I have seen quite a few changes in Jen over the last few months. They have been subtle, but I think quite significant.
Physically, Jen is still filling out. She is starting to have some muscle tone now. In the past, she felt very frail, and fragile, as if you could easily break her, or knock her over with a breath. Now, when I pet her, she feels more substantial. Some of it comes out in photos, but not the extent of the change. Her muscles are beginning to have some tone and definition to them, and she's beginning to look less like a rehab and more like a healthy horse. She is even getting some muscle in those pockets one either side of her withers. Her neck is finally starting to look more normal, and less strappy. She is building a nice little fat crest, so she doesn't look quite so much like a llama anymore.
Emotionally, there have been many changes. Jen spends less time with her head way up in the air, and more time with it neutral and relaxed. She sighs, and licks and chews now. She never would relax and sigh near a human. She was only braced, and ready for what might happen. Now if she tenses, I stroke her neck gently, tell her all is OK. And she says "Yes, you're right, I remember", sighs, drops her head, licks and chews.
Her expression is so much softer. The wrinkles over her eyes and around her mouth are gone. I'm amazed at the change in her facial structure! You would think that a horses face is what it is, but apparently it is not! Her chin is so much fuller, as is her upper lip. She always had these three deep creases in her upper eyelids. I just thought she was abnormally wrinkly. I was wrong. It was stress. Those creases are completely gone. I wish I had the photos to compare, but I lost 7 years worth of photos in a hard drive crash back in June. So all my old photo's of Jen (and all my horses, dogs, cats, and most importantly, my children) are gone.
In any event, Jen's upper lip is now full and round and soft. There are no wrinkles around her lips and the corners of her mouth. Her chin is no longer tight and winkled, its fat and soft and relaxed. She used to screw her mouth all up and pop her lower lip when she was ticked off. She doesn't do that anymore.
She now believes me when I tell her everything will be OK. I can speak softly to her, stroke her neck, and she will sigh and relax in less than half the time that it used to take.
And I saw Jen and Lakota grooming each other yesterday. That makes me so happy! I thought they would never be friends. I noticed that this summer I would often find them in the run-in together, napping in the afternoon, nose to tail swishing each others flies. Lakota, obviously, is still alpha, and always chases Jen off food. Jen still tries, but half-heartedly. But to see them grooming really warmed my heart.
I am really looking forward to the day that my daughter and I ride off down the trails on these two sisters. Both completely rehabbed, fat, happy, confident, relaxed, and comfortable.
Jen, exploring the wooded area of their paddock
