Take the Lead
January 30, 2015
The weather has been so nice in our area lately that my son Zach and I have been taking our horses for walks. I don’t usually ride my horses in the winter but do enjoy taking them out and about so they can get out of the pasture and have a new outlook. They do love their walks!
My son has been around horses since he was in my belly. The last time I went riding in the mountains on my quarter horse Ranger was when I was about 3 months pregnant. Since Zach came out from his safe place, he has always been around horses. He is not really a horse person. He can take or leave horses. He’s had a pony who adored him and let him do anything with her. For me and my son, horses are a part of our family.
A few years ago, when my husband Ralph was still alive, one of his clients gave us his mare Flicka. He wanted her to have a retirement home and we wanted a horse for Zach who would be kind and gentle. When we went to pick her up, I thought Woah! That is one big horse. She was lame when we picked her up but after one day at our place, she recovered miraculously. In fact she was galloping around in the pasture. I thought, hmm that is interesting.
Zach has ridden Flicka bareback, not by himself. I lead Flicka because I feel that they are not quite ready to be on their own. They both feel that. Zach has led her around and she is usually pretty good for him. She is a quick walker and due to her size and the lack of my son’s size, she can tend to take the lead.
On our second walk this week, she settled right down. She was pushy on our first walk this week. I told Zach to let her know who is in charge. She is not in charge I explained. He handled her well on our 3 km walk. The second day he really let her know that he was the leader. She tried a few times to go her own way. Zach is his firm and gentle way led her like a pro.
I am proud of my son for his ability to handle animals. He is not all about horses like I am. I can live, eat and breathe these beautiful animals. I would have to say that Zach is a kitty whisperer. The cats just love him and he loves them right back. Being my son though, he is a part of our horse family as long as he lives with me. He is so kind to his horse. In the summer he stands by her with a butterfly net and nets the horse flies off of her. So kind!
I like to think that if everyone who had children allowed their children at least one pet or animal, we could truly change the way people regard animals. Animals are extensions of ourselves, our lives. They reflect who we are, teach our children kindness, love, respect and responsibility.
The weather has been so nice in our area lately that my son Zach and I have been taking our horses for walks. I don’t usually ride my horses in the winter but do enjoy taking them out and about so they can get out of the pasture and have a new outlook. They do love their walks!
My son has been around horses since he was in my belly. The last time I went riding in the mountains on my quarter horse Ranger was when I was about 3 months pregnant. Since Zach came out from his safe place, he has always been around horses. He is not really a horse person. He can take or leave horses. He’s had a pony who adored him and let him do anything with her. For me and my son, horses are a part of our family.
A few years ago, when my husband Ralph was still alive, one of his clients gave us his mare Flicka. He wanted her to have a retirement home and we wanted a horse for Zach who would be kind and gentle. When we went to pick her up, I thought Woah! That is one big horse. She was lame when we picked her up but after one day at our place, she recovered miraculously. In fact she was galloping around in the pasture. I thought, hmm that is interesting.
Zach has ridden Flicka bareback, not by himself. I lead Flicka because I feel that they are not quite ready to be on their own. They both feel that. Zach has led her around and she is usually pretty good for him. She is a quick walker and due to her size and the lack of my son’s size, she can tend to take the lead.
On our second walk this week, she settled right down. She was pushy on our first walk this week. I told Zach to let her know who is in charge. She is not in charge I explained. He handled her well on our 3 km walk. The second day he really let her know that he was the leader. She tried a few times to go her own way. Zach is his firm and gentle way led her like a pro.
I am proud of my son for his ability to handle animals. He is not all about horses like I am. I can live, eat and breathe these beautiful animals. I would have to say that Zach is a kitty whisperer. The cats just love him and he loves them right back. Being my son though, he is a part of our horse family as long as he lives with me. He is so kind to his horse. In the summer he stands by her with a butterfly net and nets the horse flies off of her. So kind!
I like to think that if everyone who had children allowed their children at least one pet or animal, we could truly change the way people regard animals. Animals are extensions of ourselves, our lives. They reflect who we are, teach our children kindness, love, respect and responsibility.