Not giving the horse a chance to bite
Today the family went down to Victor Harbour to visit Damian's grandmother, it was her birthday on the 17th and she is 85 years old. The housing estate in which they live has very large block sizes, up to 1/2 hectare each. Next to them the block has a very small yard sectioned off, which the owners keep a horse in. The yard is much too small for the horse, it is easy to see he is bored and lonely.
June (Damian's nana) got out some carrots and we went over to give them to the horse. Then Owen and Damian headed back to the house, while I hoisted Rhys up on my hip so he could pat the horse. I was patting its neck when I had one of those 'Jedi moments' (coined a nice new term there, hey). Now, this all occured very, very fast, less than a second, actually. The horse laid back his ears and whipped his head around, which would have resulted in Rhys getting a nasty nip as he was on that side of me. Even as I consciously recognised the horses body language, my hand was slapping away the horses muzzles (as nice a kung fu pak sao movement as I've ever done, lol). I was just as startled by it as the horse was! I am not sure if I actually started moving before the horse did, or just have very fast reflexes, but there was no conscious recognition of impending harm, I just reacted. Perhaps the Force moved my hand...that's as good an explanation as any. Damian saw it and seemed a little surprised too.
June (Damian's nana) got out some carrots and we went over to give them to the horse. Then Owen and Damian headed back to the house, while I hoisted Rhys up on my hip so he could pat the horse. I was patting its neck when I had one of those 'Jedi moments' (coined a nice new term there, hey). Now, this all occured very, very fast, less than a second, actually. The horse laid back his ears and whipped his head around, which would have resulted in Rhys getting a nasty nip as he was on that side of me. Even as I consciously recognised the horses body language, my hand was slapping away the horses muzzles (as nice a kung fu pak sao movement as I've ever done, lol). I was just as startled by it as the horse was! I am not sure if I actually started moving before the horse did, or just have very fast reflexes, but there was no conscious recognition of impending harm, I just reacted. Perhaps the Force moved my hand...that's as good an explanation as any. Damian saw it and seemed a little surprised too.