Independence Day!

I went down for tea and alfalfa with Violet. I just sat there occasionally pulling apart the hay around her as another horse just eating together. Meanwhile thinking of clever ways to try and scratch her. She was still not letting me touch her with my fingers but I was encouraged each time she pushed on my legs to get at her food. I put my hands in the hay around her mouth and occasionally outstretched my arm so that she would bump into it. As long as she initiated the contact she was fine but if I tried, she would pull away. I managed to grab a handful of hay and start scratching the side of her head. She was fine until she realized the hay was moving and it was off the ground. So smart! I would just have to wait patiently for a while longer. I was sitting bent legged on the ground with my arm resting on my knee hand out stretched palm down. Her forehead was just and inch or so away. I made my moved so quietly and gently, and she let me scratch her head! Just a finger, then two and before I knew I was rubbing and scratching her whole head, ears, neck while she ate. It seemed her whole body was itchy. Esp. her mane (where she had rubbed it out), her shoulders and withers. As I itched a little harder she started to groom me too. I realized the harder I itched her the harder she wanted to itch me and I had to dodge a few nibbles. Pretty soon we got the pressure mutually acceptable. It was cool how she moved her body to show the places she wanted itched and would stop eating at times when just felt too good. She practically fell in my lap. She loved her eyes massaged and all around her face. I was soooo thrilled I wanted to cry. I didn't say anything, it was so quiet but the communication was loud and clear. Terry showed up awhile later. It was so interesting how subtle the dynamic was once she and I started talking. Violet got a little worried and wasn’t as close to me as before. The tiniest changes make such a huge difference, esp. to a young horse that has not had much human interaction. Later, I went over to her water and fished out some leaves, she came over as she usually does and started to nuzzle me. At that point I needed to discern what she was saying. She did one of those playful nips that require a nip back or basically, I’m a pussy. So I nipped back with my body and the game was on. I moved her around the pen like another horse would, but it was definitely horseplay. She would take off like a flash then turn and face. The game was to keep her away from her food and her water, which she always would be drawn to. It’s something I see Rose do with the other horses. I did it a few times then ignored her. She came up and sniffed me. Then I went to the water and fished out some more leaves. She came up next to me and waited. I stepped ever so slightly to the side giving her permission to drink. She did. The game was over for today.