April 15, 2006 - Tax Day - 10am
Shadow and Layla are doing good this morning. I was able to sit in the pen and talk to her, touch her a
little and most importantly, Layla let the foal come over to me and visit a bit.
BUT then the vet came out for the well baby check up. OMG. What an adrenaline rush for all of us. Layla
was crazed, I was able to eventually get the halter on her but then she went nuts, I had to jump the fence
and hold from the other side while the vet and my ranch helper held the baby to get blood. Of course the
baby screamed the whole time, I have never heard that before, Layla was beside herself. I felt horrible.
We worked as fast as possible and gratefully the babies got a clean bill of health so far, healthy as a
horse. Her blood work came back good. Not sure how far I set Layla back with that whole traumatizing
experience, we will see.
Going to go have some coffee now and lay on the floor. More pics soon.
6:30PM
Well Layla's very unhappy with me. I can't get near the baby. I can't get near Layla either. She is Fiercely
protective. I was anticipating she might be a protective mother, but I hadn't thought about the fact that
she is also a wild horse. Wild horse, aggressively protective, I have my job cut out for me. The foal has
already learned to stay away from me. Just the slightest look from Layla and the foal moves fast.
I've worked so hard with Layla over the past 4 months, I had really hoped that this would be a calm and
easy transition for her. But oh well, its not going to be, so I guess I will just have to get over it and get
on with a new training regime. One that includes me keeping all of my limbs.
Shadow and Layla are doing good this morning. I was able to sit in the pen and talk to her, touch her a
little and most importantly, Layla let the foal come over to me and visit a bit.
BUT then the vet came out for the well baby check up. OMG. What an adrenaline rush for all of us. Layla
was crazed, I was able to eventually get the halter on her but then she went nuts, I had to jump the fence
and hold from the other side while the vet and my ranch helper held the baby to get blood. Of course the
baby screamed the whole time, I have never heard that before, Layla was beside herself. I felt horrible.
We worked as fast as possible and gratefully the babies got a clean bill of health so far, healthy as a
horse. Her blood work came back good. Not sure how far I set Layla back with that whole traumatizing
experience, we will see.
Going to go have some coffee now and lay on the floor. More pics soon.
6:30PM
Well Layla's very unhappy with me. I can't get near the baby. I can't get near Layla either. She is Fiercely
protective. I was anticipating she might be a protective mother, but I hadn't thought about the fact that
she is also a wild horse. Wild horse, aggressively protective, I have my job cut out for me. The foal has
already learned to stay away from me. Just the slightest look from Layla and the foal moves fast.
I've worked so hard with Layla over the past 4 months, I had really hoped that this would be a calm and
easy transition for her. But oh well, its not going to be, so I guess I will just have to get over it and get
on with a new training regime. One that includes me keeping all of my limbs.
April 18th, 2006
Shadow and Layla are doing well. Laylas calmed down a little, but not much. Shadow is becoming very
curious about her surroundings and the people who visit her. She's beginning to approach the gate and
sniff the hands that are poked thru at her. Shes also growing fast. Shes begun to test the water in the
trough, and try Layla's hay & bran mash. She such a doll.
Since Laylas having such trouble calming down and letting me near her and baby, I've decided to take a
different approach for the next few days. Instead of going in the pen and trying to remind her that I am
ok, and we were once friends. I have been sitting outside of the pen and doing reiki on her from a
distance. We have had 2 sessions in the last 2 days. The first session, 5 minutes into it, Layla relaxed
enough to lay down and rest. She napped 15 feet from me for about 10 minutes. The second session,
she yawned and yawned, then she closed her eyes and napped standing up. I am thinking I will continue
with 15 to 20 minutes sessions over the next 3 to 4 days. At which time I will approach her with the halter
again and see if shes had a change of heart. I am really hoping so, I would love to get these 2 moved out
to the big pasture so they can run, play, and lay in the sun.
Shadow and Layla are doing well. Laylas calmed down a little, but not much. Shadow is becoming very
curious about her surroundings and the people who visit her. She's beginning to approach the gate and
sniff the hands that are poked thru at her. Shes also growing fast. Shes begun to test the water in the
trough, and try Layla's hay & bran mash. She such a doll.
