Starting from Square One

[Sam]

Horses Confianza
Handlers Sam Lettington
Point of View Sam Lettington
Purpose To get Zazzy (Confianza) to trust Sam through join up.


The colt had a wild look in his eye. He was gorgeous but looked petrified. His perfectly dished head was framed in an over used halter he was given for now. The comparison to his beautiful coat and the dirty halter only seemed to intensify both the halter's old scrapes and tears and Zazzy's beauty.

He would have to earn his new halter. But for now, this old one fit and did the job. As soon as I trusted I could catch him easily, he could go out to pasture without one.

The way he looked at me with utter freight, reminded me of a wild colt I had to retrain for a friend once. It was difficult but it taught me a valuable lesson: The harder it was to get the trust, the most loyal the horse was. Sure enough, that little mustang was one of the most loyal horses I ever had the pleasure to know.

Still, it wouldn't make this stud any easier for me gain his trust. His eyes rolled white when I walked into the round pen. He stood at the back, his nares flared and his ears pricked at me.

I knew April, his previous owner. She was a kind girl and wasn't abusive. If anything, she probably should have been a bit tougher on her horses. But whatever the owner did to this colt before April, certainly did a number on him- mentally at least.

But that was the past and Zazzy would have to move on.

It was strange to me that Zazzy chose to keep his fear. Horses were forgiving creatures. They were quick to forget any horrid past and move on to happier times but something seemed to keep Zazzy stuck in his mind set of two years past.

I pushed those thoughts to the back of my head as I casually drifted to the center of the arena and placed down a familiar black feed pan. Inside was his dinner of grain. Zazzy had to be hungry. He hadn't eaten since this morning.

He watched intently but made no move towards the pan. I turned away and let my head drop and forced my whole body to relax. My hands were in my pockets and my gaze was low, all clear signs that I meant no harm and if anything else, I was a good place to find the safety of the herd.

I watched his shadow. He had grown more relaxed and his head lowered slightly but he wouldn't come closer.

Casually, I wandered away. My path was curved so that eventually I was farther from him with my back to him. I stood there and propped my foot up by the toe like a horse would when with his hind hoof when he was relaxed.

Zazzy watched me for a moment, uncertain of me. Then finally, he took small, yet eager, steps towards his pan. I waited and listened as he munched on his grain quietly.

He didn't get much. Only an eight of a scoop of his feed from home and an eight of a scoop of the feed here- to get him use to the grain without upsetting his stomach- so a moment later he gave a few licks to the pan to make sure he got every last bit of grain before stepping back with a full and content stomach.

For a moment the golden colt faltered before deciding to turn his back to me. I didn't respond and he found relief with this. As soon as he stood still I casually began to make a curving path back to the pan with my hands still in their pockets and my gaze low and unfocused.

With the feed pan in hand, I left the round pen to give the colt some time to digest. I would return in an hour or so to try join-up with him but didn't want him to get worked up and colic himself.

---

An hour later I returned to Zazzy. I decided to play around with Nut and Bonkers for the hour. The filly was strong and feisty but Nut was doing a good job at making sure she was more crazy instead of nasty. Bonkers would be learning from the best on that subject.

Zazzy watched me as I entered the round pen again with a coiled rope in my hands. He dipped his head once and blew through his nostrils loudly. He didn't like the sight of that rope but he would have to get over it.

My whole body language changed. My eyes were up and intent on his. He grew stiff at this though my body was still relaxed. I raised my hand with the rope, prepared to throw it to get Zazzy moving but he was already bolt to the right. I let my hand drop and pivoted to keep my chest at his shoulder.

His inside ear was instantly on me- a clear sign of respect but I was sure it was out of fear. But his golden top line was still stiff and his movement was frantic as he tried to gallop in the small round pen.

Four laps passed and the colt broke to a canter. Sweat was on his neck. His chocolate eyes were rimmed with white with fear. He paused in his gate to look straight at me before continuing on. It was a good sign that he wanted to join me but it wasn't enough.

Another lap past and I turned around and cut off his path. He spun and bolted the other direction. I returned to the center and kept my chest even with his shoulder and my gaze intent on his eyes.

Eventually he slowed again to a canter. He began to tire and broke to a trot but I slung my rope after him to tell him that was not what I wanted.

He bucked and kicked out and picked up his canter after a few fearful gallop strides. After two more laps, he began to relax.

