The adventures of Gilly the rescue horse and his side kick and partner in crime, Pokey the donkey.

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Being with a horse is a journey that never ends. What they have to teach us is amazing; but we must quiet our mind to hear them. ~ jca

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Sunday, June 26, 2011

Spooky ride or the Terodactyl is going to eat me!

This thought crossed Gilly's mind today I am sure!!!

Gilly and I went for a short ride today. He was beside himself right from the start, Blue Heron has a nest somewhere on the hill above the barn and it was screaming! I'm here to tell you that it will make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end! He was snorting, blowing and dancing around like crazy. Took me awhile to get him saddled up, since I knew what was making the noise, after hearing it many times now, it wasn't bothering me today....and we were riding! Here is a link to a recording of their voice: http://www.naturesongs.com/gbhe2.wav
Just as I was ready to get in the saddle it started to rain, just a light rain so I gave up the idea of riding in the hayfield, too slippery for trotting. We rode up the road first away from the barn and Gilly seemed to settle down some but still the ears said otherwise. He was listening for the giant Terodactyl (in trying to find how to spell this prehistoric bird it seems that now there is a "P" in the beginning of it? When did that happen?) that he just knew was going to swoop down and carry us both off for supper!
After about 5 minutes up the road we turned and came back toward home, rode past the barn, now he is getting really nervous again. Pokey is running past us, on the other side of the fence which makes Gilly even jumpier. Thank you Pokey! But I made him go on down the road toward Kim's house. He wanted to turn and run several times but I kept his head straight. I would squeeze first one rein then the other just to keep his mind on something beside wanting to run. I didn't tighten up on the reins either, which I used to do which just made things worse. But I think that by squeezing and releasing my hands on the reins kept him focused on me and not the sounds he was hearing. It was starting to rain harder so I turned and rode back to the barn, again he wanted to run but we just walked along at a good brisk walk. I stayed calm, cause I knew what it was, and that helped him.
I hurried and got the saddle off, raining harder now, went to put Gil in the barn but he won't go, still afraid. So I turned him loose in the field by another gate and he and Pokey are still standing there, 3 hours later. Silly boys!!! But since it's still raining they are getting a bath! LOL
We will work on more scary stuff tomorrow!
Jane

9 comments:

allhorsestuff said...

Hoho!
Oh my word! Gilly! He's lived with those birds around for how long?! I'm not making light, mind you....
I know exactly what you are talking about....
You know, I'm having the same thing going on with a scary "known" animal. But mine, its a horse!
I've had my post in a "holding pattern" all week...to see if it would change any...nope (+ another issue that I'll mail ya).
Mine cant wait to get away from the barn, won't come near it!

You did great with his fear Jane, way to go! That scream is something else....
Kac

jane augenstein said...

Kacy, Gilly got spooked really bad when he bucked me off two years ago by one of the Blue Herons. They weren't nesting in the woods here yet, but now they are, two years in a row. Creek is close to the barn where they fish, wish they weren't so scary but oh, my that noise they make, still catches me off guard and takes your breath! If I keep ignoring it maybe Gilly will eventually too. They never did go to the barn to eat their breakfast, guess it will be supper now!

Fantastyk Voyager said...

Silly horses!! Just do be careful, please!

Jeni said...

Poor Gilly! I do know those birds cause issues. I've had them fly up in front, or behind me when riding. Most unnerving to both horse and rider.

Good on you to stay calm and ignore it.

Edward said...

Sounds like you did a good job keeping Gilly calm. I missed your last post but I have left a comment on it now.
Regards
Edward

allhorsestuff said...

Okay...was going to leave you a link to it but...on your sidebar blogroll...Jenniffer- Gypsy Mare Studios- just posted a "custom" piece, it's the one rearing on the thumbnail there... HAHAHA! I INSTANTLY thought of Gilly..just change it to a beautiful Bay with a blaze and make it a Heron on him..!

Hope thinkgs are settling some...they are with us..some

Blackfeatherfarm said...

Horses will be horses.... Lol...

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Crazy shrieking birds! What an adventure! Poor Gilly! Kind of funny, though. Does Pokey worry about those birds, too?


~Lisa

Desert Rose said...

How brave of you to mount up anyway! But...you were able to keep him focused and be the alpha horse...which is exactly waht he needed!

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