Walking out to the pasture, I see my gentle giants staring back at me.  My friends tease that the horses only want me for the food I give them, but I believe there is something more.  We share a connection and a bond, or else they would not meet me at the gate willing to go with me when they know I usually put them to work.

While I’m on “restriction” at the moment due to the surgery, I cannot ride my beloved horses.  But, I can groom and love on them.  I actually feel as if they miss it as much as I do when I’m not able to go out there.

The first few weeks after surgery I could only look at them from my kitchen window.   It was much too cold to attempt to go out there with a weakened immune system, so I admired them from afar.  Often times, I would look out and see my Sugar girl staring back at me.  I have a connection with her far greater than with our other horses.

With the issues I started having after surgery, there were days I couldn’t even go to the window.  I believe she missed me and started getting depressed.  There might have been something else going on, but she would lay down more than usual.  It wasn’t like she was thrashing around with colic, though, although we were afraid she might have some of the beginning signs.  My husband went out to the pasture, but I longed for her.  Worried sick, I watched now from the living room window as she walked slowly behind my husband with her head down.  She appeared to have such sadness in her eyes, so I knew what I had to do.  I went back to the bedroom, put on my warmest clothes, stepped into my boots by the back door and headed out to be with my Sugar girl.

When I approached them, she turned her sad eyes toward me.  I got close to her face, and she allowed me to stroke her and kiss her as I whispered to her.  She’s always been the best therapist for me when something was troubling me, and now it was my turn to do this for her.

I lead her over to the trailer and got my grooming bag to go to work on her.  My little darling stood quietly as I brushed her mane as gently as I could.  I realize they can’t feel if you accidentally pull their hair when you’re brushing their mane or tail, but I still treat her as if she is one of my tender headed children.  I take my time getting all the tangles, twigs, and other particles out of her hair so she looks as beautiful as ever.  Then I move on to the rest of her body taking great care with her grooming.  That time is precious to me.

After being out there with her for a bit, Sugar perked up.  I was so happy to see her acting like herself again.  My girl was back!

That’s the bond we share!