A Stall for the Winter

Is Confining Horses During Rough Weather Better or Worse for Them?

I have a dilemma—I am not sure if I should get a stall for my horse for the winter. Right now my horse, Jubilee, a three-year-old sport horse appaloosa/warmblood, and two other horses are currently outside 24/7. There is another older horse that joins them outside from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. then goes back to his stall. If I want Jubilee to have a stall she needs to have his routine. She can’t just go into the barn when it is bad weather. The ideal situation.

I can easily argue that Jubliee is in one of the nicest facilities in Santa Barbara County. She has an irrigated pasture and a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean. For California standards she is in horse (and people) heaven. Most of the horses here are in small 12 x 24 pipe corrals that I feel are prisons for horses. Horses may be domesticated animals but their bodies are designed to roam with a herd more than 20 miles a day. The solitary confinement that is so “normal” here in Southern California makes me gasp for air and squint my eyes every time I see it. For anyone with an empathic eye, those horses’ pain and depression are clearly evident. The horses at Jubilee facility are not in this much pain.

I am worried about the winter. Jubilee’s pasture does not have a manmade shelter nor does it have any trees or valleys for windbreak cover. The thought of my three-year-old athletic horse being inside a stall more than she will be outside hanging out bothers me. Both options are unnatural situations.

When I discuss my dilemma with my friends I hear two arguments. “They are wild animals she will be fine” is one.

“But in the wild,” I say, “She would be able to go into a grove of trees or down into a valley to get out of the weather. She would not be on the top of a hill overlooking the ocean with no wind break.”

“Don’t worry,” they reply. “Get her a good blanket and she will turn her butt to the wind.”

Then there is the other school of thought. “It is good for her to be inside for so many hours. Her training will come along faster. She will connect more to you than the herd.” For some reason this makes me sad. I feel like she is doing well already. She is not herd bound. She comes when it is time to go get her.

“This barn life is the way horses live. This is a good life for them.” The horses this person is talking about get four hours outside on pasture everyday. But alone. They do not have other horses to keep them company, play with, or snuggle with. These horses have a far better life than most, I agree. But I still think to myself, “No, maybe it is the good life for us. We have these horses that are bonded to us out of default because they do not have a herd of their own. We keep them looking pristine not knowing that we are taking away who they are. We trim the hair from their ears, the hair that tells them which way the wind is blowing. We cut their whiskers to make them look neat and orderly but these whiskers are connected to pathways in their brain. It is actually painful to cut them; they use their whiskers for sensory. Telling them what is desirable and what they should stay away from. The whiskers protect their muzzle and help them to eat.

I want Jubilee to be a horse and live as naturally as possible. I want to ride her and have fun with her but I don’t want to take away any of her enjoyment in order to do so. So what do I do?

I ask Jubilee, “What do you think I should do?”

Jubilee: “When I am in a stall I kind of like it cause I get to see everything that is happening. I get to talk to the other horses about being ridden and sometimes I roll and the bedding is really comfortable. When it is foggy out I don’t really like to get too wet. Some of the horses don’t mind but when I am lying on the hard ground and I am getting wet I miss the run in shed I used to have in Oregon. In Oregon, I was really lucky cause I could go and hang out with my friends and then I had this run in shed I could go in and get water and food. I slept in there, too. I used it a lot when it was windy. When it is windy and I was outside I got dirt in my eyes and I don’t like dirt in my eyes. I like being in a shed.”

Laura: “Jubilee, do you understand that if I get you a stall you will have to be in the stall more than you can be outside? So all night long every night you will be inside and also in the afternoon you will have be in a stall, too. It’s a lot more in the stall.”

Jubilee: “If I don’t like it can I change? Like maybe we could try it. I like moving around a lot cause I get anxious. I like the evenings outside but when it is sleeping time, sometimes I feel too vulnerable cause there is no shelter to feel like you are safe and to feel like a predator wont sneak up on you. When I had my run in shed I felt safe.”

Laura: “Jubilee, what kind of predators are you worried about?”

Jubilee: “I am worried about mountain lions, a pack of coyotes or dogs, or man horse stealers.”

Laura: “Jubilee, we may have those things in our area but I feel very confident that would not happen to you.”

Jubilee: “I have seen a mountain lion here. He was looking at us and he walked all the way to the donkey and she made so much noise he thought maybe he should keep walking. But I saw him.”

Laura: “Wow, I didn’t know that….Jubilee, the last time we spoke you were firm about staying outside every night unless it was bad weather. It sounds like you have changed your mind. What happened? Did you talk to the other horses about this?”

