Is this real?

AlythLong · Is this real?

Something unexpected happened yesterday. Before the good part of my play and ride time with Sari we did a bit of groundwork with her saddle on over a new pad. It slipped forward and she bucked and even gave a small rear - I sent her on around the circle and when she calmed down (only a few seconds) we stopped, I put the saddle back and we went and changed the pad for the theraflex and continued on.....

Later in the day the horses were grazing the garden and I went outside - stopped about 10' from Sari and we looked at each other. Out lound I said I realised the only reason she bucked was because the saddle had slipped forward - and she nodded her head!!!!

I carried on talking and said I thought it would be a good idea to try using the new pad (cos it is soft) but to stop it slipping put it on over a sheepskin numnah that has straps to hold everything together. And she nodded her head again.......

Now I have never seen her nod her head at all, let alone at the exact right moment.....

Am I anthromorphising? Or is it real? I'll have a play with the saddle and various pads later this morning. It sounds so silly talking about it that I couldn't mention it anywhere else but here!!!

Thanks for listening.

Alyth

thelmanelle

Hi,
I was getting a lot of saddle slipping, too. I Kept having to shift my weight in my lessons with the theraflex pad. It was not a bucking issue as my horses were willing, but I did not like that they had to experience the constant shifting. Plus, my trainer was seeing it.

I bought a regular pad and bump pad and when I tack up, I make sure that I make the pad and bump pad go into the front where the withers are so not to put pressure on the withers. Near the pommel of the saddle.

I hope I am clear...sometimes, I am not.

Sonya

edit: Once, I changed pads, no more shifting. Nice.

jackspark

I don't think you are. I have had some very odd experiences such as yours shortly after lending credence to the idea of AC. I have started really caring for my aging gelding and treating him with a great deal of respect and courtesy. Giving him as much of a say in his daily life as I can.
I've changed my schedule to accommodate his and boy this ex-loner, stoic, isolated gelding has become very interested in "talking" to me.

I decided to try it because it is the very least I can do for a horse that has given me so many hours of fun and taken such good care of me when I was too stupid to know better!

So nice of you to tell your horse that you don't blame her or think she was being silly. She's probably crazy about you

thelmanelle

Sorry, but the theraflex really was an issue on my saddle slippage. Not being mean, just stating facts. I tried it for a long time. I will say....I love the fluidity saddle, but not the pad. IMHO.

AlythLong

Just to clarify the slipping bit. It wasn't the theraflex that was slipping, it was the other pad. I took that pad off and replaced it with the theraflex yesterday. But I really like the other pad, it is memofoam half pad so today I put it between a sheepskin numnah and the saddle and it worked fine. Sari was very happy as well!! Actually thinking about it my girth could have come a bit looser with the online that we were doing!!!

Alyth

AlythLong

It's not the first weird thing that has happened either!! Sari was born November 1998 - I bred her. One night I was just dropping off to sleep when I was suddenly wide awake and knew that the foal my mare was expecting was going to be a grey filly and she would be called Fersari. And she would be special to me. So when a grey filly was born I had to call her Fersari!! And now this.......

Alyth

new2thejourney

I absolutely think you have a clear connection with her. I don't doubt that she understood you, and perhaps communicated with you in a way she knew you would understand. I don't believe you are crazy, except about your beautful Sari!!!

I had a similar experience with Bundy when I first got him. About 2 weeks after he came here (he came with a different name and it didn't suit him AT ALL). I was going over names. I went outside and asked him to come for a walk, and so he did. I told him I was thinking about changing his name and wondered if he liked the name Bundy - and yep, he nodded and let out a little nicker. So, it was done there and then. He answers to his name every time I call him, so I'm sure it is because we 'talked' about it before I went ahead and did it.

And the proof is in the pudding for you too! The next day you tried the saddle with the pad and the numnah and - wallah! Success and unity! Nice. Keep talking with your girl, she will keep 'talking' with you.

Oh and Alyth.....congratulations!

Karen.

bit

I'm inclined to think she was talking to ya, but ya'll know me. Eclipse was staring a hole in me today, standing over towards were my fence came down in my play pen. I thought she wanted her grazing muzzel off. She was there for quite a time, (about 5 minutes) so I walked over and she was caught up in my wire fence. Just had the wire fence under her tummy, and I needed to unhook it and side step her over. She was never gave up looking at me and trying to tell me she was in trouble.
If you open the door to communication, you take the time to listen, animals most always take the time to talk. Now that she knows you can hear her, she may choose to talk to you a lot more.

