February 26, 2007

What to do? Nitro has seemed to revert back to his old mean self. Last week he put Bill through the fence because he challenged Nitro's space. Today when I got back to the barn Nitro was chasing Bill from two paddocks from where they were. He chased Bill through two fences and was going flat out after him over the frozen snow. Bill is no slouch and can run and turn after all he is a Wild Mustang. Had Bill learned from the wild to run away? No, God himself would run away from Nitro when he's in that state. I studied the situation and found the reason for Nitro's aggression this time. It wasn't over hay, or being first out of the gate, it was Page. Somehow Page had gotten in with Nitro either from Bill breaking the fence or by her wanting to be with Nitro. Whatever the reason they were together and Nitro thought she was his just as he did with Zoe. My plan was to gather them all in without getting them or me hurt. I got some hay and gave it to Nitro and Zoe while Bill was out of reach. I got Nitro's halter and knew he would challenge me, he did, swinging his rump to intimidate me. After 12 of his antics, I knew he would give in to kindness and I ignored his rump and slowly soothed him with a little whistling. Once I got close enough I laid a hand on him and hugged his head. He then accepted the halter. Once I got him in Bill and Page were easy. All in and safe I gave everyone hay. Nitro kicked the wall and showed his teeth to Page, his neighbor, as always during feed time. Ten minutes ago he would have killed Bill for her. Now he'd kill her for hay. I entered his stall knowing his butt would be turned towards me, and whistled as I hugged his head again to soothe him. Part of him was pure dominant Alfph male that could have his own harem. Part was needing human care to take care of him. He knew he was a horse tormented by his need for a human because of his captivity. Yet Bill had no problem even though he knew freedom. Could it be security trumps freedom?