There's this horse at the barn named Dougie. They were having a bad time getting him on the trailer the other day. I didn't consciously do anything. I was leaving. But I didn't want to start my car and try to drive past them because they were parked right there in front and Dougie was giving them such a hard time.
Dougie would get his front feet on the ramp and stop dead, then fly backwards. I kept thinking of all these things I would do differently, but... hey, ya know. I didn't say anything. I saw Dougie fly backwards yet again as I was walking out of the barn.
Before that, I had only heard about it as everyone and his brother had been out there at one point or another watching and talking about it.
So, I just stood and watched, figuring I would leave when they got him on. But, what harm could it do to help just a little...without them even realizing I was actually helping. After all, we know how horse people are...they cannot admit someone may be good at something, perhaps better than them (see my first article, Confessions of a newbie horse whisperer).
Thus, the second Dougie put his front feet on the ramp, I stepped closer and gently said "Good boy, Dougie, it's ok... go ahead. Good boy" etc. Vooomp... he went right up! Coincidence? I think not! The barn owner came out and stated to the lady standing by as her husband hooked the horse in the trailer and stated, "Oh good you got him on," to which the woman replied, "Yeah, Chris said good boy and he went right on!"
The barn owner glanced at me. I shrugged and said, "sometimes we need a little positive encouragement." (which is true) It makes me feel good, like I have a rare gift, even if no one else sees it.
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