July 13, 2024: Raudi Speaks
I finally convinced Alys, my long-time owner, to provide me with dispatch space. This is always difficult because either she chooses not to listen to me, or her head is in the clouds. Tonight, we had a pretty good ride, excepting the fact that the grass is now really green and lush and she at times got impatient with me – how could I focus on what she wanted me to do when I was surrounded by all this greenery. So it was a war of wills. As she often says of me, I have “opinions,” and this evening was one of those evenings. |
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Alys and I have been together now, 20 years. We are both past our prime. We are not old, just getting older. We are, as she says, vintage. Alys has expressed a desire to get a young horse, which is an intriguing idea. I don’t think this is going to happen because her hands are full now, what with her book project. She has expressed her frustration to Pete about the fact that she’s not been able to spend quite enough time with Tyra, Hrimmi, and me. And this is so. We have, this past year, been ridden less than in previous years. At the same time, Alys may end up being too old to enjoy the best years of this horse’s riding life. Tonight, though, Alys, after dinner, took me out. It was raining. It was actually drizzling – and as it turned out, this was perfect weather for a ride, being cooler ‘n all. On this ride, I got to thinking, what is it that I’d tell a younger horse? Hard to say because there’s so much ground to cover. But here goes. Younger horse: You’d be fortunate to end up having Alys as your owner because she would love you to pieces. You, like Tyra, Hrimmi, and me would be the center of her universe. It is true, the book project has been a major distraction, but this summer the three of us have reconnected with her. Alys has always made sure that our enclosure is clean, and we have always been fed several times a day. And when she cleans the pen, she gives us a once over and makes sure that we don’t have any injuries, are lame, or are colicking. Throughout history, horses have been regarded simply as beasts of burden, animals with a job to do. There’s been little regard for their physical or mental well-being. We here have been lucky in that Alys has never overworked us or asked us to engage in hard physical labor. She and I began connecting with one another when she started using positive reinforcement training. It makes sense – I do something right and she clicks a clicker and gives me a treat. The downsides in dealing with this particular owner have been minimal. She sometimes does have her head in the clouds, and her focus can be elsewhere. Alys also does have a temper, so if, say, I inadvertently nip her while grabbing for a treat, there is hell to pay. And the few times I’ve barged my way out of the pen – I’ve had to keep my distance while she cools down. Alys, we’d welcome a young horse with (as the humans say) “open arms.” But speaking for us all, I think we are content with the ways things are, which is not something all horses can say. |
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