As I lay down Monday night, it occurred to me that I should start my time with Annie in the round pen doing natural horsemanship to build respect and trust even before I just start grooming her. I didn't want to start trying to ride her regularly when I know we are still essentially strangers, especially since her first two encounters with me weren't really all that pleasant for her, I'm sure, as rusty as I am and as insecure as I'd been. To her I'm probably just some mug who doesn't know squat and she's not about to respect anyone who doesn't take the time to get to know her and introduce themselves to her, to respect her and speak her language. The only way I think I could know this is either directly from God or it's that gifting in me that just KNOWS it's the right thing to do.
On Tuesday I went to the local library looking for books on natural horsemanship, but, alas, if you can believe it, there were none. There might be some in the inter-library loan system, though the only one I saw was an hour away. (They'd bring it in for me at no charge if I wanted.) Not real encouraging. Perhaps I could scout the library in Bozeman. They are bound to have more of a selection given the progressive nature of the populus and the large equestrian population there as well; not to mention the university that began life as an agricultural college. I'll be over that direction this weekend, so I will make plans to look!
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