July 18, 2025: Bee Behaves Badly, Bonds Sweetly

If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to sit on a powder keg with hooves, you should’ve been at lessons with Bee last week. She was on one, to say the least — ears pinned, bum toward every horse that dared enter her bubble, and a few solid kicks just to make sure everyone knew where she stood. (This is what it felt like when we were waiting our turn, thanks National Barrel Horse Association (“NBHA”) for so eloquently capturing my ride during lessons: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CLHbndKty/?mibextid=wwXIfr) Let’s just say it made for a very stressful hour for yours truly, keeping her away from her classmates and praying we all made it out in one piece. (And for a little more humor: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16qWABJW1j/?mibextid=wwXIfr).

Lessons were last week, before I left for Michigan, so I can’t even blame her sass on missing me. She got her usual daily doting — carrots, cool-down baths, and plenty of cooing over her pretty face — and still showed up spicy and full of opinions that day. While I was gone, though, she did seem to enjoy the reprieve from my constant fussing — no carrots, no baths, no hovering — just her and her herd for a few quiet days.

The good news is that between her hormone meds (which, of course, got delayed this week) and her natural sass, Bee is still keeping me humble. But despite all that attitude, she showed a surprisingly sweet side to her new friend, Dually.

When Sinjari’s old stall stood empty, Bee would stop there on her way out to the pasture and sniff for him, almost as if she was checking to see if he’d returned. Now that Dually has moved in, she still stops — but this time for kisses. Yes, kisses. She’ll stand at the stall, nose-to-nose with him, before heading out to join the rest of her herd. It’s a gentle little ritual that reminds me that even the sassiest mares have a soft side when they choose to show it.

Nose to nose.

What do you think Dually is saying to Bee?

With the rest of the week still ahead, I’m crossing my fingers that her hormone meds kick back in, her attitude chills out, and she keeps those kicks to herself. But with Bee, you never quite know what you’re going to get — which is exactly why we love her.

If you haven’t already, Bee also recommends you check out the Bonus Buzz: The Real Cost of Horse Ownership. It’s an honest look at what it really takes — financially and otherwise — to keep a horse happy, healthy, and full of carrots.

Until next week, may your herd be peaceful, your carrots plentiful, and your horse keep all four feet on the ground.