In Focus: Horse of the Month, Andee

There are many times when I find myself desperately yearning to get inside the mind of a horse. To have an answer to explain the quirks in their behavior, the reason they do the things they do, would be a load off of my - and probably the majority of the horse-loving population's - mind. But my wish is for more than that. I wish for understanding of what they've been through, seen, and experienced. What they are really thinking when staring at us with deep brown soulful eyes...

This was on my mind the other day as I watched one of our sweet rescue mares, Andee. Her story is not anything spectacular or newsworthy - she came "retired" from Warm Beach Christian Camp, no longer fitting in with the resident herd there. More than likely, a good portion of her life was spent with young children on her back, handfuls of carrots, prodding fingers of curiosity and wonder, and perhaps even the occasional nuisance. But we'll never know her full story and are only left with who she is now to tell us what she has been before. For the most part, she's an easy and sweet keeper who has a real soft spot for treats. She always nickers loudly when I make my way down the aisle, greeting all of the horses in the barn...as if I could possibly overlook her. Her nicker grows by the decibel if she knows I have a carrot or treat in my pocket, which I usually do (do you really think Tuff would let me get away with not having one?). She's always been a pleasure to groom and work with. But yet she's older and has very likely seen her share of trials - and, I imagine, having lived in a herd of horses where she had to really work for her share of the attention and focus, it's made her a little - grumpy. Wouldn't you be?

And so I found myself staring at her this day. She was favoring one of her front legs and squinting a bit. After Cowboy looked her over and turned her out to pasture, she stood quite still for a while and seemed to be lost in another world. As I watched her, I wished I knew what she felt. This incredible, beautiful animal who is full of emotions that run deep and a nature more sensitive than some people I know....and yet I felt so removed from her. There is a story in her sweet, warm eyes. And although I may never know every past chapter in detail, I can do my part to ensure the happiness and peace of her present one...and work towards the happy ending of which she is so deserving. It's our responsibility, and frankly our honor, to work on behalf of horses like Andee.

We never know the impact that a kind gesture or action can have on another life, no matter how small...these animals are so generous and selfless in their desire to please us. Giving back just a fraction to them of what I am able and they are not, is the least I can do.

Happy Endings Update!

Tara, a sweet 21 year old Arab mare, was adopted out to a home in Anacortes a few months ago. We had gotten the initial reports that all was well and she was doing fabulously in her new home. Only one thing took us by surprise - we learned that Tara was blind in one eye! You never would have known it with this sweet and willing girl who was such an easy keeper...

On Tuesday, I was meandering my way down the dark aisle of the main barn as the power had gone out in the middle of the wind and rain we were having. I happened to run into a nice man named Tony who was looking for Cowboy and Jennifer. We began chatting and I learned he was also looking for another horse - a large one that some of his friends of the taller persuasion could ride on trails. I showed him two of our rescues, Saint and Bennie, and I then discovered he had adopted a rescue some time back. As he described "Chitara", my mind not making the connection, he regaled me with stories of her new life at his barn. "I ride her into town for coffee every morning," he grinned, "that horse is going to be with me until the day she dies." I smiled at the image of this small horse patiently waiting outside of the bustling coffee shop, gently munching nearby grass as she waited for her owner. It wasn't until he said Anacortes that I realized - "Oh, Tara!" With this horse I was quite familiar.

Tara came into rescue from her loving owner Carolyn, who was unable to afford the upkeep any longer. It was with bittersweet joy that we watched her finally get a home, many months after coming to the barn. And from what Tony shared with me that day, it sounds like a better home could not have been found. It's happy endings like this that help keep us motivated on this path...and knowing that Tara is in a wonderful home where she is lavished with love and affection gives us hope for the next horse in rescue to find that same happiness they so deserve...

PS - A Tuff update, because I couldn't possibly write on here without mentioning the star... Thanks to the prompting of Gretchen and the assistance of Cowboy, I had my second ride with the Tuff monster today. On days such as today, I can no longer avoid the nagging question at the back of my mind - is Tuff taking advantage of you, Kristin? Absurd! Preposterous! Absolutely, 100%..........true. Although I love connecting with him this way, I cannot deny that the moment Cowboy left the round pen, Tuff came to a screeching halt. And he does it oh so well, this art of being still. Oh I kicked and I clucked and I urged and I commanded and we went maybe.....mmmm, 10 feet? And that's being generous. But ya know, I love him anyway. And I know we'll get there - someday.