She did have one habit I just couldn’t understand no matter how hard I tried. Every night when we were given hay, she would run around to at least one pile and pee on it.
“What are you doing?” I asked the first time I saw her squat over a pile of hay.
“Keeping you and Brownie from eating my hay.”
“You’re right about that. Why do you pee on it though, instead of just trying to run us off, or even share the hay?”
“If you must know, I’d rather spend my time eating my hay instead of running around for it. As for sharing, it’s never been something I enjoy doing. Now that neither one of you want it, this hay is all mine.”
“That’s not only hateful, it’s the most disgusting and disturbing thing I’ve ever seen. Peeing on your food. It’s just wrong.”
“It might be wrong, but it’s all mine.”
From that point on, I always tried to be the first horse out to the hay after dinner. It saved me from having to sniff each pile of hay first. Some nights, I would have to eat my hay listening to Malevolent chuckling to herself and making me wonder if she had gotten to that pile first and peed on it just to be mean.
*****
I knew the day was coming when Daisy would want to ride. Surprising both of us, our first ride together was uneventful. I think we both were expecting the worst, but Daisy just talked calmly to me the entire time she was grooming me. Before I knew what was going on, she had me saddled and was ready to place the bit in my mouth. I even took it from her hand without a fuss. Daisy had her mother, Holly, hold me while she placed her foot into the stirrup.
I behaved well for Holly, too. She looked exactly like Daisy, just a little older. While she stood there, I didn’t move a muscle. I tried not to breathe. Daisy took the reins in her hands, squeezed my sides with her legs, and commanded, “Walk.”
I did as she asked. I walked. When she told me to “Whoa,” I again did as she asked, and I stopped. Our first ride together only lasted about ten minutes, but I dripped with sweat. I was so nervous; I was afraid to do the wrong thing or make a slight misstep. I liked my new home and my new human, and I wanted to keep both.
The ride went perfectly. It was actually easy. We were starting to build our relationship together, based on trust. I had to trust her not to hurt me, and she had to trust my instincts and realize that sometimes I knew more than I was letting her know. So far we trusted and liked each other. It was a good place to start.
I tried to keep Daisy safe, like I promised her, but sometimes she didn’t catch on. During one of our rides, we were working on walking and stopping, and then continuing again. Nothing exciting, to be sure, but I realized it was going to be the baseline for our communication together. Well, Daisy didn’t realize at the time, and neither did I, but we had stopped too close to a fence, and her toes were resting inside the wire hole when we stopped. She gave me the cue to walk forward and her foot grazed along the inside of the wire, creating a terrifying sound, like we were being attacked by something right beside us. My instincts took over. Danger! I didn’t hesitate. I took off running - fast!
Hold on, Daisy, I’ll save us! I’ll get us out of here!
I thought we were running for our lives. We came to the tight corner in the pasture. There was a low hanging tree to the left and another fence topped with barbed wire to our right. Scary, but I knew we could make it. If she could just hold on, I would bring her to safety.
She jumped off! I couldn’t believe it. One moment Daisy was up there, holding on. The next moment she was down, rolling around in the sand. What was she thinking? I had everything under control! And she jumped off! Stupid as that move was, I couldn’t just leave her laying there. She might need me to protect her from the danger we just ran from. I turned around to go check on her.
When I got there, Daisy wasn’t stirring. Her chest was moving up and down, so I knew she was still breathing. I walked up and nudged her with my nose, urging her to get up.
Are you okay? I told you to hold on.
With her eyes still closed, she reached up and scratched my forehead. “Oh, Kobi,” she whispered, “you came back for me.” She rolled over to her side and slowly pushed herself up. “You are such a good boy.”
She leaned into my neck and gave me a kiss.
That special moment was interrupted when Lilith sprinted over, screeching, “What happened? What did Kobi do to you?”
Daisy didn’t have her breath back all the way and was leaning on me for support. “My foot got caught in the fence when we stopped, so when we started again it rattled along the fence and spooked him.”