AlythLong

That would be awesome!!

bit

Tell her how much you enjoy having her talk to you. Ask her to try talking in your head. Hawk started out talking to me like your horse. He'd go pick up his halter if he wanted to play, or communicate in some other physical way. Now? It's mind to mind with all four. I kinda think the physical "talking" is like speaking slowly and loudly to someone who is hard of hearing. lol! Just get real quiet, no internal chatter, and see what you get. Relax, breath, open your mind, and invite her in!

sarah

Alyth,

As you've got more awareness, you're seeing what's in front of you!

Your horse has had to be pretty clear for you to really take notice. Take it as what it is - a door opening for you and for her!

appellativo

My horse doesn't nod either, as a matter of course. I don't recall the conversation, but recently I asked her a question and she gave me an affirmative nod. It was cool.

4theloveofjake

I really feel the communication going on between my horses and I. I feel it and see it, if that makes sense. NO sounds are made, except for my laughter.

Yesterday I told Jake to quit pawing and he would get his bucket, he quit pawing. I told him to be nice and give me two ears up, not back and he put them up.

He got fed.

After he ate he looked at Powder and I said "no, don't go there". He stood still.

I walked around picking up the paddock and Jake came near. He stood in fron t ofme and looked up " Can you pull down that branch for me ? I love leaves " I pulled it down and he ate leaves.

Willow walked close and asked can I have some grass ? I left the paddock and came out of the woods with a huge handful of grass, treats for everyone.

Powder followed me to the gate. He asked for some Trace mineral salt. I said "wait right here" and I left to fo get some. I brought him a scoop back and he asked to lick it off my hands. His eyes said thank you and I said I love you. He knew that I knew that he knew, ya know ???

I left the paddock last night completely at peace and they contently munched and lifted their heads one last time to say good night.

Yes this is weird stuff but it is true, we communicate and nobody sees besides us.

jackspark

Oh lord same stuff happenin here too! Yesterday I took my gelding for a walk and he pushed out in front of me. I said whoa, very softly, he did and then in a matter of fact, very soft, voice: You'll need to come back to me love............... he took four steps straight back and partnered up with me.
I think it has a lot to do with what Bit said about slowing down, clearing your mind and getting open to it.

Also this weekend late one night in the barn I asked my old gelding if his front feet hurt........ he dipped his head down right next to my ear and exhaled slowly. I swear it sounded just like a low, slow nnnnnooooooo.

Please post more examples, I love hearing everyone's stories! Makes me feel like maybe this is really happening

bit

It's just become a part of how we are. We are a herd, and herds talk, play, protect one another, love one another. Tonight Gunner walked up to me, looked at me in the eye, turned sideways, hiked his back leg up as high as it would go and pointed under his leg with his nose. He continued to hold his leg up and I felt where his nose was, and sure enough, there was a nasty ole tick there. I picked it off, killed it soundly and made sure he was tick free everywhere under the hood. I checked everyone else, and found a couple on Bitty. She knew what I was doing, and spread her legs a little. Rocked back and forth when I cleaned her udders. The fact that Gunner knew to ask just got me so stoked!!!!
Tonight he sauntered on up, had that gleam in his eyes, and invited me to play by taking a half-hearted nip near my leg. I nipped him back by the side of his mouth. (I taught him this the first day he was mine.) We nipped back and forth, we got frisky, I chased him, he trotted off with his ears back listening to where I was, then he quick turned and faced and chased me...Here comes Hawkie trotting up and then it was nip, paw, squeal. Between Gunner and Hawkie. Me? I don't play when the pawing and rearing and squealing happens, but it sure is fun to be part of it all. To be invited into their world by these most amazing souls. A world that most humans don't even see, aren't aware that even exists. It's the most delightful miracle, isn't it?
Now my border collie, Bess? She'd blow you away at how much she knows. My barn cats? I had raised them from two weeks old. I'm their mom. I was thinking today, sitting on the well cover, barn cats laying all over me, horses grazing right next to us, I don't know if I'm in a herd, a pride, or a pack. Every animal communicates, just not with humans. Why would they? But, if you take the time, and open that door,

The only humans I'm this close with are my daughter and Tony. Oh, and you guys. Lets face it, most humans aren't great company. This forum? Think about the odds of us all finding one another like this. No accidents. It just keeps getting better and better.

jackspark