"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

Hello Friends!

Friends, Romans, countrymen...y'all. Foodies, gardeners, artists and collectors - let's gather together to share and possibly learn a thing or two in the mix.

Donna Baker

Monday, October 1, 2012

Run Gracie Run



Gracie has been coddled and spoiled and has grown into a very large mare.  At four years of age, she now has her monthly estrus and has become pushy, headstrong and domineering.  Who is she trying to dominate?  Me.  She bit me.  If you've never been bitten by a horse, it is akin to childbirth. I was told this by another who has had the badge.  I say a badge, because it was a terrible black bruise to my upper arm that after two months, I can still see the remnants of.  I immediately went to buy four books on horses and their training and quickly realized that I didn't have the experience nor ability to train her.  

A blog friend, Julie, from Equus Villa Farm, is a professional dressage teacher/competitor and she gave some sage advice to me.  Gracie is considered a semi-wild horse and without professional training, she could end up in a slaughter house some day.  To make a long story short, Gracie has been at the horse trainer's for two weeks with two more to go. She will be learning her manners; hopefully become respectful to humans.  I don't expect any more from her than that.  Since she will probably outlive me, I want her to be adoptable one day.  She is a good girl.  Just never had any lessons.  Can't wait till she comes home.















13 comments:

Kirsten Steen said...

So sorry to hear about the bite but glad to know Gracie is getting 'socialized'. Did you ever see the PBS show Martin Clunes (Doc Martin) did on horses? So good, especially part 1. Look for it online at PBS.org. I believe it's called HorsePower. Some lovely stuff on how some trainers have such a way with them and how they are used in therapy. Amazing! Thanks for coming by!
Kirsten

Cindy said...

Ouch!!!!!

I hope Gracie comes home from school with beautiful manners. :-)

Unknown said...

Hi Donna, saw your comment on my art teacher's blog, Weedy Acres Home. Ima Weed is my art teacher. I came over to check out your blog and signed up as a follower. I like your art. Stop by my neck of the woods sometime. Blessings
QMM

donna baker said...

Peggy, thank you for your kind words and glad to know you. I have and I will. Thanks again. Donna
Kirsten, thanks for the heads up on the PBS show.
Cindy, sounds like your vacation was great and I'll keep you posted on Gracie's schooling. It cost a fortune so I hope she gets something out of it.

Shirley said...

What a super blog you have Donna! Thanks for your kind visit so that I may swing by here! Gracie is a beauty and I do hope that the training goes well!

Cobalt Violet said...

OUCH!!! That sounds awful! (the bite) Hope the training goes well. Let us know. she really is a beauty!
Hope your arm is doing better.

Veronica said...

Dear Donna

Thank you for your lovely comment of encouragement! I deeply appreciate it and am happy to find your gorgeous blog!

V
xxx

Dixie said...

Ouch! I've been bitten (and stepped on) by a semi-wild horse before and it is no party! As soon as I read that part of your post I thought... "Donna's gotta get that horse to a trainer!"... and of course as I read on, I found you'd already taken those steps! I bet Gracie will be happy to get back home and leave her biting days behind... She's a beauty!!

I'm back to posting, so hope you'll venture back by French Lique one day soon. Hope all else is well with you.

blessings. Dixie

Lynn said...

I hope Gracie learns her manners as she will have a tough life in the future if she doesn't. However, trainers can work wonders as our grey mare needed some socializing at age 15, and she soon learned who was boss.

Kirsten Steen said...

How is Gracie doing??!!

donna baker said...

She came home yesterday and I'm glad. I will be working with her daily, though not going to ride her. I was grooming her when she turned her head suddenly and I jumped. I am still afraid of her biting me though she didn't ever try to bite the trainer. Her rode her daily and she only bucked once. Her said she was probably in her period. Guess horses get pms too. The trainer was very, I'm not sure of the description, but I will have to be more like him too. It is kinda not in my dna, but I will have to stand up to Gracie and try to show her I'm boss, instead of being afraid of her.

A Wild Thing said...

Sorta like owning a terrier, you have to use that man voice. Have always wanted a horse, but I have no experience either...I'll stick with chickens. The garden wasn't a total loss, the turnips were wonderful and the beets were yummy and canned, but the carrots, simply divine...half of them are still in the ground and taste divine, like a real carrot...who knew...! Ate one out of 12 broccoli plants and the 6 brussels sprouts have yet to fruit, too hot and dry. Between the toxic chemtrails and govt. weather manipulation, who knows what tomorrow will bring, it's scary and frustrating to say the least, I just can't get in the mood to move forward, seems like there's no future to any of it...I hate election years, being manipulated by a den of thieves just rubs me the wrong way, so it's one day at a time!

Good luck with Gracie and be careful, she's a beauty!

Willow said...

What a beautiful girl Gracie is Donna.
I hope she has come around for you.
I have several horses here at the farm, but I have been around horses most of my life so they know I am the lead mare .