Tonight when I arrive, Xena is already in her stall. Susan (our barn owner) has kept her in the barn this evening, to save me the trouble of traipsing over wet ground after this afternoon’s rain. Susan knows that sometimes my Catching Game℠ can take quite a while. As a result Xena is not happy!
Xena has been in the barn for two nights this week, while her herd has enjoyed their nights outdoors. Tonight she’s impatient and agitated, so much so that she’s actually kicking her stall door! Frankly I’m shocked, embarrassed, thrilled and happy — all at the same time. Shocked and embarrassed because no barn owner wants a horse that threatens to destroy the property. But, I’m also thrilled and happy to see Xena so confident and exuberant about expressing herself. I’ve never seen her like this before!
I feel like the mother who’s overjoyed to find her child safe, but as a responsible parent she chastises the kid for breaking the rules. I guess it’s a balance between love and responsibility. So, I correct Xena by using the Driving Game℠ to firmly send her to the back of her stall. The Parelli™ Driving Game is a zero contact game, so I don’t need to touch or threaten Xena to affect her behaviour. Instead I use my body language and energy to ask her to stand at the back of her stall for maybe 5 seconds; then I draw her to me and praise her enthusiastically. I’m actually very proud of her.
A few minutes later I’m in the stall next door, which acts as Susan’s combination feed room and tack room. I’m filling the kettle to heat water for Xena’s foot bath, when I hear a ratting noise coming from her stall. I peek around the wall to see her rattling the stall door with her teeth! I plug the kettle in and call out, “Fancy, I can hear you.” and suddenly it’s quiet. I know she doesn’t understand English, but it’s funny how she suddenly stopped at the sound of my voice. What a cutie-pie I have!
By the way, I soaked her foot again tonight, applied more UpTite Poultice and a new diaper bandage. Susan thinks that by Sunday Xena’s foot will have drained enough to stop soaking and bandaging. Tonight she’s walking quite well and we played a few quiet games in the gelding’s grass paddock.
Grazing in the Shoot
Xena's YouTube Channel
Sometimes what you write about Xena reminds me of Sunrise. Particularly the grumpy parts. Hehe.
I’m glad to hear things seem to be going well.