Jubilee: “Yeah, I did talk to the other horses and they said that we need shelter out here and if I had a chance to go inside I should.”

Laura: “But the gelding you are out with I know hates going inside. Did he say this to you?”

Jubilee: “Yeah, he said he had a bad experience inside getting hung up and he said that is why he doesn’t like it because every time he is inside he gets anxiety. I said I had that experience but I fixed myself. I don’t get anxiety. And the other horses say sometimes they are chilly and they would rather not wear a blanket and be inside than wear a blanket.”

Laura: “But Jubilee, the mare you are out with doesn’t wear a blanket and doesn’t go inside.”

Jubilee: “Mom, I am talking to all the horses not just the horses in my pasture. Mom, lets try it. If I hate it, say you wont do it anymore. Mom, I will still have my herd during the day. I want to learn how to be a stable horse so when we go to shows and I don’t have pasture I can know it well. Like sometimes I wonder if I am gong to be a famous horse.”

Laura: “Why do you think you will be a famous horse?”

Jubilee: “Because you tell me how special I am and that makes me feel like I am someone who is going to do something great. I love to work and I love to get better at what I am doing. So I bet a lot of people will like to watch me.”

Laura: “Well, Jubilee, I do hope that we are advocates for horses and we help make other horses lives better.”

Jubilee: “I am learning about what is fair and unfair to horses. I’ll talk to a lot of horses and then tell you about it so that you can help them, okay?”

Laura: “That sounds great, Jubilee.”

Well it seems now I know what I am going to do. Come November, Jubilee will have a stall. We will keep you all posted.

Talking to Animals

Asking What My Pets Love About Life

I ask my animals, “What do you love most about life?”

Here are their answers.

Luca my three-year-old cream-colored poodle says, “Friends. I love friends. I don’t care if they are dog, cat, bird, donkey, person, or another species. I love to learn how to greet others and share happiness. If someone gets mad at me, I have to think why and then change my behavior. I love the feeling of getting in right.”

Storm King my 14-year-old black-and-white Australian Shepherd says, “Care. I love the feeling of when others take care of me. When someone notices something is wrong and takes steps to help me I feel blessed. I love the serenity of sleeping in nature and the way nature smells. I love learning how to be happy in any given moment. Sometimes I imagine a hummingbird’s peep to remind me that small things fill me with joy.”

Makia my 16-year-old white cat says, “I love a good sleeping spot in a dark closet where my body can rest fully. I love butterflies. I love being told that I am beautiful and the feeling of being brushed. I love finding lost things. I love to sleep curled up with my person. I love feeling safe in nature.”

Serafina my gray middle-aged cat says, “I love adventure. I love exploring new places. I love treats that melt in my mouth (freeze-dried treats). I love the sound of my name when someone sings it. I love watching others. I love knowing that everyone I live with is happy and healthy. I love to control my thoughts so that good things will happen. I love happiness.”

Seamora my 23-year-old blue and gold Macaw says, “I love a good nut. I love climbing in trees. I love going for walks with my people. I love it when people tell me I am beautiful. I love feeling quenched from drinking fresh water. I love fruit. I love tofu. I love being interacted with everyday. I love the feeling of my people feeling safe with me. It makes me feel like I am a good girl. I love feeling safe. I love that life changes for the better.”

Bean my six-year-old bunny says, “I love that people fight for the humane treatment of bunnies and other animals. I love that I have a friend that offers me hay. I love my treats. I love to hop around the house and be kissed by my person in the morning. I love feeling that no matter what happens or where I live, I have family that will look after me and care about how I feel. I love the feel of wet dirt on my paws. I love lying on a clean towel.”

Jubilee my Appaloosa Sport Horse says, “I love eating clover and green grass. I love learning something new. I love the feeling of my friends nibbling on my neck. I love the feel of the fog in my nostrils. I love having my mane brushed. I love being cared for and being told I am a good girl. I love the feeling of knowing I understand something. I love other horses, all horses. I love my person and my trainer. I love the taste of my grain and my supplements. I love feeling like my body is being taken care of. I love being understood. I love learning that if I pay attention and try that life gets more exciting.”

A New Home

How Does Relocating Affect Your Animals?

We have recently moved to a furnished ranch in the Carpinteria foothills. We are living with more animals and people. Here I ask my animals, “How are you doing?”

