9.) Learning To Listen
By Patricia Otto

Until just recently I wasn't a natural therapies person at all. I read about it, but thought naaaaa, better stick with all these unnatural inventions. Aromatherapy was something you use in an oilburner to make your room smell better.

Then at the end of last year the problems with Mighty Boy had escalated and I read an article about Aromatherapy written by Catherine. Well now I'm doing Catherine's course, joined this list and a lot of things have changed.

Something I was always skeptic about are people that claimed to be able to "communicate" with animals. I thought it was utter bull, but was also curious and kind of jealous. When I met Catherine a few months ago she told me to try, I might have strange thoughts going through my mind and would learn how to understand them.

So I tried. First time one night after a long ride I asked Sky how he felt. I got a total clear answer: 'I'm sore, my back hurts, the saddle hurts me'. I thought 'bugger, I'm thinking this.' But checked his back the next day, and yes he was sore. Well, we use a different saddle now. Sky is also a horse that sticks with his friends and can get really naughty when separated even for just a short time(bucking, bolting). I tried separate paddocks, but Sky is an escape artist and always manages to get back into his paddock some way or another. Since my daughter is riding him I was worried and told him so. I made a deal: 'you behave and be a good horse and I put you back with your friends. I'm worried you hurt Nellie but you can teach her how to ride properly'. He thought 'but she hurts me, she hits me with the stick'. I told him that if he would behave and go nicely, she wouldn't have to use the crop. He is better now.

The other day I got him out of his paddock and his new underrug was all ripped, Sky was all over wet. He told me that they where playing, his rug slipped and he stepped on it. They where running along the beach and through the water and had such a good time. He wasn't happy at all that I came along to take him for a ride and he behaved very badly. The next day he said he was sorry and it wouldn't happen again.

Now I'm communicating with all of my horses and even though sometimes I have doubts about it (because it seems unreal), I will continue doing it.

10.) Dancer Asks For Supper
by Sherry Lindon

I've spent a lot of time around animals, mostly dogs when I was younger. I've always communicated with them but really never thought much about it until I was on this list and another. I always figured it was because I spent so much time with the animals that I could understand them.

Well as for horses...we have three: Trumbie (aka Trumbie Bumbie) former abused horse, soulmate of my daughter,QH/Paint, real leader of group. On Time (aka Timey Whimey) 20 yr. old Morgan, my guy, been there , done that, VERY ALERT (no, not spooky!), prankster; bottom of pecking order, and last but not by choice, Policy to Dance(aka Dammit Dancer) 9yr. old. QH gelding, self proclaimed Leader Of The Herd (of 3). He is always into something, and recently pierced his tongue almost clear thru while he was in his stall for 6 hours in the middle of the night. We have no idea how!! He is also the most willing to please horse we have.

We lease about 30 acres from my cousin, which had not been worked for about 12 years. I was doing a lot of cutting and burning and clearing, (still am!) I sometimes( ok..all the time) get engrossed in what I am doing and time just passes bye. Well apparently Dancer thought it was well past feeding time. Suddenly there he is, all 16.2 hands of him!! Head up, staring at me. I get images of horses (well,Dancer) eating!! I said, "OK, you go get them and I will get the food!" Off goes Dancer. I mean he wheeled around and took off at a dead run!! The other horses were in the far field. He rounded them up and brought them to the barn where I had grain awaiting!!

That was the first time I realized we were communicating. I also realized that I do not always listen.

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