“You know you have to get right back up on him, don’t you?” Lilith snarled. “Here, I’ll even hold him for you.”
Daisy mounted, oh so slowly. I could tell she was hurting from the fall and had already gotten stiff in just that short period of time. I felt terrible for her, but I had no way to make her understand, all she had needed to do was to trust me and hold on. I would’ve taken care of the rest.
That was the first time I realized humans would punish me for doing something they didn’t like, but it wasn’t Daisy. She wasn’t the punishing type. She preferred our relationship to be based on trust and respect. But Lilith? Oh, Lilith was definitely the punishing type.
That night, after Daisy jumped off, was the first of many nights Lilith deliberately left me out of the feeding rotation. At first, I thought she had forgotten, so I ran around whinnying and nickering to remind her.
“None for you tonight, Kobi. You threw your rider. Bad horses don’t get grain.” She flung my hay into the dirt.
I soon found out there were other punishable offenses: chasing Brownie off of her food, playing too rough with Malevolent, playing with any of the other animals, or playing at all with Brownie. With these new rules in place, I was bored, often bad tempered, and usually very hungry.
*****
A few weeks later, Daisy and I were working in the front field. She wanted me to go into the front corner, but every time we headed in that direction I would get a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. Then I realized why. It smelled. Really bad. Like something had died. The air even felt different in that part of the field, almost electrified. Daisy must not have noticed the horrific smell or the change in the air since she was bound and determined to make me walk through that stench. I was just as determined not to. Every time we got close to that spot, I would throw myself into reverse, backing up until I felt we were a safe distance away. Daisy didn’t understand why.
I didn’t want to ride there, but she kept digging her heels into my side to try and convince me to. The harder she dug, the more I backed up. When I could sense her frustration was peaking, she dismounted. Then she led me into the stinking spot and we stopped. She put her foot in the stirrup, ready to mount. I stayed put for a second. Then I felt her put all her weight in the stirrup and swing her leg across my back. That was enough. No more Mister Nice Mustang.
Jigging and tossing my head around, I squealed. No! I don’t want to be here! Don’t you get it?
I took off running to the other side of the field, where the horrible stench couldn’t reach my nose. That was the second time I found myself without Daisy on my back! This time I didn’t go back for her. If she was foolish enough to make me ride through the disgusting odor, she could just lie there. I was hungry and frustrated. I needed to teach her to trust my instincts sometimes. Since I was a safe distance away, I began to graze.
A few moments later, Daisy was back on her feet and moving slow. She seemed to be gasping for breath, and it wasn’t coming back to her as quickly as the last time. She stumbled up to me, grabbed my reins and grunted rather firmly, “Let’s go, Kobi.” She led me back to the barn, where she remounted, safely away from all of the terrible smells of the front field, and we rode around the barn for a while.
Okay, I knew I had been a little harsh with Daisy, running away like that and not going back for her. It probably wasn’t one of the best ways to
try to protect her, but I didn’t know how else to let her know we were in a really bad place up there. Even though it was difficult for her to understand, maybe next time she would trust me. Daisy needed a little tough love.
*****
I had spooked Daisy more than I thought by tossing her. Our rides alone together stopped. The only time Daisy would climb on my back was if she had someone close by to help her. That was usually Rex or Holly. It made me sad; I had enjoyed our quiet rides together.
One day Daisy and Holly came out to the pasture and caught both me and Malevolent.
This is going to be interesting. I wonder what they have in mind for today. Why do they want Malevolent?
I became even more suspicious when I noticed Daisy was tacking up Malevolent, and Holly was preparing to tack me up.
What’s going on? You’re confused, Holly. I’m Daisy’s horse. Go ride Malevolent.
“Looks like you’re getting a new rider today, Kobi.” Malevolent smirked. Then she snorted, “This oughta be good!”
