Comments:

1. I love the sheepskin mitt picture–that’s one happy horse.

   • He is :)

2. beautiful

   • Thank you!

3. Awww, he looks so happy!

   • Both of us!

4. Hi, Tonka seems to be one happy fellow!! I have a question, I’ve been wondering for a while. Why is his mane cut so short?? Wondering because we never cut a mane that was grown out. We did “roach” the working horses sometimes.
   Just wondering :-)

   • The short mane is an English style. I like it :) Tidy, and shows off his lovely neck. It’s not actually cut (which would look awful), but rather I use a technique that breaks the hairs. (Some people pull it out by the roots, I don’t do that.)

5. Terry, thank you for the link to Karen Pryor’s book. I devoured it, and ordered another. I had no idea just how many animals, and people, can benefit from clicker training! I cannot wait to get started on some dogs and horses that I sit for!!

   • Karen Pryor changed my world – that was 20 years ago – and she continues to make a difference for animals and people. So pleased that you found her. Just a caveat – I wouldn’t start actually clicking with horses just yet. They’re a difficult species to train with the clicker without also creating issues. But, do use the perspective of looking for the behaviors you want, and making those actions rewarding to the animal. I’ll be writing more blogs about this!

6. That’s what you call a shine.!! Jess spends hours grooming the 3 horses she is looking after, she uses a mitt and brushes the same as you do. Where its been so wet and muddy they get really gunky, but they love being done. She calls them in from the field and lets them choose who’s done first, the others wait there turn politely. Lovely to see the before and after results..:)

7. Horse’s do NOT sleep lying down unless they are sick.

   • I’m glad that you posted. It’s a misconception that horses don’t sleep lying down. Just like us, they need REM sleep, and they do that best when lying down. However, horses want a comfy and soft place, so if the facility only has rocky ground, if the stall is dank, or if the horse doesn’t feel safe and so only catnaps, then the horse will not lie down. Give a horse a clean, deeply bedded stall, or a pasture with grass – or even a nice sandy spot – and the horse will happily sleep sprawled out. I know that Tonka has had a good night’s rest when I have a lot of shavings to pick out of his tail :)

8. For many summers, I taught riding and basic stable and horse management. And that included grooming and tack care, among other topics. Every week we had an in-action ‘quiz’ and every month a Horse Mastery ‘test’. I used to give special points to those kids who could get their horses to lean into their grooming tool, or –the best– actually cause them to groan when they got the touch just right. It taught them to calibrate the tool, vigor and pressure they used to be just right, as evidenced by the horse actively wanting more, or leaning in. Demerits were given for those who ‘dropped’ a hoof, rather than carefully placing it on the ground after picking, or who pulled a mane so much the horse shook his head, forgot to wipe out the inside of ears or nostrils, etc. Most of these horse crazy kids loved these lessons and the quizzes and ‘tests’ as much as the riding lessons. One of the many ‘tests’ was to “groom a horse to perfection”, which included evaluating how much the horse enjoyed the process as well as a very formal, point by point final inspection by me, with a line of big eyed, giggling little girls and boys nervously awaiting the results. A sure winner was once dethroned because she inadvertently hung on the lead shank and halter too often when leading her horse, pulling the horse’s head down unnecessarily. The strictness came with a wink and a smile (and sometimes a put on exaggerated British accent), but the points were real and all about teaching respect and kindness toward these magnificent animals as well as the specific skills. I started most kids on a black Shetland pony named Boo Boo that so loved being groomed –any time, anywhere, and allll day if possible– he would close his eyes, groan, pick up each hoof in sequence before anyone touched the leg, and twitch his tail only when you stopped brushing him. He loved warm water baths so much that he would pull to go into the wash stall, turn himself around and back into position unaided. Parents who wanted to find riding instruction that included only in saddle work were encouraged to find another instructor. Ain’t horses grand?

   • Brilliant! Lucky students – and those paying attention skills go far beyond the horse world. Now to do this for the adult beginner horse owners who no one thinks to teach this to, and then are crushed that their horses don’t seem to like them.

9. Tonka looks so happy, and so beautiful, like he’s been varnished!

   Why don’t horses get fleas?

   • Good question! Fleas need animals that have nests and beds, like mice. Fleas also prefer a different type of fur to hide in. Once in awhile, the conditions can be right for fleas on horses – but then a lot else is wrong, too.

10. Terry, Jess uses a barrier oil on the horses hooves because its been so wet. Do you ever use a oil ??

    • I’m not sure what barrier oil is, but I avoid anything that seals the hooves. I do use hoof conditioner when the walls get dry.

      • Its not a sealant, probably a type of conditioner, helps prevent the water penetrating the hooves too much, a bit like hand cream.
        Wonderful pics, you both look very content, lovely relationship and it shows, you must be very proud..:)

11. Just the most amazing markings on that horse!

    • I never get tired of looking at him.