Herding Instincts

I have to admit, I was laughing out loud as I read Pam's post on horses a couple of weeks ago.  So true, every last bit of it! 

Horses do have their own agendas, but are usually willing to accept ours, if we ask the right way.  Recently, my husband--a great guy but not a horseman--wanted to move my American Cream Draft horses from one place to another.  He didn't have a lead rope handy, so he tried grabbing a fist full of mane and pulling.  These ladies weigh about 1500 lbs each--not exactly portable!  DH tried pulling one, then the other, without success. 

I walked out and got behind the girls.  "Sssssss," I said, waving my hands a little.  "Walk on." 

Lucy and Joy looked over their shoulders at me like, "Do we hafta?"

"Come on," I said, with a shooing motion.  "Sssss.  Walk."

You could see each of them give a sigh.  And then they ambled, at their slow, steady draft horse pace, back through the gate and into the pasture.

"How'd you do that?" DH demanded.

I just smiled.  There are some things only a horse lover knows.

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American Cream Draft Horses are a breed developed in Iowa from the foals of one mare--Old Granny.  Her babies all had pink skin, a cream-colored coat, white mane and tail and golden eyes.  Cream Drafts were used on farms in the Midwest and in Pennsylvania by the Amish in the first part of the 20th century.  World War II and the advent of the tractor cut back the draft horse population severely, until now there are less than 400 Creams in the world.  I'm hoping to breed my mares and build the numbers for these beautiful, peaceful horses.