Odin and the team had another fabulous day. We each spent about 20 minutes working with him separately, and it is remarkable to watch how differently Odin relates to each of us. Clearly, he experiences each person—and each relationship—as unique. I can’t say that he shows any distinct preference overall, but there are differences nonetheless. It’s incredibly sweet to witness.
He LOVES getting treats from Susan and trusts her—it’s obvious. Of course, we all know why: Susan always has the best treats, and the most! But there is something deeper between them, too. The trust Odin shows in her, even when things have gone a little sideways—like recently when the rope got stuck around his neck—is really something to see. Susan is pretty brave around him too, and I think Odin takes his cues from her. Her confidence seems to tell him that things are going to be okay.
Butch is the newest member of the team and, when it comes to horse training, certainly the most skilled of the three of us. Yet in one respect, Butch may have started at a disadvantage: he’s male, and we suspect that some of Odin’s difficult experiences with people may have involved men. Understandably, Odin has been a little more hesitant with him.
And yet, it is obvious that Odin respects Butch and is really beginning to warm up to him. It’s heartwarming to see Odin becoming curious enough to investigate Butch’s hand, even bringing his nose forward to touch it. Such a small gesture might not look like much from the outside, but with Odin, these small gestures can feel enormous. Trust is being built one quiet encounter at a time.
As for me, I don’t want to put words in Odin’s mouth. Who really knows what he thinks of me? I can only tell you what happens between us. He is willing to meet my hand. He seems to enjoy having his head stroked. And if I had to guess, I would say he can feel the energy radiating from my hands.
I know that I can feel the energy between us when we are in close proximity, and I’m quite certain Odin is more sensitive to these things than I am. There is a kind of magnetism between us that is difficult to describe and quite remarkable to experience.
I’d like to call it Love.
Perhaps that is what is becoming most beautiful about this work with Odin. Trust isn’t something we can simply teach him, and there isn’t one relationship or one approach that will magically make everything fall into place. Susan brings something to him. Butch brings something to him. I bring something to him. And Odin meets each of us in his own way, showing us how much closeness he can tolerate, how much curiosity he can offer, and when he is ready for just a little more.
Butch will be away for the next several weeks, leaving Susan and me on our own for a while. Of course, I hope our forward progress will continue. But perhaps “forward” with Odin doesn’t always need to mean farther or faster.
Maybe it simply means continuing to meet him where he is, listening carefully to what he offers, and allowing trust to grow in its own time.
I hope we can continue moving forward together—at the pace of Love.
Odin 