Mis-guided Youth
In the early 90's I lived and worked out of a fabulous old-style racehorse barn in Camden, South Carolina right on the edge of hunt country. The estate was named Kamschakta after the remote province in the extreme eastern-most part of former USSR. The civil war mansion that graced the fifteen acre property had been so remote it reminded it's occupants of the end of the
world, hence the name. Every single day brought varying challenges ranging from huge ex-racehorses to ponies and even driving horses.
So often the horses' problems were caused by lack of knowledge and ignorance. Very seldom did a horse arrive that didn't have some kind of unfortunate human experience. It's so amazing that we believe we are simply born with the skills to communicate with horses. Maybe some people are, but I doubt it. I personally believe that we must immerse ourselves in education for people and horses. It is a never-ending process.
Late one afternoon in the middle of the winter a young man came by just as I was winding up for the day. He watched me for awhile as I finished with a two-year old diminutive thoroughbred. Since I begin and end with bonding he was there to take in some of the more sensitive and loving aspects of my gentle approach. Only when this filly had dropped her head into my arms as I knelt below her did I remove her halter. Even with the halter off she wanted to stay right with me instead of joining her
cronies out in the paddock. Then I asked her leave to and turned my attention to this gentleman.
"I've got a young horse that seems nuts whenever I halter her. She just shakes her head wildly and is fighting me constantly. I am so frustrated I could scream. I have not lost my temper, but my patience is wearing thin," he added with a scowl.
"I'm guessing I can probably lend a hand here. Can you bring her by tomorrow about this time?" I suggested.
Little did I know at the time that this was in fact one of those classic cases of ignorance. He wanted to do the right thing, but just didn't have a clue how to do it. Both the man and the horse were in the "gray zone" and both were extremely frustrated.
