Who needs words?
As I was mucking out this morning, I heard a strange noise coming from the direction of the mares’ field. I went out to see Katie gently knocking the concrete cistern cover on the water trough. On going to inspect, I realised that the trough needed to be topped up. Due to ice damage over the winter, I’m having to operate the ballcock manually to prevent the trough overflowing whilst waiting for the plumber to come and fix it. What touched me the most was that Katie, being the biggest one, could easily reach the water in the trough but it was just out of reach for Bluebell and Annie – so Katie was attracting my attention to help her mum and sister. As the trough was filling, she stood back and watched contentedly as the other two drank.
Horses can teach us so much about community and working together. They depend on that for survival in the wild. They are also much more intelligent that they are given credit for. Katie clearly saw a problem and decided to do something about it. I usually do the trough after I’ve mucked out but they obviously wanted to drink right then – so Katie summoned help. The plumber is coming today so hopefully the problem will be solved but I will also check the trough in the evening as well as the morning in this dry spell of weather just to be sure.
The Joys of Spring
March has come in like a lamb and it was bright, still and sunny when I went out to do the horses just after 7.00. What a change from the depth of winter when it was barely light at 8.30. I fed everyone and turned Susie out. I rarely bother to halter her as she knows her way up through the little paddock to the gate into the big field she shares with the other mares. She usually gets there before me and waits patiently for me to open the gate. This morning she paused to nibble some of the new grass that is starting to come through – another sign of spring.
I went to check the water trough in Storm and Darcy’s field and they decided to come with me. It was a solemn procession across the field, Darcy at my shoulder and Storm just behind. I am always touched that they do this. The water trough was fine and I made my way back to the gate, still with the horses following me. I patted them and thanked them for their company.
After our harsh winter, it was such a joy to have that hour or so outside in the sunshine at the start of the day. I feel immensely grateful to be able to start the day with the horses and enjoy their company. I’m glad too that we can share what we have here every day with those for whom it is a rare and very special delight. As the days lengthen yet further we look forward to welcoming more people who will mostly come ostensibly to learn but who will also go away with the bonus gift of simply feeling better for having been out in the fresh air and in the company of the horses.
Later this year, I will start a series of workshops that will measure both the learning and well-being impact that horses have on humans but for the moment I am content just to enjoy it and know that it works!
The new boy
This morning I collected Patch, a 9-year-old Border Collie with a blue eye, from Mrs Murray’s Cat and Dog Home in Aberdeen http://www.mrsmurrays.co.uk/ As I write this, he is lying asleep at my feet and looks very settled. I can’t help but wonder what he is thinking…… Over these past few weeks he has been in kennels, given up for adoption by an owner who had to move into sheltered accommodation (that’s “assisted living” for my North American readers) and could not take Patch with him. Now, today, I turn up again, having met him briefly a couple of weeks ago. This time I bring him to another new place – full of new and different smells and noises.
He is so wanting to fit in and be good – watching me, listening hard to what I say, doing his best to understand and obey. I have been praising him and giving him plenty of reassuring pats and explaining that this is home now. I hope he understands. I think he does.
Today my heart goes out to all people and animals who find themselves in new situations that they are trying to understand – and to the people who are doing their best to look after and reassure them in the best way they can.
Katie speaks
My name is Katie and I am nearly three years old. As you can see, I’m a big girl. My grandfather was a beautiful big coloured Shire called Galway Warrior and his dad, Edingale Mascot, came from the very famous line of Shire horses. I try to be like them in other ways too – by being very kind, gentle and quiet. My mother is a little pony. Everyone thinks she is very sweet but she is very strict and has always insisted in good manners. Beth can be quite strict too!
I have been learning all my life – to have a head collar put on, to go where I am asked, to pick up my feet for the farrier, to be polite to the vet – but these last few weeks I have definitely moved up a grade. Eilidh, who helps Beth look after us, has started me wearing a bridle. Of course I have seen other horses wear one and they said it was fine but I was a bit anxious about having a bit in my mouth. I needn’t have worried. Eilidh put the bridle on very gently and made sure it fitted me properly. She slipped the bit into my mouth – and gave me a treat. It was really easy. Now I am learning to walk and trot and stop and start when asked. Mostly I get it right! It’s really quite good fun and I get lots of fuss and treats when I get things right so I like to try my best. Now I am looking forward to whatever comes next.
I wanted to share this with you because it’s important. It is much easier to learn when you feel safe and are not afraid. I’m sure it is the same for humans – so if you have to teach some-one something new, please remember this. Oh - and remember to give them lots of treats!
John Logie Baird Award
The red horse speaks is through to the regional finals of the John Logie Baird awards for innovation. I did the presentation for the next round last Friday. It was quite short notice but great to be able to do it in Aberdeen. It went well, although hard to be certain as I haven’t done a business competition before. Looking forward to the Awards Dinner in March. No matter what – it’ll be a great networking opportunity! Thanks to everyone who helped me get this far.
Leadership is a way of life
On Saturday, it was too icy to allow Chelsea to be out in her courtyard first thing in the morning. While I was shopping, the local farmer delivered a bale of straw and left it just outside the courtyard, ready for us to roll in. Dear Chelsea heard the delivery but could not see what it was and when I got home, it was clear that she had been very hot and bothered. I offered her some carrots while I felt whether she had dried off under her (fortunately breathable) rug. The carrots went untouched and it was very clear that all she wanted was to be out. The ice had gone by then so I was able to let her out. The first thing she did was to see what had been delivered and the next thing was to check her herd - she can see them all from the courtyard. She stood for a while just to see that all was well then she walked around a few times, gradually relaxing and only then did she come in to eat her carrots. It’s so typical of her – her herd always comes first. Would that all human leaders followed her example.Angels come in many forms
Recently I was volunteering at an event in Aberdeen and had an early start.
