November 11th 2023

This week we spent a bit of time shaping raised beds for this fall’s garlic. We took Jack and Sam out and hitched. Once we started shaping beds Jack started fussing with Sam. He’d reach over and try to nip at him in the turns and Sam quickly started sliding backward to avoid him. I racked my brain thinking through their odd interactions. They’d both been harnessed fairly recently, I couldn’t see any physical ailment that would cause them to act out. After a few more minutes trying to manage them and wait for them to settle into work we adjusted the buckles on the lines. We’d had to put them back together before we went out and we slid the check line all the way forward. Immediately they were happier and went right to work and focused on their job working together instead of bickering or getting each other’s space. One thing that I’m finally learning is to trust my gut. When something seems off and I can’t find a reason for the horses to be acting out it’s usually an equipment or tack malfunction opposed to a poor attitude. It just never ceases to surprise me that such small changes and adjustments and fine tuning can turn chaos and frustration into focus and peace.