What an honor and privilege it was to bring Party Barn back to Saratoga War Horse to work with another group of veterans at the Aiken Equine Rescue. It was a lovely day and Party loaded on the trailer like a champ, ready for the adventure ahead. He was a bit more settled at the Rescue in his paddock this time and was friendly to all who stopped by to see him.
The veteran that worked with him had a little prior experience with horses and was excited at the opportunity. Party had plenty of energy and gave his veteran a little challenge. In time and with a soft feel, the veteran was able to build the connection and create a bond that allowed him to direct Party around the pen and have him follow him all around. The smile on the veteran's face was priceless as the joy of being with horses this way took over his heart. The time they spent together during and after was so serene for them both.
After the class, Party Barn loaded easily but did not trailer home quietly. I could feel him moving around in the trailer and was a sweaty mess when we got back. I am not sure what that is all about, but it means more time with positive experiences in the trailer and more trips to build his confidence and comfort level for future trips.
