The Value of Trust

I am always blown away by the level of trust horses have for us. This weekend is yet another example of how horses trust us to protect them. Loud noises and blind horses do not mix. Once they’ve adjusted to a certain loud noise (such as a tractor bringing them hay), they adjust. But sporadic noises (such as fireworks) are torcher for the blind (aka Babe and Thor).

Friday night and Sunday night were tough for Babe and Thor. I didn’t realize Friday night that neighbors were shooting fireworks until I was out playing with the big herd. It gets a bit tricky to pull the two blind horses and leave the two fillies. I wasn’t sure how that would work but the fillies were reassured with the presence of the big herd (Queen is in with Rabbit and Dick).

I didn’t get to sleep in like I had hoped Saturday morning knowing that Babe and Thor were in the barn hungry for breakfast. They willingly haltered up and gingerly walked through the barn. I haven’t had Thor in the barn since I pulled him from the big herd. Walking to the barn Friday night he was snorting and blowing but he walked with me without any hesitation. He followed my lead and trusted me to lead him to a safe place. Same goes for Babe.

Sunday night there were more fireworks much louder than Friday night. We got home late and rushed to pull Babe and Thor out of the drylot and in to the barn where they would feel protected. Thor hasn’t even been blind six months and he’s having to deal with fireworks for the first time. Poor guy.

Both Babe and Thor did ok while we were getting them haltered and to the barn. They simply walked in circles trying to figure out what was going on before we could get to them. They trusted us to protect them from the noise. They trusted us to lead them. They trusted us to keep them safe.

I’m simply blown away by the amount of trust horses have. Granted not all horses have the same amount of trust (I’m thinking Savanna at this point), but Thor has really turned to us to protect him more. We’ve only had Thor for just over a year (June 12, 2010 was the day we picked him up). Imagine going blind, having to adjust to darkness, and then have noises that you don’t understand and don’t have anyone to explain to you that you’ll be ok. The trust Babe and Thor have towards us leaves me speechless.

I know some people don’t put any value on a blind horse. But both Babe and Thor have taught me more in the past two years than certain people have taught me in my lifetime. I only hope that I can hold up my end of the bargain for those two.