The passage of time and distance...
I've got to get Lightning out here.
My last visit home was pretty dreary when it came to Lightning. Not much time to just go out and visit him in the field, and each time I did go out he wasn't particularly interested in attention. And I gotta say, it hurt. This is a horse who used to be so happy to see me. He'd mob me for attention, try to lip me all over, and despite never being allowed to in the past would attempt to lip at my face put his muzzle to my neck. He would angrily chase away any other horse who tried to come over.
Now more and more I'm met with increasing disinterest. I'm sure he knows that I'm likely only popping into the field for a few minutes, completely at random, once or twice for a few months. Doesn't really mean much to him any more, I guess. And I can understand why. I'm not coming to ride him, or catch him and brush him in the cold of winter - just a quick visit and maybe some treats then I'm off again.
But the barn I'm at now is not ideal for him, nor can I afford to keep a horse out here purely for companionship. But the bond between us is fraying badly, and I don't want to lose it. Never. I hate that he wanders in the field, still able to work but doing nothing. How much longer before he truly can't do anything at all? These precious few years left are being wasted.
Matt comes out here every ten weeks to do Champ anyway. So at least the farrier would be covered. But keeping him in a pen year round? Or could he go without shoes?
*sigh* This sucks.
My last visit home was pretty dreary when it came to Lightning. Not much time to just go out and visit him in the field, and each time I did go out he wasn't particularly interested in attention. And I gotta say, it hurt. This is a horse who used to be so happy to see me. He'd mob me for attention, try to lip me all over, and despite never being allowed to in the past would attempt to lip at my face put his muzzle to my neck. He would angrily chase away any other horse who tried to come over.
Now more and more I'm met with increasing disinterest. I'm sure he knows that I'm likely only popping into the field for a few minutes, completely at random, once or twice for a few months. Doesn't really mean much to him any more, I guess. And I can understand why. I'm not coming to ride him, or catch him and brush him in the cold of winter - just a quick visit and maybe some treats then I'm off again.
But the barn I'm at now is not ideal for him, nor can I afford to keep a horse out here purely for companionship. But the bond between us is fraying badly, and I don't want to lose it. Never. I hate that he wanders in the field, still able to work but doing nothing. How much longer before he truly can't do anything at all? These precious few years left are being wasted.
Matt comes out here every ten weeks to do Champ anyway. So at least the farrier would be covered. But keeping him in a pen year round? Or could he go without shoes?
*sigh* This sucks.