The winter weather as moderated and we are enjoying the sunshine and warmer temperatures.

Bonnie and Sox are enjoying the appearance of a little spring grass and the warmer, dryer weather also.

Sweet Kisses from Bonnie Blue

 

Bless the sleepy horse.

Bright eyed Sox in the sunshine

The little church we attend has a monthly newsletter. Below is a copy of a short article inspired by the horses. I hope you enjoy it.

Horse Sense

By Robin Clark

Many of us have some relationship with a creature or creatures of another species such as domestic social animals like dogs, cats or horses. Evolution and recent genome sequencing tell us that not only did we come from the same primordial stew, but as warm blooded vertebrates, we share a lot of the same DNA coding with our furry friends. We are more akin to these creatures than what we might first think.

Consider this; if as mammals, humans and horses share 85% common DNA (the percentage in likely a little higher) and 70% of what we are and do is controlled by our genetics, then we are about 60% the same as our fellow equine friends. That is a lot of commonality. Dogs or cats would have similar numbers. Now we are not talking about what we talk about. No. Language is special to humans. What we are talking about are the emotions and behavioral patterns like forming groups, selecting mates and establishing social hierarchies, much of which is controlled in the mammalian brain and not the neo cortex where language resides.

You have heard the expression, “horse sense”, e.g. “She has good horse sense.” The common definition of horse sense is the same as common sense, i.e. sound practical judgment independent of specialized knowledge or training; normal native intelligence. A less colloquial expression which has roughly the same meaning is, “She has good situational awareness”.

Horses are herbivores and therefore animals which are preyed upon. To survive they developed keen senses to alert them of danger and predators. They are also constantly observing other herd members regarding social structure, where the herd is going and if someone else has sensed a danger.  In the corporate and social worlds we need good situational awareness or horse sense to decipher complex social and business interactions and  play the games with in the games.

So the next time someone says you have good horse sense, consider it a great compliment. Or even if they call you an animal name like turkey or jackass, do not take offense. These creatures have survived and thrived without the benefit of logic, language, math or science. So maybe being equated with them is not such a bad thing.

 We are all part of the web if life and we are more connected to one another and other life than most of us ever realize. Maintain a reverence for all life. Embrace and learn from our fellow creatures in this wonderful and complex world.

Strive to be happy and May Peace be with you.

The last couple of weeks winter has gripped the farm here is south Mississippi. Several nights set record low temperatures in the mid-teens. That is cold for this area.

Bonnie and Sox have made out fairly well. We found horse blankets that fit their small frames (a size 70 for Bonnie and a 68 for Sox). They wore them the nights the temperature was below 25 deg. F.

When we first put the blankets on them their response was interesting. Both responded toward the other as though they were challenging them similar to the response to a new horse in the herd. However, the challenge period was very short. As soon as they sniffed one another they resettled in to their regular routine.

We were pleasantly surprised at the minimal amount of biting and tugging on the blankets that each demonstrated.  Apparently both figured out that these blanket things feel pretty good when the weather is cold.

Sox personality continues to unfold like a lotus flower. He is still trying to figure out the relationship with his humans. Based on his response to us, I do not believe he had a close relationship with humans in his past. He acts as though being loved on and petted is a little strange to him. However, in the months since he has returned to good health and weight, he has increasingly saught to get his share of grooming and petting. He is still a male horse who wants to dominate something and bears watching until he accepts you are not going to be his subject. Some time that is as simple as a bump on the nose if he pushes you, or showing him the whip if he gets his head up and starts to try to bully with his body. But once he gets past trying to dominate you, he can be as loving as Bonnie Blue. There is a good horse, hiding inside the pretty black and white socked skin and it is trying to come to the surface. My intention is to love him and work with him to be that good and gentle horse that understands that some humans are okay to be trusted. He has come so far in the months since he came to live with us, I can hardly wait to see what happens next.

May Peace be with you.