She came to the barn a little over a year ago from her former owner who needed to find her a home. What I first noticed about her was how she clearly didn't want anything to do with me but it was clear that she knew better than to argue.
From the moment she arrived viewed me with suspicion and when I would go near her she would immediately walk away. Right away she struck a chord in my heart as do all of the underdogs.
The other two mares that came in with her were more compliant and very sweet. What made her stand out to me was her spirit. At first glance, her appearance is unremarkable--a sorrel, with okay conformation but the years have been hard on her and she is very crippled up in both her front end and hindquarters. Her pedigree is impressive and I am sure she was a riding horse of substantial talent in her day.
Every time I have brought her in to the barn to have her hooves trimmed she was clearly unhappy and had a very short time limit before she became antsy and made it clear that she wanted to leave.
It was hoof trimming day yesterday and I brought her and a buddy in. She was very uncomfortable due to the tight tendons in her rear end and was protesting about lifting her hind legs. Thankfully our farrier is very much in tune with the horses and was very sensitive to how she was feeling.
My normal reaction would be to grab the rope and hold the horse still but for some strange reason I listened to my instinct and instead placed a light hand on either side of her neck and just calmly stood with her.
What happened in that moment makes me rather emotional. She was completely shut down. You could see it in her eyes and when I took a moment to not only trust her but to comfort and respect her, a miracle happened.
Her eyes changed and with it, her demeanour. She instantly settled in spite of her discomfort and became calm. She allowed the farrier to work on her hooves in short spurts instead of fighting. I left her side to grab a shovel and the instant I did so, her head came up, and she began looking for me and whinnying even though her buddy was right beside her.
I returned to her and she instantly nuzzled me, resting her head against my face and blowing into my nostrils. I immediately placed my hands back on her neck and watched her instantly calm down. Every time I had to walk away she would repeat the same behaviour, acting all worried and calling me and on my return she would rest her face against mine.
I was given a huge gift. The trust of a creature who in an instant decided to come out of a state of self preservation and open herself up to receive the love that I offered. I believe that in the moment that I didn't try to restrain her and chose to comfort her it broke down her last defence. That day, CeeCee was shown respect by two human beings and it was her undoing. I don't take what she did lightly.
This little mare has reminded me that sometimes we need to love and respect others in spite of themselves and to leave them the choice to either run or stay.
