I know I’ve probably written on trust before, but it’s hit me smack in the head the last couple of weeks.

People used to give you their word and a hand shake, and it was cast in stone.  Now they don’t even swear on the Bible, and even if they do, it doesn’t mean anything to them.

Since I’ve lost all my old trusted horses in the last few years, it’s become a real stumbling block for me.  Old age, cancer, and now lightning have taken my old dear friends over the Rainbow Bridge.  Convincing the horses I have left that they need to be lesson horses has become a real challenge.  They were not intended for this job, nor do they want it.  Finding a “School Master” is one of the most difficult horses you can look for.  Even more than a child safe horse.  When some one has either one of those types of horses, they hold onto them.  It’s like waiting for someone to die so you can get that great house or apartment with a view.  Now I have to start from scratch with new horses.  Trust on both parts takes time, and I don’t have time.  This makes me nervous, and in turn, makes them nervous.

I tried asking Zoey to help the other day with a beginner lesson.  She was so worried she wouldn’t leave my side, and only her left side.  What is up with that?  I’ve always worked her on both sides.  A crash course in trust doesn’t work.  Standing there trying to explain it to her didn’t work either.  Now I’ve got a new prospect.  This should be interesting.  (By the way, it worked out great!)

I recently wrote about trusting old faithful products.  Products you’ve used forever and liked.  They have been changed.  The manufacturer got back to my neighbor and told her, yes it has been changed, but now the product will be even better.  The jury is still out on that.

There is so much out there on the internet.  Information you need, but can you trust it?

People have been talking about horses dying from Creeping Indigo poisoning here in Florida.  Well my neighbor found some in her pasture, and went into full attack on the weed.  Then I found some.  Okay to the internet.  The videos on the internet show horses dying of this toxic weed.  People crying, not knowing how to get rid of it.  And pretty much, it’s close to impossible.  Horses love it, it tastes like candy to them.  It’s poison to dogs, birds, cattle, sheep, rabbits, just about every animal.  Very pretty and spreads under the grass like crazy.  Then I read that a horse has to eat 10 lbs. of it in 3 weeks to be affected.  There is no cure.  This was not a native plant, it was brought in, for whatever reason, and is taking over, just like a lot of other things here in Florida.  I spoke with someone at the Extension Center, and they are not overly concerned.  It’s been here since the 50’s, according to the internet since the 20’s.  The only time people have a major problem with it is if their pastures are in poor condition and the horses don’t have anything, other than that, to graze on.  Do I want it here?  No.  Am I going to try to get rid of it?  Yes.  I’ve managed to get rid of other toxic weeds, but this one may be a little harder.  You really can’t find it.  My pastures are in great shape and chances are the horses won’t even get down to the weed, but better safe than sorry.

So now let’s go to people.  Government, friends, neighbors, coworkers, relatives, who can you trust?  At least one of them has done you dirty in one form or another.  Now listening to all the debates – one more form of craziness.  Not to mention the bombings, and threats.  It’s getting really scary out there.  Can you really trust the person sitting next to you?

How do you sort this all out?  You gather all the information you possibly can (but what can you trust?) and then make an informed decision (you hope).  If you get the feeling something isn’t right, listen to your feelings.  Don’t make yourself crazy or paranoid, just pay attention.

With horses, it’s a little easier.  Takes a little longer, but they are honest, and usually up-front about everything.  They call the scary things the boogie man and stay away from him.  The good things like carrots and some people, they move toward.  They judge you by your energy and body language.  Animals can pick up on what is calm and normal and what isn’t right.  We need to learn from them and be more like them.  They are always paying attention and are aware of their surroundings.  Think about that as you are walking through a mall parking lot this year.  We get so focused on what sales we’re going to hit, and what our friend is talking about, we don’t notice the ax murder following us.

Why can’t everything in this world be more like horses?

Who do you trust?