I didn’t say another word, just tried to remain calm.
Why doesn’t Daisy want to ride me? Maybe I shouldn’t have run away the last time we were together. I knew I was a much better horse than Malevolent. I didn’t want a different rider up on me. This is so unfair! I want my Daisy.
Holly and I followed Daisy and Malevolent to the front field. When we got there, I stood still, as I had been taught, waiting to be mounted. Holly got up. We waited for Daisy to get up on Malevolent. It took a while because Malevolent had no ground manners. Even though Daisy had also been working with Malevolent, the horse stayed true to her bratty name, and kept jigging about. Finally, she quit playing her silly little games and stood still. Daisy mounted.
Now, I didn’t like this. Not one bit. I had a strange rider on my back and Daisy was up on another horse. We started walking. It didn’t feel right to me.
What are you doing up there? You’re not supposed to be up there! I’m Daisy’s horse! Only Daisy can be up there! Get off!
I started to rebel in the only way I knew how: bucking. I screamed and ended every scream with a solid buck. Holly stayed on. So I added a rear to my buck. First I’d go up on my front legs into a buck and then rock back on my hind legs into a rear. I had seen other mustangs try this rear/buck when people tried to mount them at the holding facilities, but I had never tried the combination myself. Very effective!
“No! Kobi, No!” Holly cried.
That was all Holly had time to say before she lost her balance and toppled off over my side. I looked back over my shoulder and saw her lying on the ground, flat on her back. Daisy spun Malevolent around, leapt off her back and sprinted over to check on her mother.
“Mom!” I heard the alarm in her voice. “Are you alright?”
Uh, oh. Did I go too far again?
I got what I wanted. Holly was off my back and Daisy was off of Malevolent. Why, then, did I feel as if I had done a terrible thing?
“You’ve done it now, Kobi.” Malevolent sneered. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she sold you.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, frightened and instantly regretting my decision to buck.
“You’ve dumped your last two riders. No one wants you now. Your days are numbered out here, Kobi. Goodbye and good riddance.” Malevolent was gloating.
Uh-oh! That’s why I have that sick feeling in my stomach. I thought maybe I had pushed them too far, and I might be right.
“What do I do now? I don’t want to be sold again.”
“If I were you, I’d be as nice and docile as I could from here on out. Still, it’s probably too late.”
I vowed right then and there I would never throw my rider off my back again, no matter who they were.
Daisy helped her mother sit up. “Let me go put the horses up and then I’ll come back for you. Okay?”
“Leave Kobi here,” Holly said. “Hook his reins over the saddle horn so he can’t graze while you’re gone. Then when you get back over here, you can help me get back up on him.”
What is this stupid rule humans have about getting back on after they fall off? Are they trying to prove something to me or to themselves?
Daisy came over and looped my reins over the saddle horn. “Bad boy,” she scolded. “I can’t believe you did that. I’m so disappointed in you, Kobi.”
Malevolent was right. Daisy was mad at me. I know she promised to always love me, but I had hurt her and let her down. She was going to sell me now, I just knew it. I hung my head in shame.
I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again, I promise. Please, please give me another chance.
But Daisy just turned her back on me as she led Malevolent back to the barn to get untacked. Malevolent kept laughing at me until she got so far away that I couldn’t hear her anymore.
I walked over to Holly and tried to nuzzle her up to her feet. Come on, get up. I wanted Daisy to ride me, but I didn’t want you to get hurt. Get up.
“You were a very bad boy,” she told me. “You can’t keep doing that, Kobi.”
*****
After that episode I tried hard to be as agreeable as I could. But something was different; Daisy’s trust in me was shattered. Not only would she not ride me when she was by herself, but now there always had to be a person on the ground to walk beside me while she rode. Since she didn’t feel she could trust me anymore to behave myself, spook, run away, get angry, or start bucking, the other person would use a lead rope attached to my halter just to make sure I didn’t act up. It was humiliating. Based on my bad behavior and poor judgment, though, I guess I deserved it.
