Taming the Wild Mustang

You see it in horse movies all the time - the young girl sits in the corner of the wild mustang's stall and he gets curious, comes over, snuffles her hair - their bond is forged immediately, and it is strong.

Almost 5 years ago, I sat on a bucket in the corner of Bronwyn's stall, covered myself with hay and wished that she would show an interest in me. She was so uncomfortable with my presence that she wouldn't relax enough to eat, gave me wide eyed stares, and turned her back to me. I must have spent the equivalent of a day attempting this method to bond with her - and she never gave in fully. Oh, near the end, there was an odd hair snuffle but she immediately jerked back to attention the second that I moved even an iota.

Last night, during a quiet moment in the barn, before I left, I snuck into her stall and sat my butt in the corner - flat on the ground - no escape route if she decided to trample me. She let a contented sigh out and brushed her nose through my hair, over my pants, dropped hay on me, turned back to her hay pile and continued to eat, checking back with me from time to time.

I talked with one of the other boarders last night about 'complicated' horses. Yes, I would say by times she is complicated - her long standing fear sometimes overrides her burning desire to please and serve. Her work ethic is sometimes interrupted by snow falling off the roof of the barn. She sometimes stands stock still in the crossties to be groomed and saddled, sometimes she dances around. Things that don't scare her today scare her tomorrow and things that scare her today are her best friends tomorrow. She can be complicated, quirky, foolish, even. But she has come so far, and I am so proud of her. We have definitely forged on through another new adventure this year, moving to a boarding barn, going into full work, even entertaining the idea of a second rider/leaser.

We didn't set any New Year's Resolutions last year except for her to get closer to me, to move off the farm and be near my new apartment, and we accomplished that, and so much more. I am looking forward to 2013 and everything it brings!