Soft hearted Max, Guardian of the Small

I didn't do anything meaningful with Max today, and felt a bit guilty about it. We had an hour long grooming session outside of his stable - I was going to give him a shampoo wash, but it was a bit cool for that, so hopefully I'll do that tomorrow. He gets so flippin' dusty! But hurrah, he kept his fly mask on last night, and his eyes are less gunky today. I'm also hoping it will help protect his poor ears so the midges can't get in there.

i just wasn't up for spending an hour fighting with him while he tried to graze and I tried to ride or long-line. I really don't blame him for trying his luck because his field is so sparse, but he's so strong he just about rips my shoulders out of their sockets as he goes on his quest. It's really frustrating and not fun for either of us to get into a battle over grass.

I was grooming and thinking about it and really not wanting to get into that fight with him and then I thought, "Why are you putting pressure on yourself? Max doesn't care! He's fine. Play with him, enjoy him and put him out in his field. You don't always have to be 'doing' something with him."

So I let him go, with a carrot and a hug, and I know he doesn't give a fig about not going for a hack or longlining. He doesn't really give a fig about the hug, either, but he does like the carrot.

Very funny though when I first got to the yard, a friend was there preparing her boy for a show tomorrow, and she had her young son with her. He was sleeping in the car, but he woke up kinda grumpy and sad that he'd missed his Grandma, who had been there helping.

At the time there were a lot or horses tied up around the yard while yard bird was mucking out, so I was doing Max's hoofters in his box.

The little boy started to cry for his granny, and there I was with Max's left front in my hands. He hopped away from me to his stable door, and looked out at the yard, all concerned about the noise. He looked out and spotted the little boy, and his face was a picture. Yard bird looked at Max and exclaimed, "Oh look how worried Max is!" and owner was looking over, too.

She came over with her crying boy in her arms, "Now look how worried Max is about you. He's so upset to see you sad!" She came up to Max with him, and I was a little concerned about Max and his wayward mouth - he's tried to take a bite out of my car after all. He's very good with other people and children, doesn't use teeth, but he does like to have a feel with his lips, and I was afraid he'd scare the boy.

Not a bit of it. He stuck his nose out to crying lad, big concerned eyes, and then softly nudged his head, so gentle, ruffling his hair.

"What's the worry, young one? Why so sad?"

Boy started laughing, "That tickles, Max!"

Aww... Was really surprised by his reaction to little boy tears. He seemed so concerned about it!

We then delighted small one when Max was out and tied up near his box. His box was being cleaned and his water buckets were discarded by the hosepipe for scrubbing and refilling. Max obviously recognised that they were his buckets, and made it fairly clear that he wanted a drink.

I refilled his smaller blue bucket and took it to him, but his rope was tied a bit too tight for him to reach, so I held it up at waist level so he could have a drink, which he did, and then nodded his head vigorously and gave us all a shower.

No more crying child. Laughing child! Max continued to dip his nose in the water and spray again as long as the boy enjoyed it.

Horses are just for riding, eh? Not a bit of it. Sometimes horses are for comfort, for comedy, for wiping away tears and sharing a laugh.