Soule: You Can Teach and Old Dog New Tricks

Read How You CAN Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

Most of my readers know by now that we're closing the Miles Smith Farm Store.

Over the years, I also discovered that some cattle had quiet, calm natures and could be trained to pull carts and ridden. It started with riding a cow named Missy, then Clementine, and now Curious Bleu, a 12-year-old Scottish Highland steer with magnificent horns.

I'd spent the first half of my life riding and training horses, and sometimes there were terrible falls. One time, I sprained an ankle falling off a horse while fox-hunting. Another fall while jumping ended in a concussion, and another time, I split open my cheek when a horse tossed me into a fence. That one resulted in 20 stitches and a scar. Even after I gave up jumping, accidents still happened.

These days, my greatest joy comes from training an unruly cow to be my friend. However, as time marched on, my body complained more and more. An afternoon nap is now a requirement, as is my new morning routine of meditation and tapping (similar to acupuncture but without needles.) Even though we're closing the farm store, I need a retirement job.

In the spring, I fostered an extremely reactive 9-year-old pitbull, Cody, who wanted to kill my calves and regularly chomped on my other dog, Flora. I thought he was dangerous and I didn't know what to do.

Read How You CAN Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

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Carole Soule is owner of Soule Coaching. She can be reached at carole@soulecoaching.com. Carole is a certified Life Coach who helps humans and canines achieve the impossible a little at a time. On Dec. 28, 2024, she's retiring from full-time farming and will be helping dog owners make their pets perfect companions.