I've been having a crappy week at work and at lunch time today, since it was nice weather, I took myself out for a walk - intending to take some "retail therapy" and just "get the heck out of Dodge" for an hour.

My office is right on Main Street in downtown Houston and as I stepped outside I saw a man with a dog on a leash, talking to two mounted police officers.  The horses had their heads down saying hello to the dog.  Several people were snapping photos and I stopped for a moment to watch.

Then one of the horses reached up and snatched a small leafy branch off the oak tree they were standing under.  I stepped forward and offered to help disentangle the leaves from the horse's bit and got to talk with the officers and scritch the grey mare's neck.

After a few minutes, I realized I had a smile on my face.

 So my intended "retail therapy" was replaced by some "equine therapy."

Much better for the soul -- and the wallet!

 

Yeah they will totally do that for you! I have been giving a little girl (11) lessons on my giant (16.3) gelding and even though I was having a crap week, watching him hold his head real low for her to take his bridle off and put the halter on just totally brightened my day. Too cute, lol. You don't even need to ride for them to give you good vibes : D 

If you need some "equine therapy" try working with miniature donkeys! I have 2--Mocha, a grulla, and Rosie, a liver chestnut--and I just started joining-up with them. They're hilarious: they react to join-up techniques just like horses. Well, of course, duh, they're equines. :) I've had them for years but it never occurred to me to join-up with them. My farrier suggested that to make them easier to trim, so I tried it. There's nothing cuter than a tiny donkey walking up to you with a grin on her face. :) It makes you melt.

 Awww how adorable!

When our horses were evacuated, we went over to see them in their temporary quarters and there were two donkeys in the field too.  The horses didn't want anything to do with the donkeys, but the donkeys sure were interested in us as we walked through the pasture.

 

my neighbor and i got a load of hay delivered on tuesday night (we share to get a full load otherwise they don't deliver).  on wednesday, my neighbor asks for the phone # of the hay guy, because he asked her if she knew anyone who wanted a mini donkey.  he never mentioned it to me, so her friend gets the free mini donkey....

 i am pouting now, cuz i want a mini donkey to keep my horse company.  drat, sometimes you're just not in the right place at the right time (even though it was only 10 minutes earlier and right next door).  i had to mention it here though, since....you know how it can be...  everytime i turn around i see something about miniature donkeys now.

back to the subject though,

my horse is up the street at the boarding stable right now.  i am getting full board, so a holiday from the cleaning, etc.  he is getting a holiday, because he has buddies to visit.  he lives alone here at home.

i spend hours there working him, riding, grooming, just enjoying him.

it's been wonderful just to be spending the time totally focused on my horse.  horses are good for the soul all right.

Mocha and Rosie were Juno's companions when I moved her to my newly-built barn. I didn't have any other horses then, though within 6 months I had Havannah and Athene. :) Juno still thinks the donkeys are her pets, and protects them from Havannah, who doesn't care much for them