Since Laylas having such trouble calming down and letting me near her and baby, I've decided to take a
different approach for the next few days. Instead of going in the pen and trying to remind her that I am
ok, and we were once friends. I have been sitting outside of the pen and doing reiki on her from a
distance. We have had 2 sessions in the last 2 days. The first session, 5 minutes into it, Layla relaxed
enough to lay down and rest. She napped 15 feet from me for about 10 minutes. The second session,
she yawned and yawned, then she closed her eyes and napped standing up. I am thinking I will continue
with 15 to 20 minutes sessions over the next 3 to 4 days. At which time I will approach her with the halter
again and see if shes had a change of heart. I am really hoping so, I would love to get these 2 moved out
to the big pasture so they can run, play, and lay in the sun.
April 19, 2006
Had my 3rd reiki session with Layla today. For the first time since Shadows birth, Layla called to me
several times today when I was outside working. When I approached her paddock she had a soft eye and
for a few minutes she was happy to see me. Then instinct kicks in and she has to flatten her ears against
her head, tense her jaw, and give me the evil eye. But we are making progress.
When I sat down to begin the reiki session she knew exactly what I was going to do. She walked over to
the gate and dropped her head and yawned. This went on for about 10 minutes, then she walked away, I
thought she was finished but she herded Shadow over to the gate. They both stood quietly while I
finished the healing. When I was done, they didn't leave. So I stood up, put my hand over the gate and
touched Shadow. Layla was calm while I was doing this. Shadow lipped my hand and arm. I was able,
after a few minutes of desensitizing to rub under Shadows jaw line. She liked it and Layla allowed it. We
are making progress!!!!
Had my 3rd reiki session with Layla today. For the first time since Shadows birth, Layla called to me
several times today when I was outside working. When I approached her paddock she had a soft eye and
for a few minutes she was happy to see me. Then instinct kicks in and she has to flatten her ears against
her head, tense her jaw, and give me the evil eye. But we are making progress.
When I sat down to begin the reiki session she knew exactly what I was going to do. She walked over to
the gate and dropped her head and yawned. This went on for about 10 minutes, then she walked away, I
thought she was finished but she herded Shadow over to the gate. They both stood quietly while I
finished the healing. When I was done, they didn't leave. So I stood up, put my hand over the gate and
touched Shadow. Layla was calm while I was doing this. Shadow lipped my hand and arm. I was able,
after a few minutes of desensitizing to rub under Shadows jaw line. She liked it and Layla allowed it. We
are making progress!!!!
April 22, 2006
Making great progress with Shadow. I can rub all over her body now. I have haltered her a few times for
just a few minutes at a time. I was able to pick up her front hooves. Layla is coming around, she has
mellowed out allot more, but shes still so worried. I can tell she really wants to go out to her pasture, but
I haven't been able to get her halter on yet. As soon as I can I will try to move them, I know they would
both be so much happier out in a big pasture.
Making great progress with Shadow. I can rub all over her body now. I have haltered her a few times for
just a few minutes at a time. I was able to pick up her front hooves. Layla is coming around, she has
mellowed out allot more, but shes still so worried. I can tell she really wants to go out to her pasture, but
I haven't been able to get her halter on yet. As soon as I can I will try to move them, I know they would
both be so much happier out in a big pasture.
April 24, 2006
One step forward and twenty steps back. Thats what the last 2 days have felt like. Layla was very difficult
to deal with the last 2 days, but then today, she was more like her old self. Today I was able to hang out in
their pen for about 45 minutes. Shadow stayed with me most of that time, and I was able to again rub her all
over and pick up her hooves. Layla came to see what I was doing several times, but she was really quite
civilized about the whole thing. As long as baby wasn't fussing about me touching her, then Layla was ok
with it. I still can't get Layla's halter on her, but I think she will come around pretty soon. I snapped a
picture of Layla and Shadow napping together today, it was sweet.
One step forward and twenty steps back. Thats what the last 2 days have felt like. Layla was very difficult
to deal with the last 2 days, but then today, she was more like her old self. Today I was able to hang out in
their pen for about 45 minutes. Shadow stayed with me most of that time, and I was able to again rub her all
over and pick up her hooves. Layla came to see what I was doing several times, but she was really quite
civilized about the whole thing. As long as baby wasn't fussing about me touching her, then Layla was ok
with it. I still can't get Layla's halter on her, but I think she will come around pretty soon. I snapped a
picture of Layla and Shadow napping together today, it was sweet.
