My Most Recent Ride - Proud of Divna

Divna is not a dominant horse -- Zora rules the pasture at our place, and Divna just goes along with whatever Zora wants. If Zora wants to finish Divna's grain, it is OK with her; if Zora insists on the first to get treats or attention from visitors, it is OK with her. In fact. when people visit, Zora runs up to the fence for the petting and attention, and Divna hangs back. She is completely comfortable letting Zora have the spotlight.

She also freaks out when she doesn't see or hear Zora for a period of time. On the trail, if we get separated, she comes unglued (no pun intended) if she loses sight of Zora (also no pun intended-- Divna only has one eye) after three minutes or so.

So I was really, really proud of Divna on the last ride we took.

We were at The Indiana Dunes, and met Dee Dee and Karen for a ride. Of course we never saw Dee Dee and Karen -- they left a few minutes before us, and were riding the trail backwards, which always screws us up.

Once back at the lot after our Separate-But-Together-Ride Dee Dee realized her shirt was missing. Not the only one she was wearing (relax, men) but an extra one she had on her saddle horn....She knew where she lost it -- on one of the curves just before getting back to the trail head.

She was already back with her horse, so I boldly said "I'll go back for it!" And off I went -- taking Divna down the trail alone, just the two of us!!

She was OK for about 2 minutes. Then she started getting nervous. I kept talking to her and moving her along, all the while looking for the lost shirt.

She started getting upset, started calling out for Zora. I kept talking to her and pressing her along.

Then she was beginning to get more upset, but I kept comforting her and urging her on. Surprisingly she did do very well. We found the shirt -- she stood still while I dismounted and retrieved the lost article of clothing. I got back on her, turned her around, and she knew she was going back to where Zora was. She was obviously really, really happy.....

But I did not let her run, even though I could tell that is all she wanted to do. We kept a good pace until we met up with Zora and John and Shawnee and Dee Dee who had followed us onto the trail.

It was just great that Divna made such a breakthrough like that! You have no idea...this is a horse that was afraid of everything when I first got her -- a horse that cannot bear to be more than 20 feet away from Zora....she walked down that trail and retrieved a shirt...

I LOVE HER!!!!!