Day 21 - Lilly is Learning

11/2/2020

Lilly has learned so much in just a short period of time. I am proud of her. We are continuing to practice manners when walking. We are also practicing giving feet and cleaning feet.

She is giving me her feet faster. I am still doing it while she is eating. I do not see WHY I have to do it while she is not eating. I think giving her something to do while I am messing with her feet makes out relationship stronger. I am not asking her to be bored while I mess with her feet. But my trainer and ferrier both say that I need to do this while she is standing still and not doing anything. So I will start working on that.

I have a whole lesson in my training about helping a horse give their feet while they are standing still. So we will be working on that step by step. In the morning I will do her feet. In the afternoon I will have her practice standing still and picking up her feet.

When we were done with the morning session today it was so very sweet. All the horses in her pasture (except for Gracie) were laying down sleeping. There was such a peacefulness. Lilly went over to the group very calmly but she nosed around Beryl until Beryl stood up. I didn't want to get closer to disturb them but I thought for sure Lilly was going to join them and lay down. But she did not. So I went away before any more of them were disturbed from their sleep. It was a great moment to see all the horses content and sleeping. Pepper even had a good roll before he stood up.

When leaving the pasture in the evening - Pepper was outside getting his hard food (seems to only get it once a week) and all the horses were crowding the gate. Lilly greeted me and neighed for me when I said hello. Than after we were in the pasture and ready to leave Beryl wanted to follow us and she got out! I have been working with Lilly on turning around the gate with me so I can close it quickly behind us - but with Pepper right outside the gate and Beryl wanted to leave with us - it was not successful this time. Thankfully Pepper's owner was able to catch her quickly and put her back. More lessons learned.

Daylight savings time ending has also made it harder. I know the days are going to get shorter so I need to think about her schedule and probably change things up more.

So far the previous schedule was:

Sunrise (7:30) Hay

8:30-10:30 I feed her supplements

Noon 12-1 Hay

3-5 I feed her supplements

Sunset (7:30) Hay

This way she was eating every 2-3 during the day and given extra hay at sunset to eat overnight.

As the days get shorter this is not going to work as well.

For example today:

Sunrise (6:37) Hay

First Session (8:30) Supplements

Noonish (11-1) Hay

Second Session (2:30) Supplements

Sunset (4:54) Hay

This is only little more than 10 hours. Soon it will be even less time. I need to feed her supplements sooner in the day.

The other consideration is that horses should be eating small amounts. One thing I have considered is going out 3 times a day to give her supplements. But with the shorter days this does not seem feasible. When/if Elizabeth goes back to Indiana I will probably spend the days with Lilly and the pups. (once everyone likes each other) and then it won't matter as I can give her little bits of food all day long. But right now I have to balance spending time with Elizabeth, cooking and making dinner for Elizabeth, and the daylight hours. I also want to be home so I can be in bed on time. I need time before bed to wind down or my insomnia kicks in and with my narcolepsy not sleeping is NOT okay! So trying to find a balance to all these things is challenging. I am also now waking up at 1:30 (instead of 2) because of the time change. It is all a balancing act.