Oh my, a cattle prod? That would be a new thought in defense weaponry, and if they come in cute colors might possible replace the crop I ridiculously rarely leave the house without but as a training aid? Whew. I have an ex I wish I'd thought of that with but he was a swine, not anything as nice as a horse and I often thought nothing short of an elephant gun would have stopped him anyway when that bottle of Jack had been opened. Anyway, it's no doubt different one on one, with your own beasties you've developed a relationship with- I never did meet one I could see cured of the whole kicking thing once it got the idea. You got very, very agile in our barn. There was a boarder with more money than God who had to be humoured up the gazoo. He had a terribly expensive and ill-mannered Hanovarian, who required bell-boots all-round. Ever put bell-boots on something which could kick the eye out of a fly and apparently has a stifle which can be dislocated at will? As the lowly kids on the block, guess who had to tack up this beast from hell? It took 4 of us, and these were the bell boots which had to be pulled over the hoof. Do not ask me why the owner insisted on them all-round, he just did. He was probably hiding somewhere watching, the rat.
I'm glad your horses give you such joy, Gloria, I haven't owned one for a very long time. There just hasn't been time- I won't have any if I can't do it properly. Between the old injuries and my teeny little business it would be silly to indulge this, that's all. Some day, perhaps. I'll no doubt go the rescue route- I wish I could say the T-breds but unless I'm up to speed physically have zero illusions there. There are plenty of other rescues, to be sure with this reccesion. I've always been a bit stuck on big cold-blooded things- the old fashioned cold bloods, which accidently happen, not the expensive ones. Best hunter I ever had was an oops of a Percheron/T-bred cross, very ugly, goofy tempered and I thought he walked on water.Someone found him at an auction, brought him to our barn one day- he looked silly next to all the clipped, sleek guys, you know? Then the owner on a whim said "See what he can do" and he could friggin JUMP.
I agree with Junebug-for all their flukes and however dangerous they can be, with their little teeny brains I also thing they're all pretty much are perfect. You never get over having been bitten by that bug, either, do you? If you ever hear I've driven into a tree it'll be because there's one in a field and I've watched it a little too long this time. I guess there are worse ways to leave the planet.
Don't be bummed today, my dear. We have the horses.
As Junebug says, ((((((Gloria)))))