Happy Birthday, Madge!

Today, Madge entered the terrible twos. People have been warning me about this since before she was born--often with a sparkle in their eye. Well, I hate to tell them this, but I can't wait!

These past two years have been full of adventure, patience, and personal growth. Doing my best to raise a respectable, young mule has given me so much knowledge that I wouldn't have gained from reliable old Maxine.

Lesson's I've learned with Madge:

1. Don't be the one to start a fight. If I act nonchalant, Madge will follow me though just about anything. I simply expect her to do everything as calmly as Maxine. Is she always perfect? Absolutely not. But I get a lot more out of her if I just expect the best. Plus, I've found that I have a lot more fun dealing with problems spots than I expected. I've always been a puzzle gal. I just didn't realize how well it would translate!
2. Remain calm. Things will go wrong--I guarantee it. Whether you're dealing with an escapee at the park (Baby's Birthday Escape) or a leg over the trailer divider as the result of a tantrum, you'll only make it worse if you panic. Fortunately, this is the one lesson that comes natural to me.
   
3. Never forget she's a baby. With her height and good disposition, I often have to remind myself that Madge is still a baby. That means no ground-tieing in the open and keeping an eye on her, no matter how relaxed she is on a given day. I haven't seen her kick at anyone in about a year, but that doesn't mean don't keep an eye on her hind legs.
   
4. Don't romanticize training. A lot of us equine folks dream about doing it all. Unfortunately, that's just not a sane reality for most of us. There are things I'm very skilled at and things I'm clueless about. The key is knowing which is which, and when to call in the expert. I'm lucky to have a real-life guardian angel who tells it like it is, bringing me down to earth when I'm about to get a little too big for my britches.
5. Call for backup. If Madge does something really naughty or starts repeating a bad habit I can't quite fix in a couple of lessons, I call in the expert. Sometimes I just need a tip to handle the issue, other times I need to hand over the lead rope (Damn!). Either way, I end up with a new skill and a better mule in the end.
   

Thanks for keeping me on my toes, my dear.

Photo: Madge makes it clear that she's simply too hot with a blanket on. She's quite the Woolly Mammoth. I can't wait to clip her in two weeks.