Wednesday, December 19th 2007

Yesterday (Wednesday) I went out in the morning to feed the horses (and the bull), as usual. And I brushed Valley (also as usual).
I started to hoof pick one of her hooves, but it got my hand really gross and dirt (cause down by the gate and barn is a mud hole 'cause they hang out there 'cause that's where all the food is). So when she finished eating, I untied her and took her over to the water hose (don't worry, it was 50 something degrees, and not really that cold out).
I turned the water hose on, and started to spray all the mud off her hooves. I was surprised that Valley (a.k.a. Vales) hardly noticed the water! After I sprayed her hooves off, I hoof picked them. I can't remember if I did just the front legs or the back too. I think just the front. I tied her up, and put Chloe back in the pasture after she finished eating. Then I untied Valley and walked her down to the lake.
Since I had washed part of Vales legs when I rinsed her hoofs off, I decided to walk her around until her legs were almost dry. So I started in a big circle and walked her around. . .and around. . .and around. At one certain tree, I would stop and count '1 Mississippi 2 Mississippi etc. . .' I'd go up to 10 seconds. But if she lowered her head to eat grass, I'd pull her head back up, and start back at 1, counting until she could stay there for 10 seconds without lowering her head.
I did this for a while, and one time around she tested me. I wasn't looking at her, and she tried to bite me on the arm (she kind of did!). I said, 'HEY!', and turned around and immediately started to back her up. I backed her up a couple of feet, and stopped. I disengaged her hindquarters until she looked at me and licked her lips. After she licked her lips, I took her around in the circle 2 more times -- and she behaved fine!
When I put her back into the pasture, she immediately went over to the bucket that I had put food in for the bull. I went over there to get it. After I picked it up, I let Vales stick her head in to see that there was nothing in it. But that didn't stop her. She didn't realize that the bucket was empty. She followed me to the gate -- ears back. When she got close to me, I kicked at her (don't worry! I didn't really kick her, I was just pretending. I was pretending to be another horse). I was pretending to be another horse who wanted the bucket to him/herself.
Well, that's about all, so TTUL!

Love,
Sarah