A Honey of a Tale

When I first met Honey, she looked like a ‘ wild child ‘, standing in her stall watching and listening to all the commotion in the aisle. I had recently begun leasing a horse at a barn in Wisconsin and she was one of 10 horses who resided there. As I recall, she had just turned 3. Bud, my beloved, was in the cross ties being groomed and she would approach the stall door and observe – but – as soon as I looked at her – she would flatten her ears and back far enough away that you couldn’t reach her through the bars if you tried.


I soon discovered that when Honey was in any kind of doubt she would pin her ears back. (I sometimes wondered if they were put on backwards!?!) She didn’t seem to have much trust in the human race and was very leery of other horses. Honey seemed like a scared little girl to me. After a few weeks of observing each other and me spoiling her with treats in her food trough – she would stand for longer periods and not flatten the ears as quickly. The other horses were used to being approached and would wait by the stall door with heads hung low ready for their halters to be put on for grooming. After wards, they would reenter their stalls and enjoy the ever-delicious rewards of apples, pears or carrots (whatever was on sale that week) awaiting them in their troughs. When wintertime approached and we could no longer ride – I asked if I could still come on Saturdays and just groom the horses. The owner was very agreeable….and the challenge was on!

Honey was a beautiful small black Appaloosa mare – only a bit over 14 hands at the withers – and probably would not win any show ribbons in Western Pleasure. Her mom had been a star in the ring and high hopes were placed on this little filly.