Bringing the horses back in from the pasture at night has helped me realize how quiet they can be. Hidden in the shadows I only see them when I am within 50 feet and can only hear them when they run. Who knew a 1000 lb animal could disappear before your eyes.
It only helps to reinforce to me what a prey animal they are. Their instinct tells them to remain hidden. It makes it more and more clear why they need to trust in us and to look for us for leadership.
And although we are a predator, we too have a strong flight reflex which I think is why so many people get out of horses so quickly after trying it. Rather than stay and 'fight', if they fear for their own safety, they will 'flight'. Ironic isn't it?
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This is proof why albino animals rarely survive to reproduce. Albino deer stand out like a flashblub and get eaten quicker! Albino tigers are easily seen by prey and can be avoided before they pounce.
My Arabian was gray (turned white) and my QH was cremello and they both were easy to see at night.
Phoenix however, with his solid black coat, is invisible!
One of the most spiritual experiences I ever had was a moonlight ride through tall dense brush on a dark bay horse with a gray (white) horse in front AND another gray (white) horse behind me. It was like floating through the air since I couldn't see my own horse very well from the moon and light reflecting horses!
I loved foggy mornings out at Portland Meadows when I was working on my documentary. You couldn't see anything, but you could hear the horses breathing as they rounded the turns and then their ghostly image went by. It was breathtaking.
We try not to leave our horses out after dark because they are so hard to find. We don't want to spook one we didn't see and get them or us hurt.
I leave my three dark bays out until near midnight, their last meal of the day. I just go to the field and call. They come almost immediately, slowly but not warily. Sometimes I can whistle and if the wind is in the right direction, they hear and come. I've never chased a horse. I use bribes until they learn to come. It doesn't take long before it becomes automatic.
My stallion has a big bald face that makes it possible to see his coming at night. An old draft person told me that they call that a "lantern" on a draft. Makes sense!
I never thought about albinos Jax. It totally makes sense.
I have long been a fan of horses with very little white, espcially for living in Oregon, but it would be dandy to see them at night.
I have been working on the bribes, but it isn't going as well as I would like!
Yeah, darkness can certainly add an unwelcome element sometimes.
I think the worse thing is when you and your horse spook each other! ;)
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