Obviously it has been a very long time since I have written about Thera. You may be wondering “What the heck happened?” When I went to let the horses out this morning, I found this large amount of tail hair from Thera that she left wrapped around the handle of her water bucket. I heard the message: “Tell The Tale!” So I’m listening…here’s the update on this magical horse.
After I last posted, the details were set to pick Thera up. This was actually set up to occur the day after we got the lead rope on her. So I went home all excited that our progress together was moving forward very quickly. Much quicker than I thought possible. The next morning I hooked up the trailer and told all the horses that Thera was finally coming home to be with us. I picked up my dear friends Buddy and Lisa and we headed to the horse rescue.
When we arrived, the owner of the horse rescue met us at the barn and had a funny look on her face. I asked what was going on and she said, “Thera got her lead rope off.” Now this is just plain amazing because we are talking about a lead rope that releases by pulling down a spring on it. I am having trouble describing this for all of you non-horsey people, but basically you need a hand with fingers and an opposable thumb to release this sucker. I just went over to Thera’s stall and looked at her and I swear she had the biggest smile on her face. Readers, file this away in your head, because since she came home, there have been several events surrounding this horse of equal question.
So the rescue owner suggested I go in her stall and put the lead rope back on her. The way she had previously done this was to get Thera moving in the stall by swinging the lead rope at her and then basically throwing the lead rope over her neck and lassoing her to catch up and then quickly attach the lead to her halter. I immediately had visions of the similarity to how she had been rounded up and did not have a good feeling about this. But I set that aside and went in the stall hoping that our previous time connecting would make a difference. I tried to “catch” her for about 10 minutes and the only thing that happened was my anxiety and frustration level rose and so did Thera’s. We weren’t getting anywhere except closer to a major fear explosion and that is not how I wanted to begin this journey with this horse. I finally stopped and stepped out and asked the rescue owner if she would do it. She agreed and it took her awhile, but she “caught” Thera and got the lead on. I took the lead from her and stood in the stall with Thera who looked completely freaked out. I spent some time talking with her until it looked like she had returned to her body and was present again. The trailer was ready to go and I walked Thera out of her stall. The rescue owner took the lead from me (at my request) and led her into the trailer with me encouraging her from behind. Thera just walked right on the trailer without any issue. We said our goodbyes and loaded up in my truck and began the journey home. Several times I looked out my side mirror and could see Thera standing quietly in the trailer, munching on hay and just watching the scenery pass by.
Buddy, Lisa and I pulled up to the ranch and all the horses were standing by the back gate waiting for us. If you are a horse person, you know that when a new horse shows up, the others are running up and down the fence line just to get a good look. Well, my group was absolutely silent. The 5 of them were lined up all together, quietly watching and waiting. Interesting! So I opened the back of the trailer and Thera was standing there still munching hay and completely quiet and calm. I went inside and untied her lead rope and we stepped out of the trailer together. She stopped and looked around and then looked at the rest of the horses. Magno, my ginormous horse, sent a low pitched nicker her way. The others continued to stay absolutely still, quiet and watching. Thera looked at them and whinnied back. I led Thera into the barn and into her stall. The other horses following along the outside of the barn to watch. She went into her stall without issue and looked out her open window at the others. They were all clamoring around the back gate to get a glimpse of her. She went back into her stall to eat some hay I had set up for her. After awhile the other horses left their viewing point, except for Moonbeam. She is the mother in this herd. She stood looking at me as if to say, “Please let me in.” I opened the back gate and Moonbeam quietly walked in to the area outside of Thera’s stall. I watched her very slowly and carefully walk up to the closed dutch door on Thera’s stall. They she gingerly looked over the side almost as if she was checking on a newborn. I saw Thera’s nose peak out above the stall door and the two girls shared a breath between nostrils. Normally with mares, there would be a lot of screaming and drama, but not with these two. They made their connection and then Moonbeam stepped away from the stall door and walked back over to me and then over to gate. She stopped and looked at me like, “Ok, I’m done, please let me out now.” So I did. She returned back to the rest of the herd. All remained quiet the remainder of the day.
Thera was finally home and this adventure is only beginning!
