Resting With Boo

One of the things on my bucket list since Boo and I became acquainted, is to sit on the ground near him while he is resting. Over the years, I’ve witnessed him laying on the ground napping, but if I got too close, he’d get up. Although he’d come to greet me, I knew that I did not  have his complete trust and he would not allow me to walk up and sit down by him while he was on the ground.

Horses are prey animals, there is always a lookout standing guard in the herd while the other horses take time to get off their feet and rest. Once they are on the ground, they are in a very vulnerable position. For them, it is a defenseless position, if there is a predator, precious time is wasted while getting up off the ground.

During our time together, I do get to stand close to Boo and rub his face and forehead. He loves it because we are with each other. He loves that I am in the moment with him. We’ve got nothing else to do, and no where we need to go. I stand next to him, close my eyes and touch his jaw with my hand. I gently rub his forehead just above his eyes. We breathe together. In the stillness, he lowers his head. Then his neck. He closes his eyes and his lower lip relaxes and droops. It quivers a bit. His head bobs, and his neck drops a little more. I know he is completely relaxed when he starts to drool. I love our time together.

There are many days that I just hang out with the horses. I love to watch them eat and meander around the barn yard. I pull up a chair and sit. I don’t move much and I simply observe. I love the sound they make when they are chewing hay. Sometimes when I am sitting, one of them will walk up, lean their head down and look to see if I have any treats. I massage their forehead for a moment and when satisfied, they walk away. I am at ease and my mind is quiet. It is a sitting meditation. I feel like one of the herd. 

One sunny day in March, when I arrived at the farm, Boo, Izzy and Jericho were out in the barn yard enjoying the warm, late winter sunshine. Part of my visit involved cleaning their stalls and bringing hay bails down from the loft. I like the job of scooping poo into the bucket, hauling it out into the yard, and dumping it. The horses were there watching me and eating hay. I talked to them while I walked next to them, rubbing their necks with one hand, carrying the empty bucket in the other. When my fingers got cold, I took my gloves off and put my hands on Boo’s neck under his mane. His body heat warmed my aching fingers as I gave him a rub. There’s nothing like being next to a horse. When I’m near them I breathe deeper, relax more, and release the mind chatter of the day. I come fully into the moment. I am at peace.

That day, when I finished my chores and opened the barn door, Jericho was keeping watch and Boo and Izzy were laying on the ground snoozing. I stood there for a moment. It was a wonderful surprise! They were so close. Right next to the barn. (I’m not sure, but I think my jaw dropped and my lower lip drooped.) I was overjoyed! They knew I was in the barn, I am sure they could hear me, and yet they trusted me completely while I was banging around in the barn. Telepathically, I asked both Boo and Izzy if I could join them. Neither one moved, so slowly, with my eyes soft, I moved quietly between them and sat down in the snow. I just watched. The feeling of being accepted into the herd was extraordinary. 

While we were resting on the ground, I had confidence that neither Boo or Izzy would get up and step on me, and in turn, they trusted me not to frighten or bring harm to them. I sat. They rested. Boo put his chin on the ground and closed his eyes. The sun was warm and the sky was very blue. In that moment there were no deadlines. Nothing that had to be done, no where I had to go. Just. Be. Peace. 

In time, and when he was ready to get up, Boo raised his head and looked at me. I looked at him. “Hmm” he said, “I think it’s time for a roll before I get up.” 

“Hmm,” I thought, “I guess it’s time to watch Boo roll before he gets up.”

He rolled. Izzy watched, then she rolled. Leisurely, both of them got up. I watched them for a few moments longer and then I stood up too. We just stood there for a bit. I got them more hay. We went about the rest of the day. We made a beautiful memory. I can’t wait for our next visit.

Next on my bucket list…to sit and rest with them in the warm spring sunshine!