Maisie - Healing My Broken Horse

Join me in the fun, challenging and crazy world of horses and mules!  In the next few posts, I’m going to introduce our horse, mule and rescue dog who live with us on our mini ranchette in Santa Fe, NM. 

Maisie is my horse. She was sold to me as a bombproof horse because she seemed quiet. I was getting older and wanted a good trail horse. Hahahaha -- boy, was I fooled!  Once I got her home and time passed, I learned she wasn’t bombproof at all. She was shut down – there’s a big difference.

A shut down horse is withdrawn and seems quiet, usually because she was mistreated. Deep inside they have a lot of fear – in this case, of the world, of people and of unusual sounds and smells. The trouble started when I tried to wake up Maisie – asking her to look at me, interact with me and do simple exercises. On the ground, not on her back. I remember the day when Maisie spooked and reared really high. I froze. It wasn't fun looking at those big hooves in front of my face. I don't think I responded in a good way, I was startled and taken by surprise. That started it all.

She exploded occasionally and unexpectedly. I mean really exploded – reared, screamed, bucked, bolted. It escalated and we could never figure out what she was worried about. I’ve brought in trainers, worked with her in the roundpen and played with her at liberty. 

We’ve had several scary incidents involving me, my husband and even trainers. One trainer told me shut-down horses are the most dangerous because they are quiet but spook out of nowhere. "And when it happens, it's BIG." It sure is.

I'll write about these in greater detail - but all I can say is I can't give up on this horse. She's afraid. She's not aggressive. And my heart is connected to her.

But, I did give up riding her. It wasn’t easy, I kept hanging on with hope. But I didn't want to get injured. Or killed. And, horses know more than we think -- I realized I couldn't build a relationship with her if I pretended and worked towards the goal of riding. Being a horse, she’d figure that out, she'd feel it through my impatient energy. Really, she would. So, I let go. We’re not riding. We’re just hanging out. Like buddies. Building trust (I hope). I’m trying to help her get over her terror of the world and people.

Life is interesting with this kind of horse because everything is in slow motion. I notice much more than when my focus was saddling and riding down the trail. These are major lessons. Sometimes funny, sometimes touching. I'm doing what Ray Hunt, the legendary horseman often advised - "take the time it takes."

I'll be telling stories about her, but in my next post, I want to introduce you to our other equine partner -- Lily the Mule – our little mischievous gray mule.

So feel free to come along and learn about equines -- maybe some life lessons and probably some laughs -- in this life with Maisie, Lily and of course, the happiest dog in the world, Willow.

"You can't buy the love of a horse, you have to earn it with patience and time." — Unknown