first. I walked this maze thing a bunch of times, then I walked it backwards and over poles. This is easy stuff, but, backwards is so scary! I can't see where I am going and I am not sure the lady knows what she is doing. But, I will give this to her. . .once again, we made it safely through the maze. So, mayabe she does kinda know what she is doing. . .the jury is still out on that.  Ryleigh was doing the maze with me. Then Resy wanted to take his rider through the maze! Shamon and Eli also went through it too! And the best part was that Bob took his rider through! Bob is new to being ridden and he was fantastic! All the other horses did great, too, but I got real bored just standing around. I pawed the ground to let this be known to the lady. I mean, I am a pretty patient pony, but this was getting ridiculous! Plus, I had hay waiting for me!

The maze

The lady tried to walk me backwards through the maze again. Well, I was not having any of that, so I bit her. Partly because I was wanting my hay, partly because I was tired, partly because I had to stand around doing nothing for so long, and partly because I wanted to see what she would do. The crazy lady screamed and made a crazy sound. But that was it. I knew she was not happy about what I did but I did not get hit. . .I may have to test this out again. . .But now she won't let my mouth near her! Seriously, how bad could it hurt? Chick bites me all the time and I am fine and dandy.

I did a few other things for the lady, then she gave me a delicious banana and a scrumptious apple. Did I mention that I love food? As we were walking back outside to my hay, I tried to nibble on some grass. The lady was not letting me. So I pulled harder. Grass is so good, why didn't she understand this? All I got was a little bit, then I went to my home to finish my hay. Chick was waiting for me. 

One more thing. . .before she turned me loose, the lady took off my halter.  I wonder what this means. . .

~Shyloh

making progress!

Today was a great day at the barn, aside from the heat and the 747 sized horse flies! But, I could be hot in my house with the broken air conditioning or hot at the barn, so I chose barn. Mike surprised me yet again by coming out to the barn! He never tells me when he is coming, he just shows up.

When we got to the barn, we couldn't see Shyloh. She did not appear to be in her paddock. I figured that she had to be somewhere. Mike said he saw her in the lean-to. So I went and got some grain and walked over to her paddock. Sure enough, she saw that red bowl and came trotting over from the lean-to. Everyone was watching. . .Mike, Robin, Rob, Kathy, and Sandy. Shy did not disappoint. She came straight to the grain, I grabbed her catch rope, and put the lead on her. Then we walked out and to the back grass for some grazing. When we came in, Shy got some loving from me, Robin, Sandy, and Kathy. She was very into it today!!

I spent some time grooming Shy and hosing her off. At one point, she bit my thumb! But that was completely my fault. It is still throbbing, though. . . Then, into the arena to roll. . .which she did. 

I played some following games with her and she followed me around and let me touch her. Improvement!! Me and Shy watched Ryleigh in his pasture run around like crazy, splashing through the water and bucking for fun. Today, my goal was to try and put the fly mask on her. I showed it to her, let her sniff it, and even put it on myself. I was shocked when she let me put it on her, especially when I had to grab and ear to put it on! She does not like her ears touched at all! But Shy was perfect! Robin even cut a hole in the top so her forelock could hang out. 

After our great day, I put Shy back in her paddock. On the way back, she kept stopping and I had to keep telling her to walk on. It seemed to me that she was saying that she didn't want to go back there, she wanted to hang out with me some more. . . Today was such a great day that I want to go back to the barn tonight! I probably won't (gotta chill with the dogs), but it makes me feel good to see improvements in my pony!