Running With the Herd

One of my favorite small jobs on the farm is filling the trough in the front field where the foals stay out during the daytime. The trough is right smack-dab in the middle of the field, next to the water pump which is enclosed by a short triangle fence. Walking out into the field the foals are nowhere to be seen. I like to turn on the water pump, climb up to sit on the top of the fence, and call out to them. First, one head pops up at the edge of the hill crest, then two, then seven, and they all come galloping full speed down the hill, slamming on the breaks before they run straight into the fence, and jumping this way and that, bucking, rearing, whinnying, all around me. The water runs slow, so I get to spend a good fifteen minutes with them. They take long sips of water, splashing it all over the place. They sniff me and nip at my clothing. They get jealous of each other, and start rough-housing for my attention. They're just so freak'n cute!

Getting down from the fence again is always a little nerve wracking, because, cuteness and grace aside, these animals are sometimes unpredictable, seriously dangerous, and they're on the loose. Last week one of these little buggers head-butted me in the face and double-barreled me just cause she didn't like that i was leading her by a rope....little fucker. Fortunately they all know me quite well, so they don't feel threatened when I jump down from the fence. I'm really just one of the herd. They trot around me on my way back to the gate, and a few let me get close enough for a pat. They stand at the gate and watch me make my way up to the barn. It's amazing how horses find us just as fascinating as we do them.

I found this kitsch-fabulous wall-thingy on ebay for $5.00 a couple of weeks ago. It's a pair actually. They are made of semi-precious stones and cold sparkles enclosed in molded lucite. Aren't they hideous? I LOVE them! They are hanging in my kitchen.