As many of you may already know, Odin has marked another milestone! If this is the first you’re hearing of it (drum roll please) Odin is now enjoying life in a pasture. Yes, there’s actual real green grass that grows out of the soil, trees that provide shade, a barn for shelter, and even a lake view.
He’s still settling in, so if you happen to stop by the ranch to check things out please be super mindful to peer from afar, move slowly, and speak quietly. He’s still a bit nervous about his new surroundings, although, I believe, just going by the expressions on his face he is quite happy in his new home.
Many of you may wonder how it happened, so I’ll tell you all about it. He moved on Sunday, August 25, 2024. We prepared some fencing that provided a walkway from his pen to the lower barn and simply opened his pen up and supported him using the Trust Technique to find his way to his new pasture. Easy right?! We met our first hurdle when he instantly became enamored with the grass that had been just out of reach inches from the previous fence line. Why didn’t we think of that?! He hadn’t grazed freely for a year. Oh well, so he grazed and he grazed right at his pen. I think he already was feeling like he had hit the jackpot with that one small move.
I was confident and patient, but others were getting a little nervous that he wouldn’t move on and started talking about putting on a little bit of pressure. Of course, I was agreeable, if he got stirred up, I knew we had the tools to also calm him down. So some stood behind for a little pressure, while I, in the meantime just kept inviting and rewarding for taking steps forward, but after a while he did in fact get a little ramped up from the pressure. I was able to bring him back almost immediately with some peaceful energy, a look and a hand gesture, but we didn’t want to take any chances. So we all departed and let him be. I took a beverage to the other side of the lower barn and relaxed in the sun light with Shadowfax who decided to lie down with me and do the same.
We had placed a path of treats through lower barn for Odin to discover on his own and we figured eventually he would find his courage and the treats and see me waiting on the other side of the scary dark barn for him. 2 pounds of carrots, a bag of treats, sweet grain and 3 hours later, Odin was led by me into his new pasture. Imagine the bravery as Odin negotiates his way through the barn toward his pasture. I hope you enjoy the videos and can recognize how far he’s come.
I should add here, the entire journey, while it was quite a big event, was in fact uneventful. No running wild, no damage to anyone or anything due to a horse in fight/flight, in fact, once at the barn entrance and no pressure, there was just caution and curiosity on Odin’s part.
Well done, Odin!
Odin 