Enough is enough!
Bah Humbug with having to be in a barn (or a small veranda) all day and night!
Time to get O-U-T and be a horse!
So, I opened her gate this morning and left it wide open.
Then I went inside.
She noticed the gate was opened and ventured out – but not far.
MT stayed close to her comfort zone.
WHAT PROMPTED THIS?
I don’t know… I just felt it was time. I felt that at this point in her recovery, her state of mind would probably make more of a difference in her improvement than anything else.
Why not let her out?
She is smart. She will take care of herself.
It was just time.
When I checked on her, she had moved a bit, but not far from home base.
SO I LET HER OUT
Actually, I forgot about her… I went inside and promptly got busy and forgot she was out there. And when I remembered, Tess had only walked around her little area – but on the outside.
So, I went back down there and told her that it was OK. She was well enough and strong enough – she just had to avoid rocks and be careful.
Don’t overdo it!
And I went back inside.
When I checked again, she was in front of the pony pasture. She nickered when she saw me and started back right away. I told her it was OK but I think she felt that she had done enough for one day… so she headed back.
Her daughter, Gwen, watches as MT makes her way past.
She notices the driveway coming up….
MT contemplates the rocks…
Carefully, she picks her way across.
THE NEXT TIME I CHECKED…
She had ventured all the way to the pony pasture. As I came outside to take photos, she nickered at me and kinda made her way back.
I told her she could stay out… but I think she knew she had done enough.
MT gingerly made her way across the rocky driveway and down the slope to her veranda. She walked in and gave me a very happy look. She seemed quite pleased with herself.
She also seemed tired.
MT emerges from the driveway and navigates the drop down into her veranda.
She steps over the drainage pipe.
She watches for rocks and possible pieces of hay… (I did try to rake the rocks out of her path).
She’s ready to come in for a landing.
Straight to her bed…and some hay after all that work.
NAP TIME!
Immediately, she fluffed up her bed area and plopped down – contented.
Yes, she is lame. Yes, she walks slowly. But, a year ago, she had no chance for survival… and today, she had a huge smile on her face.
From now on, if I am home, she will be on the “out” rotation. MT will have ‘out time’ every day! She’s earned it.
Happy girl. Nappy girl. Satisfied. She did it!
We are almost there! Our July Bucket Fund horse, MG, is clean and up and eating! Doesn’t he look so much better already? He is a nicker bandit and will “heh heh heh” for food! Click here to read his story or donate!
How wonderful xoxo
Dawn,
This is wonderful and it makes my heart happy.
It actually brings tears to me eyes to see all those pics and they are good tears!
Thank you for sharing.
What a great story! MT has deserved time out to wander! She does pull at my heart strings!
Dawn, it will definitely be good for her mental health to be out and about. And as you say a year ago there didn’t seem much hope. She certainly looks very content. “Keep up the good work MT”. x Christine, England.