Stormy, my 14-year-old Aussie says, “I like it here a lot because it is cooler than Ojai. Though I miss Ojai sometimes. I miss sleeping in our bed. I miss the flat green park. The ground is more rugged here so when I am in my stroller the bumping hurts my body. Sometimes I get forgetful where I am because the furniture doesn’t smell like us. But I like smelling the air and knowing that the ocean air is fresh. I know the sunsets are pretty here because you get excited to watch them. I like having all my new friends here. I like being able to go see the donkeys. I enjoy lying outside without having Luca bark all the time. I like knowing I live in nature but I am safe from the coyotes.”

Luca, my three-year-old poodle, says, “I love it here because there is a lot of nature and lots of things to do. I have met donkeys and have run through the fields. I have new dog friends. When I get bored I sit outside and listen to the wind blowing through the trees. Sometimes when the donkeys make noise I try to figure out what they are saying. I think they are saying, ‘Feed me’ and ‘Where are you?’ They eat hay, which is like dried grass. The hay doesn’t look good to me but they seem to love it. I am enjoying the donkeys.”

Serafina, my gray cat, says, “I miss being able to go out at night but I love the land here. There are a lot of lizards and there are birds I have never seen before. I can see really far. I never had such a view before. When the sun sets I see colors that I feel are going to blanket me. This place is really wonderful. I love it here.”

Makia, my white cat, says, “It has been a little hard for me because I don’t see and hear that well and it is scary going outside and not knowing where I am going. I like the big closet to sleep in and when you walk with me I enjoy being outside. It is hard to get on the bed because I don’t have my cat stairs. I am tired of so many ants. I hate the way they feel when they climb up my paws. They always want my food and I don’t like the smell of soapy water near my food. When we go back to Ojai for a visit I am going to see which place I like better. New is hard for an older animal. I like the air here and I like my closet.”

Bean, my bunny, says, “It has been the hardest for me because I don’t get to run around that much and I miss my freedom to run all around the house. I wont chew anything inappropriate I promise. I like being in the center of the house because I can see what is going on and I like the air because it doesn’t feel as dry. I don’t like the ants. It would be good if you could let me run around the whole house to explore.”

Seamora, my blue and gold macaw, says, “I like it here because I get to go on long walks everyday with the dogs. I have made new human friends and I love my new human friends. My cage is much smaller here and I don’t get to be out of my cage as much but it is okay because the walks make me tired and this cage is not that bad. I have learned so much about people since I have been here. I have learned that some people really love me and they want me to be friends with lots of people. I have learned that I can heal my wing and fly again. I will fly. I have splashed in water, too. I loved splashing in water. I love my walks. I have seen big trees and I have seen birds watching me. They say I am colorful. I love it here.”

Asking Questions

The Importance of Clear Communication

I used to be a shy person who was scared to ask questions. I thought, unconsciously for while, that asking questions meant that I was either not paying attention, was not intellectual enough to be in the conversation, or just plain stupid. It is not that I didn’t seek answers. I would just do so quietly, searching in books or ease-dropping in on conversations.

I have this uncanny ability to read body language and emotions not just in animals but in people as well. When I started working as a professional animal communicator I would notice when my clients seemed confused yet nodded their heads as if they understood. My passion for giving the animals a voice and relieving their suffering was so strong that I wanted people to truly understand what I was trying to convey or what the animals were saying.

I started asking clients if they understood me, and what felt right and what felt off. I started to ask the animals for more clarification in what they were saying so that I had the more details to relay to my clients. I began to realize that in my business it was smart to ask questions. I got better at my work and people felt more comfortable, approaching me if they didn’t understand something.

Slowly this thinking moved into other areas of my life and I became braver of speaking up and asking questions if I was confused. When dealing with some professionals they have an air of intellect to them. They are factual, clear, and concise. I have found that what is simple to them may not be simple to others. I have come to realize that as a child I picked up their emotions on how rudimental the subject was to them. My insecurities of how the subject was complex to me made these people unapproachable.

I have also learned from working with animals and their humans that everyone is on their own path and we may live lifetimes working on one or two issues of ours. I have learned that some people and animals learn quickly and others more slowly and that it is not all the intelligence of our brains that govern our learning process but also our environment and the situations we were raised in. I have learned to not to judge someone’s learning process and to meet everyone where they are.

“Don’t I deserve to give myself the same patience and understanding I give others?”

My profession has showed me how important it is for clear communication. I started to watch people communicating with one another and noticed there are a lot nods of understanding when one does not understand at all. It is important to ask questions not just for my own understanding but for the other party who feels they are communicating clearly when actually they are losing awareness.

Lately, I have been hearing people say to me, “You ask such great questions.” And I think to myself, “How silly I was to feel so insecure and insignificant… And how many others are just like me.”