Friends?

Well, it has been a long time coming, but I think my horse, Kaz, is starting to realize that we could just be friends!  It has been so slow.  For the past couple years I will admit I was impatient at times with his curious ways.  His nipping, his mouth, always moving, always ready.  Yet, somewhere along the way I began to think maybe he was playing, expressing interest.  Though the mouth/teeth issues are not my favorite thing I have begun to accept them, and him, for who and what he is.  A prime example us getting his halter on, for him it is always a game. It goes, place the halter towards him, Kaz grabs it, pull it off, try again, he grabs it and holds it.  For months this frustrated me, to the point I would yell stop, shake it, even one threw it at him, he won!  So, somewhere along the line, I began building the game aspect into my schedule, and, I won!  Oh, he still grabs a bit, and I let him.  Once he has had it for a moment or two, game over and on it goes.  Same issues when blanketing.  For this "game" I keep my elbow at the ready, he butts his head towards me I elbow him, softly, he stops, tries again, goes on for a couple times, then the blanket is on!  Yes, I have begun to accept his habits, his quirkiness, him.  Now Kaz is beginning to nuzzle me, rub his head softly.  He also will now let me pet his face in the barn, though only briefly, must be a guy thing.  Keep in mind that this horse is and has always been great under saddle.  Kaz is keen in mind and spirit, becomes bored easily, but, he knows his job.  His only "issues", at least for me, have been on the ground.   Our farrier even commented that my horse has settled, asking what I did to him, ha !  I have come to believe it is a matter of r-e-s-p-e-c-t, on both our parts.  So, the journey continues, though now I am enjoying it oh so much more ~~~