Three more laps passed and his head dipped low, a sign he was willing to listen to me. Another lap and he was licking and chewing- showing that if he was eating a predator (me) couldn't be chasing him.

I dropped my hands to my sides and my gaze swept low and I stood statue still- yet reminded myself to stay relaxed.

Zazzy immediately picked up on this.

He came to a quick halt and I could feel his gaze steady on me. I turned slightly and watched his shadow on the ground. He was interested in me. I could tell he wanted a herd and he was a little low on opinions right now.

I casually wandered closer, though I made my path a large half circle and never walked directly towards him.

The colt flinched slightly but stayed where he was, observing me with tight muscles. He wanted to join me, but then again he wanted to bolt. He was caught in the middle and made confused, only making him want to join me even more. He just needed a bit of encouragement.

I slowly swept by and he took a few steps towards me. I stood still, letting him decide what to do.

There was a moment of simple stillness. Zazzy made no movement and neither did I. We both were thinking and concentrating on the other's movements and body language.

Finally, the golden colt walked closer, step by step. He was still wary of me, but he seemed to trust that I wouldn't harm him.

His breathe was warm and moist down my neck. It felt cold when he inhale and the cold air brushed up against my now damp skin. He hesitated and moved his head to beside my shoulder. I turned around to face him, moving slowly as always.

My gaze was at his hooves and shadow spread out on the sandy ground.

I reached up and my hand rubbed his forehead. At first, he seemed reluctant then melted into my gentle scratching. I smiled but didn't dare move my gaze.

A moment passed and I turned away. I took confident steps forwards. Zazzy matched them step by step, following me faithfully like a well-trained dog told to heel.

I smiled an reached back to rub Zazzy's forehead when I felt his breathe on my neck again.

Coolly, I walked forwards, turning right, then left. Zazzy followed me even when I pretended I was going to turn left but instead swiftly went right when Zazzy began to turn left.

I came to a halt in the middle of the arena. He stood patiently behind me, completely relaxed with me now. I smiled and kept my gaze low as I rubbed his forehead then ran a hand down his neck and to his shoulder. He didn't flinch or twitch as I moved down his leg.

My hands formed down his cannon bone. He lifted it obediently and held it until I grabbed it. I smiled and patted his shoulder and swept my hands over his back. Zazzy's only response was to thingy his hind hoof onto it's tip, allowing it to rest.

I ran my hands down his spin then under his barrels. They traveled over his flank and down the well-developed muscles along his hind and to his fetlock. Again he lifted it obediently.

With a pat, I went around his rump, keeping close so he wouldn't try to follow me and so if he did kick, he couldn't get much power behind the kick or kick too high.

I repeated with his other side, starting with a rub on his forehead and running my hands down his neck.

Zazzy took it in stride. His head was low and his chocolate colored eyes were drooping by the time I was done. He seemed to have taken the gentle touches as a massage rather then a test.

I grinned and went to the gate. Zazzy watched me for a moment before catching up to me and following. I reached through the panel of the iron round pen and grabbed his lead line. I hooked it under his chin and let the gate swing open.

He followed me loyally as I lead him to his stall for the night with the knowledge that I had succeeded. Zazzy has accepted me as his new herd and saw me as protection.

I would repeat join-up tomorrow and perhaps the next day to make sure he recognized me as a respectful and great leader.

I lead Zazzy into the stall and undid his halter. He stayed with me, his gentle gaze steady on me as if he was trying to understand something very complex to him. I smiled and rubbed his forehead once more before slipping out of the stall.

As I latched the door, I noticed how Zazzy shyly went to the back of the stall. His gaze was low and he seemed to return to his tense and hesitant self.

I made a kissing sound and called his name softly. His gaze lifted to realize I was still at the stall door. He watched me for a brief moment before shyly coming over to join me at the door. He did not ask for a treat or try and get a good rub. He simply seemed to enjoy my company. His tense muscles were relaxed and his eyes began to droop. With a sigh, I reached over and let my fingers trail down his cheek. He stirred but let his eyes begin to droop again when he realized it was just me.

Soon his eyes were closed and he was dozing. Quietly, I slipped away, praying he wouldn't wake up and make me feel horrid that I had abandoned his stall for my own bed.

It wouldn't be long until he started to dominate the tracks again, I told myself. I was sure of this.
I just hope he would be happy racing again.

Word Count 1,978