#Mareglare

Truby is usually a pretty sweet and easygoing horse. She's been a generally good natured and happy horse her entire life, with maybe the exception of being 4. She was a bitchy teenager at 4! She tends to be more of a "people horse" than a "horse horse", but even so, she usually gets along with everyone and don't fuss or fight. Much.

Hi! I'm Truby, let's be FRIENDS!!!

Right now she's out with a laid back OTTB named Cherry. Truby loves Cherry, and they're the very best friends. Briefly a third horse was in with them, and Truby was happy to be Second-in-Command to Captain Cherry, as they played Mean Girls to the new horse. (Cherry: You can't sit with US. Go sit in the corner!"Truby: YEAH, go sit in the corner!) 

Sharing midday hay. They took turns eating from the tub. It was cute.

But...Truby Does Not like to share two things: my attention, and treats. Cookie Person and Cookies are 100% Truby Only. Truby is also super NOT imtimidating, even when she puts her ears back and makes ugly faces. It's like a tiny kitten hissing. It's just hard to take seriously. 

Basically Truby being "mean"

So yesterday I was visiting the barn, and groomed Truby loose under the trees, and then went for a little bareback ride. Washed her tail afterwards, and loved on her a bit. I returned her to her turnout area with BFF Cherry and put my stuff away. I grabbed the last two carrots from the fridge, and went back out to give each mare a carrot. They both enjoyed them (of course). And then the carrots were all gone. No more carrots. No more cookies. All gone. So Truby started getting bitchy about imaginary carrots. Potential carrots. Carrots that could be. 

Cookies. Are...gone?

Truby: MY CARROTS

Cherry: I love you, friend. I just like being with you.

Truby: GET AWAY FROM MY CARROTS!
Cherry: I like hanging out with you, my friend!

Truby: SHE'S STEALING MY CARROTS (that don't exist)

Cherry: Yay, friends! Let's remember eating yummy treats. I like carrots.

Truby: GET AWAY FROM MY CARROTS, IF I HAD ANY RIGHT NOW!
Cherry: I don't have a carrot either, let's look for some together!

Cherry: Truby is my friend and I love her. I love carrots too. Have any more?
No? Okay. I still like you.

Cherry: *wistfully licks her lips, remembering carrots*

It really is hard to be afraid or intimidated by a Truby, even when she's angry. Her MARE GLARE-EARS FLAT only makes me laugh. People used to horses just roll their eyes. And the other horses she lives with? Not impressed. At all. Ever. Cherry is especially unconcerned, it's kinda like when your best friend is stressed about something and freaking out and you're kinda just like, "it's ok, you can say whatever, I know you're just worried about your job. No biggie. Let's go get ice cream."

No more carrots? I guess there's no reason to be cute.
Ever. Again.

Carrots. Srs Bsns is Trubyland. Guess I'd better restock the fridge!

A Beautiful Morning

You know it's going to be a wonderful day when you drive up to the barn, see your horse is grazing by the road, roll down your window and yell "Hi!", and they throw up their head, whinny, and start walking over to you.

All the feels

"...is anyone else coming?"
(slightly less feels)

This was a couple of weeks ago, the weather was a bit cooler (upper 90's instead of in the 100s. SO COOL, am I right?!) I decided to swing by the barn on my day off, and just brush Truby and love on her some. I mean, that IS the best way to start the day! When I saw her in the front pasture I figured I would take my grooming kit out there and groom her under the trees and enjoy the day.

I heard there might be snacks?

As luck would have it, I ran into the barn owner by the tack room, and finally got to meet the owner of the new mare that now lives with Truby. We chit chatted for a few minutes, and I saw Truby and her new friend, Cherry, walk up to the ring and wait for us all to stop talking and do something interesting, like feed them. I was disappointed, but Cherry's owner, Jenna, was really nice and we had to do that thing where you swap the life story of your horse and how you got them and how you ended up boarding here and is it ok to give treats and all that good stuff. This barn is so different from our last barn, which was self care, and you knew everyone and saw them basically every day. Here I might not run into anyone for weeks. It's really nice to have privacy and feel like the place is yours and yours alone, and not have to share the ring or the wash rack, etc. But it can be a little lonely sometimes. 

never  lonely with this one

By the time we finished chatting, Truby and Cherry had given up on snacks, and wandered back out front to graze. Score! I grabbed my grooming tote and headed out. It was so peaceful, under the hot Arizona sun, shaded by the prickly Arizona trees, currying and brushing my favorite pretty princess until she shone. It was a bit hard to leave that day. The light breeze through the trees tossed an endless pattern of light and shadow on the ground. The quiet munch munch munch and soft snort of the grazing mares. The occasional  truck driving down the gravelly road. Leaning against the warm solidness of a relaxed and happy horse. The absolute lack of needing to do anything at all. Amazing that no matter where you go in life, it seems you can always find those moments with horses. 

especially with this one around <3