A Thirst for Knowledge can be good -- and risky

Work as usual on the farm- horses and firewood are the top priority lately. The last few days we have been juggling horses around, forming new groups, organizing what we hope will be the perfect winter set up.

We put horses together with ages in mind, feed, and often gender... Most of the horses were able to stay with their "best" friends-- some of them have to get to know a new group of buddies- I guess like graduating to the next level. Separating the older horses is like weaning- they may call for days to their old pals. But they quickly blend and find new comrades. At the same time, since we did have our good hard frost here, we were able to do our fall de-worming.

Zoe's Day Dream ("Reverie") has had a "graduation" of sorts also-- she is being ridden now down to the big ring and worked there. Up until now, Reverie has been ridden in the smaller 60 X 80 arena, which has walls, but is open. Horses often learn to "use" the walls to hold them up so when they get down in the big ring, no walls- all free space... they really have to learn to use their bodies correctly, especially shoulders. Being a bigger space, with all new scenery; the horses also have to re-learn to focus on their job. Next- the Reverie will be down the road and on some trail. She's such a lovely mare and lots of graceful "try" . Here is a link to a short video of Reverie up in the smaller arena a few weeks ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzgI2ekKeyM

OYY Ivan and OYY Dante, 2 three year old geldings, were in training during the spring and then had a few months off to "think" about their education. I find that this vacation gives the horses lots of time to assimilate all their new knowledge and they generally return to their training with developed maturity and readiness. They see us riding and training other horses and I am sure they watch with a hankering to be included, which seems to enhance their ambition to please and an enthusiasm to be back in "school".

As the horses "graduate" to new levels of experience and skills and master them- you can plainly see they are so proud of themselves. Their appetite for new knowledge and skills increases with every level they master.

But ~ seeking knowledge can sometimes be a "pricklish" affair ~

Apparently, one of our mares was surprisingly a little too curious about a porcupine and came up with a muzzle full of quills- Now, contrary to myth- porcupines do not shoot their quills at the enemy... so silly Ahmet had to have actually nosed this little fellow and touched the quills in her foolhardy investigation. The photo is not so clear- but she has 20 or so in her chin and nose area. She's not happy to have me pull them out, so I am leaving this job to the vet and some dopey drugs. Now, I am wondering, what would cause a horse to be so inquisitive to even get that close to such a prickly beast ? Goofy girl.

Enjoy your day ~