Learning together....

Today I had a blast getting outside.  The sun was shining and it was cool but not cold.  Bundled up in my sweatshirt, vest and gloves, I headed out to do my "chores"... after having done all the housework, that is.  I needed a break from the stale air inside, so I'm glad today was so beautiful out.  A rarity for a February day in Washington State.  Anyhoo.... I headed out, grabbed the wheelbarrow and took care of all Solomon's housekeeping... Then, noticing his water trough looked greenish, I dumped his water out and got the little scrubby brush. After I got it all sparkly clean, I began to fill the trough with fresh water, hoping he would come and play in the water again.  He waited until the water was overflowing before finally coming over to swish is nose in the tub.  I grabbed a few fun pictures, but he wasn't as silly as usual.

Next, I haltered him and took him out to brush out some mud. Oh my goodness.  I wish he would stop rolling.  Not that that will ever happen.. I got what I could off him then decided to see how he does with a spray bottle of ShowSheen.  I really wanted to get his mane all pretty.  He was a little nervous at times, but we worked through it... I've watched Mike and Christina work with horses and spray bottles many times, so I kind of knew to let him touch it, smell it, feel it, and hear it... I even sprayed some ShowSheen in my hands first and put it on his mane to comb out the first tangles.  After a bit I was able to spray it directly on his mane.  What a pretty boy he is going to be when his mane grows out!  Then I wanted to work on his forelock... We had to work on getting him to lower his head so I could reach. I was kind of proud of myself... (smile)... I knew to give a little pressure downward and let up when he started to lower his head... we had to do it several times before he kept it down for more than one second. Instead of going directly to combing, I petted his forehead a bit, and then started combing and he kept his head down the WHOLE TIME!!!  I was grinning ear to ear... I know this all sound like small piddly stuff.  But to me it's all huge!

Here's the amazing thing... and my Lesson Learned for the day... the whole time I was out there (TWO HOURS)... I had not one stressful thought.  I didn't think about Nick, the housework, school, absolutely NOTHING, except for the horse and his responses to me.  I realized that that is where the therapy is for me... and the MAGIC of horses.  There has never been a single thing that I have been able to do for two hours and keep my brain turned off... Thoughts are always running amuck in my head .... a little like a bunch of bumper cars. Boy do I need time off from that!

So today I'm so thankful for sunshine and Solomon... Thank you Jesus, for these gifts!!