Every time I saw a new human come to the barn, either with Lilith or Daisy, Malevolent would run up to me, sneering, with her head high. “This is it. You’re on your way out now.”
I didn’t believe her. I couldn’t believe her. I never saw a big sign in the yard like I did at my old house with Danny and Alise. Daisy wouldn’t give up on me now, would she? She still came out and spent time with me. I felt it down in my bones, she still believed in her heart of hearts she would be able to train me into becoming her partner. First she had to believe in me again. I worked as hard as I could to show her all of my potential. I wanted to regain her trust.
One day I overheard Lilith and Daisy deep in discussion. Daisy’s eyes looked sad, and her color wasn’t good; she was as pale as the sand in the barren pasture. I wandered over to her, wondering what hateful, untrue things Lilith was telling her about me now.
“Either you sell him or send him to a trainer,” Lilith snapped. “You’re not progressing with Kobi the way you should be.”
“I’m doing the best I can.”
“I know.” Lillith patted Daisy’s hand. “I just hate to see you put in so much effort and still not get anywhere with him.”
“I’m not going to sell him and I don’t want to send him away to a trainer, either. I don’t know what trainers would do with him when I’m not around. Besides, why would I want a trainer to train Kobi and then not train me to work with him? I don’t want Kobi to be able to do all of these amazing things with someone else, just to have the same issues with me when I ride him again.”
“Then get a trainer to come out here. But you need to quit talking about it and do something. Either get him trained or get him out of here.” Lilith turned on her heel and stomped away.
“Oh, Kobi.” Daisy wrapped her arms around my neck and started to cry into my mane. “Maybe Lilith’s right. We do need help.”
If that’s the case then it’s the first time Lilith’s been right about anything since I got here.
CHAPTER 7 — TRAINING BEGINS
Daisy had been walking on eggshells for weeks now, jumping at every little sound and trembling whenever she rode. She appeared even less sure of herself than when we first met. Her visits had become less and less frequent and she seemed to come out only when Lilith was not around. She seemed anxious. I knew something was up.
“All the signs are there, Kobi,
I’m only surprised you haven’t figured it out sooner,” Malevolent taunted me one afternoon. “I told you Daisy is getting rid of you.”
I refused to believe that. I heard Daisy say she wasn’t going to sell me. Did she change her mind? I thought Daisy and I were determined to make this partnership work. She wouldn’t be selling me now, would she? Every time she visited, I was as charming as I could be. I liked Daisy and didn’t want her to sell me.
One evening as I was standing beside Daisy, afraid she would be leaving soon and never come back, I heard her take in a deep breath as Lilith approached.
“Lilith,” she started quickly, “I’ve decided that you’re right.” Daisy was holding her breath, planning what to say next.
What? What was Lilith right about? Finding a trainer or selling me? I can’t take this anymore! I have to know!
“Kobi and I need a trainer.” The words were rushing out of Daisy now like a river. I don’t think she could have stopped talking if she had to. I could sense the nervousness and anxiety pouring out of her as she spoke. “I’ve found a trainer I like. Her name is Wendy. I’ll have to take Kobi over to her barn. Wendy will train me to do all of the work with Kobi myself. That way I’ll be the one training him, under her direction. I’m moving Kobi on Sunday.”
Wow! She said all of that in one breath! Wait a minute. We’re moving out of here? On Sunday? To a new barn? With Wendy? What if I don’t like her?
Lilith responded smugly, “Really? And how long will Kobi be gone? You may not know this, but it will be difficult to reintroduce him to my herd if he’s gone too long.”
“Um,” Daisy swallowed, I could tell she was fearful of the direction this conversation was taking. “We won’t be coming back here, Lilith. Kobi will stay with Wendy at her barn until I can buy my own property and have him live there with me and Rex.”
Kobi- Memoirs of a Mustang Page 6
