Greater Love Hath No

Friday, June 07, 2019

Much as we love ’em, sometimes we mutter, “Whatever got me imagining that having horses would be fun?” For sure, they’re often fun. It doesn’t get much better than being on horseback, asking for a canter, and feeling the sheer strength of sailing over a jump. Or, sitting in a buggy, several feet behind a horse, feeling its power and energy through the reins. Play-time with a large, thinking animal requires mutual trust.

Right now, my sweet mare, Sunni, has a minor hoof problem calling for days of periodic foot soaks with epsom salt. Her problem created several for me–the worst being no hot water at the barn; and the next-worse, my disinterest in spending 15 minutes hanging out while her foot’s in water. I never thought that my nearly-always willing pony might not want her foot bathed.

The pot I use to make tea–with a built-in element that heats water to boiling and automatically clicks off–became a method for heating water at the barn. In the garage, I found a bag of epsom salt (used once, about 11 years ago, for my old Quarter Horse’s hooves). Found in the barn, a rubber feed bowl became a likely bathtub. Everything together–boiling water, added to cold, with epson salt–created a fine hoof bath.

Now, Sunni didn’t want her hoof in water, so we argued. When finally, she allowed the foot to be submerged, I realized it would be unwise to leave her. So, for the next fifteen minutes, we together were trapped. I leaned against her, one of my hands on the leg that extended into water and my other softly stroking her neck. Sunni didn’t move a muscle, but her “wild eye” was prominent.

You might wonder in this situation, how long it takes for 15 minutes to pass? I focused on this every single second. I stretched time more by glancing at my frozen wristwatch. I talked aloud, explaining to Sunni in detail what we were doing and why, sang songs to her, and described my personal problems ad infinitum, until finally, our 15-minute sentence ended. And for her happily, on a good note with apple-flavored treats.

That evening, while we repeated that unearthly-long process, a cold steady wind from the west blew directly onto us, making the long episode feel harder. Thankfully, after today, she’ll need soaking, once daily, for two more days, and then finally, it’ll be back to the garage, epsom salt!

Dear Readers, In mid-June, these desert rains and cold winds? What’s it about! Diana