Sweet Wild Syringa

[baymule]

Baby steps. Then big girl steps. She is coming along.

 

[thistlebloom]

I like this Ray Hunt quote - "First you go with them, then they go with you, then you go together."

 

[flowerbug]

i'm just glad to read about this second hand. i don't think i'd ever willingly walk behind a horse ever. i love 'em, but from a safe distance...

as for the mane, can you clip a little at time? just to gradually do it instead of making a big issue out of it. thinking out loud/aka at the keyboard...

the continued story is fun to read.

 

[flowerbug]

i'm just glad to read about this second hand. i don't think i'd ever willingly walk behind a horse ever. i love 'em, but from a safe distance...

as for the mane, can you clip a little at time? just to gradually do it instead of making a big issue out of it. thinking out loud/aka at the keyboard...

the continued story is fun to read.

 

[Nyboy]

You shave horses how many times a year ?

 

[so lucky]

What a great continuing story! Really pretty horse. I hate that you have to cut off her mane, but I guess it will grow back.

 

[ninnymary]

Love your patients and knowledge!

How long does it take for a mane to grow back?

You lost me at the high tie haha.

Mary

 

[Collector]

Great story thistle, I wish you much continued success with her. Slow and steady wins the race.

 

[thistlebloom]

You shave horses how many times a year ?

I don't ever shave horses, but in some circles they do get body clipped for winter riding, to help the coat dry faster when they sweat. For winter they don't clip the entire body, just those sections that would get the sweatiest. Those are also horses that are kept in barns and blanketed.

I do keep a small section of mane clipped short behind the ears, a "bridle path" so the headstall lies close and no fiddly mane gets in the way when I bridle. Most folks I ride with don't do that, it's out of horse fashion now I suppose.

A mane can grow back pretty quickly, and I hate to cut hers, but under the top loose hairs it's just a matted mess.

Right now I'm getting her accustomed to the sound of the scissors opening and closing close to her and just rubbing them along her neck and on top of her mane. I know she'll be fine once I start, but I expect she will jump around at the first few clips so it's not going to be pretty exactly.

 

[thistlebloom]

You lost me at the high tie haha.

Mary

That is just where the tie strap is attached to the tree above her head. Then if they pull back hard and thrash around they can't get much leverage to break anything.