For over ten years my husband and I have volunteered to help with the
county animal control to evacuate horses and other large animals from
the path of wildfires.
This week there was a small brushfire (4 acres) about a half-mile from
us and I realized that Aslan Equinox (Azzie) my palomino pony had
never seen the inside of our trailer. He is almost three. Hmmm.
We have a big old trails west steel trailer gooseneck style trailer
that's out under the oak trees right now. So the trailer door got
propped open and after today's spa treatment the newly clean, cool and
fly-ointmented Aslan and I went for a walk. I had prepared with a
pocket full of carrot bits.
First we rounded the corner where the trailer used to be and had to
stop and investigate the now empty hay barn. <snort> Then we walked
around the trailer and investigated how it was a big open space. There
was no fear at all just curiosity. A carrot bit got fed.
Aslan began to lick dust off the back rubber bumper so I stepped up in
the trailer. He looked up at me and got another carrot bit. I backed
up a step and got another piece of carrot in my hand. He put one foot
up and got a bit of carrot. Another front foot and another bit of
carrot.
I backed up two steps away from him and held out another carrot bit.
There was no hesitation, carrots are a powerful incentive. He was
eating out of my hand and being petted in moments, standing above the
axle and calmly waiting to find out what else I wanted.
Having had problems loading other horses during fire evacuations, this
was a pleasant change. We stepped out, took a break for a few pets,
repeated the loading experience and then took Azzie out and put him
away.
A wonderful start to the trailer experience. Tomorrow it's back to
riding, eventually I'm going to hook the truck up to the trailer and
get him used to being driven around.
Hope everyone else had a calm day with their horses, too.
Allison
