One of those DUH!! moments...

[madelyn]

I have a lovely big mare I picked up last summer, that I bred to Rocking Trick. The vet was here the other day to ultrasound (yes she is in foal). But we've always had problems with the mare, stubborn/hard to lead, nervous and anxious around the vet, etc.

I was telling them about her history and it dawned on me that she was born and raised in France... so I spoke to her softly in French and that mare relaxed. Her whole body. The vet laughed until he nearly fell over. I used to speak to Rocking Trick in my limited Spanish when he first arrived.. I can't believe I didn't think of trying French (in which I am relatively fluent) on Tobago Cayes.

[Bondama]

What a wonderful story, Madelyn! But doesn't it just make perfect sense that she would react that way? She was probably SO relieved! And how perceptive of you to try! Thank you for sharing.

[henthorn]

Tricks of the trade, huh? Funny!

[clh]

Hey whatever works I'm afraid the limit of my French is "Parlez vous Francais" - so we'd find out if she spoke French but then we wouldn't be able to communicate after that

[Crystal]

we had a colt who only knew spanish.. my little chihuahua stood at his stall staring at him one day. A friend asked me what he was doing. I told her asking directions to Taco Bell! Horses may not know the language, but they know the tone and dilecte (sp?).. bbut I do know most of my english speaking horses have hearing problems.