This, is my horse Raiah.
When I first heard about Raiah, I had been sent a message about a `paint` mare at the horse rescue. Our son had already purchased a young quarterhorse colt through this rescue, and they were keeping him (Bandit) there until we moved onto our new small hobby farm at which time he`d be able to come home.
I`ve always loved paints. There is something just so dramatic about the coloring. Not just any paint though. I`ve seen many that I`ve not been real keen on, only certain paints really caught my eye. When I heard about this mare, I had to go take a look. Even more so because I was told that she had become Bandit`s (our son`s little colt) side kick and wasn`t allowing anyone else near him. Horse or human.
I was also told she was kind of nasty and didn`t raelly like ANY one.
Hmmm… I`d have to see about that.
I messaged back that I`d like to come see this paint mare right away. I was told no one would be around that evening but since we had been doing some work at the rescue (volunteer) I was welcome to stop by on my own and go take a look BUT, to be very careful since she could be quite nasty and again I was warned that she didn`t like anyone.
I was actually really glad to go see her all by myself, with no interference from anyone else. I wanted to see what she`d be like with me, just me, and not someone else she was already familiar with.
When I arrived at the rescue the sun was setting. I glanced around the paddocks to see if I could spot the paint mare.
Sure enough, there she was off in one paddock with no other horse around, but little Bandit.
We had met up with Bandit countless times, so he was fairly nonchalant and didn`t pay much attention to whether we came or went. Raiah on the other hand, as soon as she saw me walking towards them, she confidently walked right up to me to let me know she was there. I just as confidently walked right up to her to let her know that I knew darn well she was there, and I was letting her know I was there too, and just what did she think about that?
She gave me a sniff, and then let me pet her.
I was amazed. Surely this wasn`t the nasty mare they all said she was. It was `love`at first sight.
I`ve had Raiah now for almost six years and occasionally she likes to remind me that she truly is that psycho nag.
For the most part, she is a really great mare.
However, she`s got a REAL moody side to her. She`s also a bit of a SPAZ.
Just a bit…
The other night, morning actually, Sunday morning at 2am, I heard SCREAMING outside. And loud bangs.
I stopped and listened hard, trying to decipher what it was my brain was hearing.
It happened again, more screams, more bangs.
I stepped outside onto the bedroom balcony in my flimsy nightgown, listening, waiting, trying to see what might be going on at the barn.
Nothing.
As I stepped back into the house, I heard it again. Another scream. This time I knew it was the horses.
I quickly pulled on some yoga pants, threw on a sweater, and told Graydon there was something going on with the horses. I threw on my shoes and ran out the door, pondering whether or not to grab the baseball bat and wondering why it was that I can never find a good flashlight when this happens.
It hadn`t been the first time…
So I get out there, sure I might find a cougar in the paddock or some other such thing.
Nope. Nothing. Nikki seemed a little spooked when she first saw me coming, but it was dark, so that wasn`t too odd.
Each of the horses came over to see me. Everyone seemed fine.
Then as I was standing there, petting Raiah, Bandit came over behind her and she let out a little scream, and a little buck at him, and I realized that once again my moody mare, my psycho nag, had gotten the better of me and it was time to put my heart back in my chest and realize it was simply yet another mood swing.
None of our other horses have such mood swings. Not like hers anyways.
She`s also not real fond of dogs. We have four.
She does however, absolutely LOVE babies (of the horse variety that is) but was VERY perturbed that Mina got to have a baby, and not her! When she first met Lacey, Mina`s filly, she was so excited she could barely stand it.
Unfortunately she seemed to be as upset by the filly being MINA`s and not HERS, as she was about her excitement about a baby being around.
We had long since realized the reason she had been so stuck on Bandit was because he was a `baby`. She has a real motherly instinct about her.
Unfortunately for Raiah, she never got to have that motherly bond with Lacey, Mina`s filly.
However, she has been a great mare for the most part. While Mina was pregnant and nursing, Alesia rode Raiah.
A lot.
Me however, not so much.
The last two times I rode Raiah (too long ago for me to even mention, it`s that embarrassing!) I didn`t have great experiences with her.
The one time she took off at a full gallop, with me on her.
Then the next time, she spazed because of a great big empty cube truck that drove by us, rattling and banging VERY loudly down the road.
She reared up, with me on her.
However, both times I managed to stay on, stay calm, and round her up properly, so really, I should feel more empowered by those last two experiences, not scared.
I tell myself that I don`t get back on her because if I can`t sew, if I should happen fall and break an arm, our family will be screwed… My business would be a mess.
And it IS true.
But I think it`s also become a really handy excuse.
I really need to get over myself, stop putting it off, and just get back in the saddle.
I need to stop being as moody as my psycho nag.