The Journey of Taz and Bird

It all began with the separation of friends…

Taz, a 29 year old thoroughbred cross arrived here at Starfire Horse Rescue mid last year for some recuperation, but in the end, all involved decided it was best she remained here permanently and becoming a part of our family. In the time she has been here, she has created a bond with the herd, and also a strong bond with my own little Shetland, Mabena. However, Taz left behind her friend, her own kin. Bird is her half sister and they shared 20 years of their life together.

Due to unfortunate circumstances, it was decided that Bird too should come to stay with Starfire Horse Rescue, and be reunited with Taz. Bird is 20, and was foaled in her previous home and knew no other place. Taz, and many Shetlands she shared the grazing with, were her companions. Two weeks ago, everyone made the choice to move her here. It was a stressful time, and it was said it would be difficult to trailer her since she has never travelled before. Possible sedation was in the back of our minds. I was requested to arrange transport and since we do not have our own mode of horse transport at this time, I had to book a transporter. My hope was to take my time and work in my own methods of positive reinforcement and connection. I managed a visit earlier and worked on some targeting and connection with her and I for one, felt quite at ease and confident. She grasped it straight away. On the day of moving, it did not go to plan. Unfortunately my methods were not incorporated, and there was only a limited amount of time available. Of course, I was taking valuable time from someone merely offering a service of transportation. No fault of anyone other than my own. I should have had hindsight and taken my time to search for an alternative way. Needless to say, Bird was by no way relaxed and got more and more agitated and stressed before it was packed in. By this point I thought now there will be no way she will even contemplate going near a trailer neverminded getting into one. We still had a little time, maybe a week.

I did start to panic, and drastically searched for a way in which we could take our time and practice, building her trust and confidence, not just with a trailer but with me also. Bearing in mind, I have only managed to see her a few times at this point. I was expecting way too much from her. But we did not have all the time in the world. By some miraculous blessing, someone was so kind to offer their help, offering their horse trailer and carving out their own time to help us. With this glimmer of hope, it sparked my determination. I managed another visit to see Bird and again worked on some positive reinforcement and connection. It delighted me so to see her galloping towards me when she heard my whistle. I offered some essential oils and she certainly was favouring linden.

On the day we organised to move her, I did wake with excitement, trepidation, and anxiety. I tried to relax myself but knew I would only be fully relaxed once she was grazing happily here. My partner, with some genius insight, said we should take Taz’s rug and allow Bird to feel comforted by it. A moment of brilliance. I took some essential oils, herbs for positive reinforcement, and some yummy organic horse feed. I would never have anticipated in a million years what unfolded. Bird, completely force free, only a couple of walking backwards off the trailer. loaded, with no pressure, completely relaxed, and it took much less time than our first attempt. It just shows you the power of allowing a horse to choose for themselves, to build trust and confidence, and that is never encouraged when pressure, force or punishment is added into the equation. With everyone there on the same page, each bringing a most wonderful element and gift to the operation, Bird was on her way to Starfire Horse Rescue.

And with that, she was reunited with her buddy, her half sister Taz. And what a moment that was. After over half a year not knowing where the other was, they met, walked slowly up to one another, lowered their foreheads together, and that tender moment, of love and bond, lasted a while, simply embracing each other forehead to forehead. And then they walked off together and began to graze, with the harebells dancing in the summer wind, a reflection of communication, and community, and connection.