Equine, are of course prey animals. They are likely only to REALLY lay down, truly rest, and completely close both eyes….if they feel safe. There are the little milestones of our work, that truly mark the importance of the impact of our daily actions and the slow, and sometimes painful, transition from victim….to truly safe. It is often the enrichment of meeting our horses (and donkeys) social needs that we see the true leap from the newly transformed state of surviving…to thriving. Now that Mr. Rogers has rounded the corner of accepting safety and happiness as part of his “new normal”, he can be found every morning laying next to his BFF Finbar, in the warm sand and the gentle sunlight of mid morning. While on so many occasions, it is in arising that our horses reclaim their lives, For Mr. Rogers….it is in laying down during his turnout time, stretching out next to his special friend, and closing his eyes while softly exhaling that he has declared himself truly alive!