King...reaching his horse soul, chipping away one chip at a time...

King
a.k.a. Old Man
Red Roan Quarter Horse 20+ years old
I LOVE this picture I took today!
I've written about King before...
But some really cool things are beginning to happen with him! I'm just so excited!
As you know I have now read several books about training, horse behavior, communicating with the horse through your own body language...some of the old cowboy ways.
etc.
I've begun over the last two weeks to incorporate what I've been reading each day when I walk to the barn!
I owned King previously....purchased him from a horse sale about 5 years ago. He was going to the "killers" and I outbid them. Why would I want a horse under weight to the point he was a skeleton, a horse that may have had health problems, or could have been nutso?
My gut told me too. The whole night he was all I could think about, yes there were some beautiful well broke horses, but I HAD to have HIM.
At the time that I bought him I was partners with a friend.
He also saw something....King had now found a new home.
It took a few months but he quickly gained weight, walked with more "life" than before.
However, he never bonded with any of the other horses...he was always aloof and to himself.
He made me so sad.
I divorced...had to sell my horses. He and Babe (will talk about her and her story...she saved my life in a very hard and scary time)
were sold to a mutual friend, Larry.
After a couple years he got rid of his horses and King and Babe went to new homes.
Well my friend whom I partnered with in the past called me last Spring to tell me King was needing a new home, was I interested....YES!!!!
He came back to me again...it was meant to be!
King is what horse people refer to as "bomb proof", the perfect teacher for a nervous friend like myself.
But he hadn't changed...still so sad. When peering into his big beautiful brown eyes, you cannot see into the depths of his soul. Not like you should in a horse. That dreamy quality has long been gone over years of hard work and hard hands.
The light is not on.
Sadness is what his eyes tell me. Disappointment, beaten, broken, and withdrawn. He tugged at my heart and I have been determined to turn on that light that is missing from his gorgeous eyes. I've been so happy to have him back with me, I've watched him get to a normal weight, he even bonded with Bella- the first time since I've owned him that he has done that. His coat began to show signs of good health, even if he is slowly going blind in his left eye.
However even with this progress, he never sought out attention, never considered me his friend. He again, remained aloof to my attempts.
Like I mentioned I've been doing a lot of reading....I want to change his outlook on life, though once a horse has withdrawn so deeply into himself this is very difficult and often times impossible if he has been that way for a very long time.
I've been working on bonding with King more than ever using everything the books suggested.
Saturday I was laying out a huge pile of straw for him and Jack to lay in while it was cold. King did something he's never done...and it was enough to stop my heart a few beats. I was cutting the twine off the bails as I heard him walk into the barn...this was good! I soon felt his soft warm nose on the back of my neck, inspecting my hair with his lips. He gently and softly nibbled my hand, I had ceased moving, paralyzed with joy of the moment, afraid if I even breathed I would forever miss this moment! As I looked up into his kind and lovely face, he didn't move!, but reached toward me for affection!
It was a small quick moment....but I'm finally breaking away at that wall...will he just change tomorrow - No I dont expect that...it will take time for him to trust me and bond with me as my best friend. But I'm confident it WILL happen.
Norm thinks I'm crazy with all my reading and my new efforts....but he doesnt love the horse like I do. And King? He is worth every and any effort.
Lisa asked me what my goals were with the horses this year.
I think the above has answered my goals with King.
Break that wall King has built
Work on trust
my confidence
being the "herd" leader
communicating through body language
begin Jacks Kindergarten classes
Ride more
get over my fear of the other horses
imprint Georgia's foal when he arrives
Take Bella and Buck back to 1st grade for more riding time and to cure Bellas barn sour
Well, thats the basics...I'm sure there are lots I'd like to accomplish...but I'm so tired from listing items in my Artfire shop I cant seem to think and Im seeing double.
I've gotten several messages I cannot reply too due to lack of time. I havent forgotten anyone, but rather been busy out the wazoo today and last weekend. I'll get there! I will get to everyones blogs as well to catch up.
There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. ~Winston Churchill
~*~Rachel~*~