powered by SignMyGuestbook.com
| Newest
Older Previous Next Random Contact Profile Host |
blizzard warnings - 13:52 , 03 October 2013 heelerless - 21:32 , 18 August 2013 Red Coat Inn in Fort McLeod - 11:38 , 23 June 2013 rushing into the waters - 09:53 , 21 June 2013 choosing a spot - 17:43 , 27 April 2013 |
close encounter of the horse kind
Wait a minute. Was that horses? Or cows?
Okay, we've definitely got some driver fatigue, or sleep deprivation going on here. I was clear around the bend before my brain realized that maybe I should have stopped to look at the large, dark animals alongside the dirt road. Being where we were, either cattle or feral horses (or "wild" horses, or "wild mustangs", if you're a western romantic) would be expected. So I slowly backed up.
They were horses. The long, untrimmed manes and tails the telltale marks of animals that have never been ridden, never been broke. Never even touched by human hands.
And totally, or almost totally unconcerned about this truck pulling up just a hundred meters or so away.
Except for the mare with her new foal. She slowly meandered around to place the bulk of their small band between me and her youngster.
I, on the other hand, found myself in the awkward position of trying to take pictures whilst simultaneously holding back the two frantic heelers who think the only reason in the world I would ever stop the truck is so they could get out and run.
Oookay. Why not?
And out they go, frantically barking, as usual.
The horses are only mildly interested in the two noisy canines wearing blaze orange capes.
The heelers, on the other hand, were completely oblivious to their equine audience.
Well, okay. What happens if we give the horses something else to ponder? I step out, and slowly walk behind the truck, dipping down into the barrow ditch.
And lay down.
Now that gets the horses curious. And two vanguards slowly step forward.
Close, but not as close as I've had horses come before. I assume the presence of the new foal makes the whole band a little more cautious.
Now, all the while I'm laying there in the sage, the heelers are circling around me, doing some snooping of their own. Every once in a while the horses draw their attention
but are soon forgotten for more interesting things. Like smells.
And it isn't long before the sisters are intentionally pestering me.
"We're bored! We've smelled all there is to smell here."
"We wanna go."
And go we did.