Joey and Samson Again

The trimming business is slow. I had one new client just before Christmas, and occasionally I'll get a repeat-business call, but things got to where I finally gave up and went to the job fair at the ski slope and applied to work in the rentals department. It pays horribly (even more so when you factor in tax), as most people who work there do so mainly for the sake of free skiing benefits, but I thought I'd better do something, however meagre, to increase our income. It was not to be, however, as they never called me back.

As most people whom I've trimmed for seemed happy with my work, I chose not to be paranoid about the lack of calls from existing clients, but to chalk it up to Procrastination - something which I know all about myself. 

I trimmed the two minis Joey and Samson back in June. Their owner asked me to call her in a couple of months to schedule another trim. So, I called back in August, left a message, and received no reply. Same thing in September. After that, I let it go, not wishing to be a pest.

The owner finally called me two days ago to schedule an appointment, and off I went today, wearing my long underwear, as winter has finally kicked in. I found the horses' feet to be not over-long, and their heels were nice and wide. The horses are kept at their owner's son's place. He is a really nice guy and loves animals. He had the brilliant idea to lay a slab of concrete, about maybe 8' x 8', which the horses like to stomp around on. They go up on the slab and paw the ground. I honestly would never have thought that horses would put a concrete slab to such good use, but it has worked very well to keep their hoofs balanced and not overgrown.

Joey, the little stallion, who was pretty good last time, was even more friendly and cooperative today and stood without being held. His buddy, the gelding Samson, is much more nervous and mistrustful. He was held while I worked on him and was quite resistant at first, as he had been last time also. However, as is often the case, when he realized that I wasn't going to force him to do anything, and that I was trying to help him figure out how to find comfortable positions, he too became cooperative. One of his hind feet was ok resting on the stand; the other was only happy resting on the toe of my boot. He didn't like picking up his RF, but again, when I showed him we didn't have to lift it up very high and that I was aware he was uncomfortable, he relented and allowed me to work on it.

The owner's son has a little flock of goats, of whom he is very fond and whose names and lineages he told me in detail. He has already provided them with some goat playground equipment, but he's planning to build a deluxe high platform with ramps. (I wonder if the minis will feel a little annoyed at the goats' ability to climb up onto a level inaccessible to horses.) It's always nice to meet someone who tries to provide a happy home for their animals.

After I'd trimmed Joey and Samson, they went off to play together. Joey is the dominant, bossy one - but in play Samson bites back. A good reminder that in the horse world, it's ok to be sassy to the leader.


p.s. All day long I've been finding myself in an unexpectedly good mood. This evening, as I pause and take time to reflect, I find that it is because of my encounter this morning with Joey and Samson.