Posted by Racer on August 29, 2000, at 22:45:00
In reply to Pets and depression, posted by stjames on August 28, 2000, at 20:26:54
I have three cats and one horse, work with eight additional horses.
The cats are usually a pain in the neck, but I'd be lost without them. My own horse, due to health problems and a lousy attitude, is often a worry to me. For example, she's terribly underweight. If she doesn't eat, is it because it's too hot today, but she'll eat later? Is she coming into heat and generally being snotty? Is there something so wrong I had better call the vet? Or is she complaining about the food in front of her? Or maybe just not hungry yet? She's nasty today, is she just expressing her evil nature? Not feeling well? Feeling TOO well because she needs to be ridden down more?
The other eight are more fun and frolic and work and frustration and generally relaxing. It's only my nasty, evil, sweet, beautiful, beloved mare who's a misery to me! Well, not a misery, just that she's very sick, and won't be with me much longer. I'm trying to give us the best time together we can have while we still have it. I'm also taking on too many other horses right now, I've never taken on more than five at a time before (there just aren't enough hours in a week!), so that I can be distracted from her, in hopes of having an easier time forming a bond later. I'd be in one hell of a position if I suddenly found myself without my mare, without the inclination to connect with another horse, and with few other ways to make a living! (Yes, I also do some computer work, but largely as a sideline.)
As for the cats, they may be demanding, domineering, yowling, fluffbrained beasts, but they're warm and cuddly and they keep me from levitating off the bed at night and being injured by the ceiling!
poster:Racer
thread:279
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20000813/msgs/320.html