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Of course, no place is perfect. One day Big One was grooming me in the cross ties, and I never did like cross ties. Just when you move to one side a little, they grab you, and if you move to the other side, they grab you again! One rope I can understand -- it's always in one place. Anyway, as I stood there half dreaming, I suddenly noticed that there seemed to be a snake coming at my head! It was just floating there pretending to be a cross tie, but I knew better. I jerked back away from it, and it pulled me! So, I really laid back to get away, and both of them snapped, and somehow, I found my self rapidly propelled backwards, then rolling over onto my back... and I wound up upside down in the big manure pile down the ramp from the barn. I couldn't get up. How embarrassing. Big One stood over me and laughed, which was devestating. I could she see was a little angry with my foolishness, but I couldn't help it. I still don't like cross ties... they make me think of snakes, and I don't know why. Anyway, Big One helped me get back up, and brushed me off. After that, she taught me to stand still without being tied at all, and we were both happier.
Another time, we were out on a long trail ride, a bunch of us, even The Boss. A new person was riding The Boss, and she wasn't able to control him as easily as his regular person. He doesn't act up much, but he is huge. He had his mouth tied shut in one of those double nosebands (I'm so glad I've never had to wear one), and was drooling a lot. On the way back, I was in front (I had the fastest walk of the barn, even faster than The Boss), and The Boss was behind me. Well. He just wasn't minding his manners at all, and his rider wasn't able to make him I guess. He kept resting his huge muzzle on my butt and wiping his drool off. Of all the nerve! Big One would move me on ahead quickly when he did that, but I was getting annoyed. About the fourth time The Boss wiped his nose on me, I let him have it -- I couldn't help it! WHAP, two hoof prints right in the middle of his chest. Big One was as surprised as The Boss! She HIT me with her crop, something she'd never done before! I put my head down and was ashamed, but he really asked for it.
Well, we were already in sight of the barn, so I figured that was that. We all got cooled down and groomed and turned out. WHOA NELLY, The Boss came after me then! He gathered everybody in a group, and The Boss was keeping them there, and wouldn't let me in! He started chasing me, and really fast too! I couldn't get in and it got harder and harder to stay away from him. I was going in big circles around the herd, and he was going in smaller ones around them. I wanted in with my friends, and away from The Boss, but I just couldn't do it. I was sweating and panting after a while, and The Boss was just NOT going to let me in. Luckily, Big One came out and petted me to calm me down, and said soft things to me. Then she went over to The Boss and told him a thing or two, and at last I was back in the herd, though The Boss did give one one hard bite as I went by him. Hmmph. No manners. But I didn't kick him. Ever again. Below are some of my pals at that barn.
Oh, the good times we had there. So many long trail rides, so many nice fences to jump out there, creeks to cross, even a pond to wade through (it got DEEP, up to my chest!) one time. Once a couple of my friends got terrible colds, and their heads swelled up! People were out at all hours putting hot towels on them. I was worried, but they came through fine, and nobody else caught the colds. One time, after I'd been there a while and it was a hot day, I waded into the lake to cool off a little. It felt sooo good. I splashed around and drank my fill and suddenly I was swimming! I got confused, and kept on swimming, and when I came out, I was on the other side of the lake! All my friends were across it, watching me! I whinnied and whinnied, but nobody came over to join me. There were just a bunch of dumb cattle where I was, and I didn't want to get in that lake again in case I just wound up back with the cattle. I ran up and down the edge of the lake to show everyone it was good footing and kept calling them, but after a while they just wandered away and there I was, alone with a bunch of dumb steers all afternoon. Thank goodness feeding time arrived! All the horses went running in to the stable, and after a while, the two evening feeders for that day came out looking for me. They seemed surprised, but I was so glad to see them! I started calling again, and prancing around anticipating rescue. I think this scared them a little. They both had... umm, less high strung horses. So, they came over to a little gate and didn't even try to put a halter on me, just opened the gate. I was outta there and back to the stable in no time! I'll never do that again.
More coming... my secretary is slow.
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