The first angel to appear was Eilidh who helps me with the horses. Although the roads were quite icy she was here in good time to feed and take of the horses. She loves my herd as much as her own and takes such good care of them – for which I am hugely grateful. I could leave without worrying about the horses.
The workshop venue was in a part of town I don’t know that well and so I wasn’t exactly sure how to get there or even how to find the nearest car park which is just an open space on a piece of otherwise waste ground. Even the normally reliable Google Map wasn’t as helpful as usual!
I left in plenty of time and once I got into the centre of town, I relied on my instincts to get me at least close to where I wanted to go and then, quite unexpectedly, I spotted the entrance to the car park and was able to stop sharply and turn in. There was no-one behind me to be annoyed at my hasty action! Step 1 accomplished. I was looking at my map to determine how to get to my destination when a parking warden appeared. Having had the occasional parking ticket, I would not usually consider such a person to be an angel – but he was able to tell me how to complete my journey.
When I got home, I discovered that the final bits of building work that needed doing after the installation of new windows had been completed. I was so fortunate that the windows themselves were all in place with just a day to spare before the snow arrived in November and so I hadn’t minded that the last little bits had not been completed. I had been thinking, however, that I would ring the company and say that we were now free of snow and ice – but they got there first! Another angel.
I am deeply grateful to all of these angels, all in their working garb, who have made my day just a bit easier than it might have been without their help – and have resolved to keep my eyes open for the other angels who, I am sure, are there everyday but whom I may not always acknowledge.
How many angels have helped you today?
Storm de-stressed
Despite our extreme winter with so much snow and very low temperatures, Storm the pony has put on weight. He lives out all the time and hasn’t been getting any more food than usual. He has a thick shaggy coat to protect him and there are plenty of sheltered places in the field but it seems that there might be more to it than that. There is also an air of deep contentment about him. He came to me from World Horse Welfare, having suffered a lot of abuse before being rescued by them and it took him some time to settle and learn to trust again. He is still sensitive but is now confident in is role as the healer in our herd.
Over the last eighteen months, he has been very alert to what has been happening within our family – my husband breaking his hip and then his very sudden death in June. Through all the trauma and sadness, Storm has been there for me. He always knows when I need his calm, gentle presence and, unasked, makes his way over to the gate. He is content just to be there – with me and for me, asking for nothing and allowing me just to be too. I am gradually becoming happier again and by now Storm has probably worked out that life will continue here even without Aidan – and so he can be content too.
We often plan holidays for working and competition horses but we may not always realise how they work in other ways too and how much day-to-day ”stuff” that goes on in our lives can affect them. Although we will keep an eye on Storm’s weight to make sure it doesn’t affect his health, I’m glad he feels he can relax and be content after all he has done for me and all the others he has helped.
Look after your brand
When I got home last night, I had a couple of e-shopping orders waiting for me. One was some clothes from Lands End and the other was a long awaited Teasmade from electricshopping. I was intrigued to find that both contained vouchers from Virgin Wines for slightly different offers but totalling £100.00. I’m partial to a glass of wine so that looked very hopeful – until I tried to use them. In short, I could only use one of them – and even then it was going to cost me more than it said on the voucher, due to delivery costs.
It was my first contact with Virgin Wines but it will be my last. They merely pointed me to the small print and said they had no control over how suppliers used their vouchers.
I don’t know much about electricshopping as the Teasmade is the only item I have bought from them so I don’t really know how such an offer sits with them more generally – although I have formed an opinion.
I am, however, a long time Lands End customer as they provide good quality clothes and good customer service both of which have met or exceeded my expectation on many occasions over the years and so I have contacted them to say that, in essence, being associated with this Virgin Wine deal devalues their brand, at least in my opinion. I’ll be interested to hear how they respond.
Meanwhile it’s a good wake up call to remind all of us to look after our own brand, whether as a person or as a business, and be sure that all that all we do supports it in a positive way.
There’s always time
I was late doing the mucking out this morning as I had to wait in for a tradesman to call. I went out in “rush mode” thinking I needed to get it done quickly as I didn’t have much time as I also had to bring over more hay and then get cleaned up and then get into town for a meeting and who knows what the traffic might be like. ……. I was out of breath before I’d even started!
As usual I started at Susie’s end of the barn. No sooner had I started than Susie came over and nuzzled my head. I looked up at her, “I’m in a hurry, Susie, I’ll talk to you later.” She continued, nuzzling any part of me she could reach – very gently yet also very persistently. I gave in and stopped to give her a scratch. Then she decided to have a roll, almost at my feet. That always makes me pause – it’s such an act of trust for a creature of flight to allow itself to be so vulnerable. She got up, had a good shake and came back over – ready to more attention. I had to smile and then realised that I didn’t really have to rush so I took some time with her.
Result: I feel better, the rest of the mucking out got done in no time, the hay bales practically carried themselves over the yard and I have time to write this blog before I have to go out. Thanks, Susie, for noticing what I needed and being persistent enough for me to get the message.
