This was sent to a friend last night, so copy/pasting with a few adjustments for my post:
Just had a near come to Jesus moment with Spotty (2 year old, miniature gelding to mature tall B), and his reaction
just proves that even horses that have never been abused can go ballastic over a situation. Spotty went totally
bonkers over having his bridle path clipped, and with scissors no less (so no noise or vibrations to freak over,
just freaking over being close to ears).
He's never liked it, nor does his dam or his brother; and I know he and his brother have never been abused,
and can say with 99% certainly their dam hasn't either (I got her as a weanling). Today was hoof trimming day for the
geldings, and I try to trim bridle paths on the same day, usually just with scissors, as I don't have power at the
gelding barn. Spotty was ok for his hoof trim, but come time to trim his bridle path and he wasn't going to have it,
he reared, jumped around, acted like a fool; including jumping on the back of my ankle during one of his rearing,
jumping fits. I have a nice bruise and scrape back there now.
And, I didn't notice until last night the huge bruise on the back of my other leg, where Spotty stomped on that side too;
I had been favoring the ankle he stepped on which scrapped skin and caused a small bruise; but the back of my left
leg has a 5" long bruise about 2" wide running vertically. Ouch, especially now that I've noticed it.
I hate to post my snow white legs, but I always wear jeans, so they don't see the light of day. Good thing that was
the case yesterday or there might have been more than a bruise.
And, a secondary point being, even "small" equines can hurt us, so wear proper shoes and attire when working around
them. If i hadn't been wearing jeans, this could have been so much worse. [And, I know some of this is my fault,
as I haven't worked with them as much as I should; but my other mare and her two foals, are so ho hum about bridle
paths, and have had the same amount of work.]
I'm fine, and Spotty is fine, but before we were done, he stood still while I touched and trimmed his bridle path, and he didn't die when I touched his ears.
[I posted this to the FB mini group to help remind people that even though they are small they are mighty.]
