MCTM
Well-Known Member
Or Sometimes doing what feels like the right thing back-fires.
To set the scene: my older mare is out for the winter on assisted retirement grass livery (66 acre field with about 20 horses. Lots of shelter, well drained, decent amount of grass). I felt bad about doing this but I travel abroad a lot on business and so cant do DIY. I visit her at least once a week (she is checked daily) and bring her up from the field, make a fuss of her and have been giving her some grass nuts and carrots.
She is a bit of a wuss about the rain so I decided to charge out at lunchtime and go and make sure she was OK after yesterdays weather. Total trip takes just over an hour so it was just do-able before my afternoon meetings. Whistled to her and, to my surprise she starts to walk over towards me (usually ignores me totally). As I wasnt planning on visiting all I had was a handful of treats but no nuts or carrots in the car. She seemed fine so once shed finished the treats I started walking back towards the gate she just kept following. I guess she thought that, as usual, Id bring her in and give her some food. Had to leave her standing at the gate as I drove off back to the office.
Feel really horrible now and I wont be able to see her again until the weekend. Note to self: always leave a bag of nuts & carrots in the car in case of impromptu visits.
Sorry, can only offer vending machine coffee and a stale brownie if you got this far.....
To set the scene: my older mare is out for the winter on assisted retirement grass livery (66 acre field with about 20 horses. Lots of shelter, well drained, decent amount of grass). I felt bad about doing this but I travel abroad a lot on business and so cant do DIY. I visit her at least once a week (she is checked daily) and bring her up from the field, make a fuss of her and have been giving her some grass nuts and carrots.
She is a bit of a wuss about the rain so I decided to charge out at lunchtime and go and make sure she was OK after yesterdays weather. Total trip takes just over an hour so it was just do-able before my afternoon meetings. Whistled to her and, to my surprise she starts to walk over towards me (usually ignores me totally). As I wasnt planning on visiting all I had was a handful of treats but no nuts or carrots in the car. She seemed fine so once shed finished the treats I started walking back towards the gate she just kept following. I guess she thought that, as usual, Id bring her in and give her some food. Had to leave her standing at the gate as I drove off back to the office.
Feel really horrible now and I wont be able to see her again until the weekend. Note to self: always leave a bag of nuts & carrots in the car in case of impromptu visits.
Sorry, can only offer vending machine coffee and a stale brownie if you got this far.....
