There’s something peaceful about sitting out in the rain, it doesn’t phase Odin and frankly it’s often when the ranch gets quiet, so I enjoy it too. The quiet led us beautifully into the present moment, the present moment brought Odin into a trance like state, and then into another Trust Roll.
I’ve read that healthy horses, similar to cats, will only lie down, roll, and show their belly’s when they trust that they’re safe. The fact that Odin has done this twice with me this week feels like quite a gift and an honor.
Before our session ended today, since Odin was so peaceful, I decided I’d try something new with him. In the past Odin’s been pretty shy about standing with me. As you may know, Odin doesn’t really like to be close to anyone. He’ll approach for a treat, but will often snort anxiously when in very close proximity even with those he trusts the most. If he doesn’t trust you, he simply will retreat. Today, I decided to use his treats as a reward for standing with me. By the time we finished our morning session Odin was able to stand with me for nearly three minutes at a stretch. At times it was hard for him not to ask for his treat, but even his patience for a treat improved today! He’s so clever, and displaying so much courage and an increased desire for connection. It truly is heartwarming to see!
Odin 