The covered round pen has been witness to a tremendous amount of halter startings. This process varies in ease, but as a default always poses some degree of challenge. The Tivas and the Arties and the Esmes — uncertain and nervous and braced. It takes time, hours upon hours, to bring them to an understanding of what it means to give to pressure, that something as seemingly innocuous as a pet on the forehead doesn’t mean their imminent demise, that they can trust in people. And while these transformations do occur, again and again, and while it does not lose that shimmer of miraculousness each time we successfully halter start a horse, there is a sadness there too, because it doesn’t have to be like this.
I, Lily, write this now, and am coming to you in the rare first person to share my recent revelation. Over the years I have been at SAFE, I have watched many horses get halter started in our round pen, but I don’t know if I have ever been as moved as I was recently, watching Terry put a halter on Venturo for the first time. The reason is simply because of how boring it was to witness. Venturo didn’t care about the flag, or the rope. He grasped the concept of moving his hind away and giving to pressure. He doesn’t flinch away at being touched, or having his hooves handled. He is a perfect example of how easy it can be, which is a sharp contrast to how difficult it has so often been.
We are so grateful for the opportunity that having Venturo here has afforded us. It is a true gift to get the chance to watch Vinnie as he grows and help him have the best possible start in this life.
