All night long the rain beat against the boards on the deck, the wind chimes played a continuous tinkling melody through the pitter-patter of the raindrops and the whistle of the wind. The heavens have opened over the Pacific North West…..the trickle of the creek has swollen into white water and our new erosion control project is under pressure for the first time. Ironically, as the rain fell and the thunder rolled, the temperature rose and the pastures steamed. T shirts were traded for rain jackets and my hair reacting to 99% humidity, instantaneously transformed into uncontrollable frizz. Please remind me why I have been performing the rain dance over the past four weeks….please tell me why I wanted to see rain !
Today Player the grey thoroughbred was under our care, always over anxious to be taken to the pasture in the morning, this morning the gelding was decidedly indifferent about leaving his dry stall and very adverse to getting wet. In Pond Field, Misty the chestnut mare was feeling hormonal and consequently Starbuck, Charm and Tonto the trio of geldings were totally unconcerned by the weather ( rain….what rain ?) and very concerned at the wanton display of equine lust parading around the pasture. Inspired by the testosterone fueled posturing in the rain, Player, alone in his field decided to relinquish his refuge under the cedar trees and with tail waving like a banner and bucking like a rodeo ride he hurtled along the fence line in unison with his single minded stable mates across the farm road . Poor Tonto, Misty’s pasture pal is currently suffering a bout of lameness and is clearly unable to control the mare who has only one thought on her mind and clearly happy to influence every horse that gets down wind of her pungent chestnut tail. Helplessly Tonto tried to keep his wanton mare from the fence line where golden palomino Charm and black appaloosa Starbuck were intermittently aggressively chasing each other around the pasture and less than patiently offering their undivided attention to the pretty chestnut mare. Just throw in a few hormones, mix with a bucket of testosterone and you are sure to get a party…… we did…luckily, they didn't !
As the thunder rolled and torrential rain fell, the horses were happy to return to their cosy dry stalls where a bucket of grain and a full hay manger waited….except for today’s Prima Donna, grey thoroughbred, Player. Player had clearly decided that he was not going to make our day simple, easy, clean or dry and Player succeeded on every count. As the rain dripped off the end of my nose and my jeans soaked sodden dark blue, Player hid under the umbrella branches of the giant cedar tree. As a puddle formed around my feet and the thunder drew closer….Player refused to move. One last resounding thunder clap and the rebellious grey surrendered his bravado under the tree and raced headlong for the gate but the grey gelding was no longer grey, Player was head to tail, ears to hooves, thick, brown, wet mud. There was no competition, no hesitation, no doubt, we have NEVER had a dirtier, muddier horse to take care of, Player has been awarded THE blue ribbon for grime, top prize for muddy and for once….we weren't sorry to give him back.
Time to go, the cuckoo has spoken and it’s bedtime. Misty has taken her hormones to her stall, her ardent admirers are munching on hay and testosterone is taking a break. Player got muddy again today…..but he wasn’t ours and from a distance….it was mildly amusing !
Take care, keep safe, M
Today Player the grey thoroughbred was under our care, always over anxious to be taken to the pasture in the morning, this morning the gelding was decidedly indifferent about leaving his dry stall and very adverse to getting wet. In Pond Field, Misty the chestnut mare was feeling hormonal and consequently Starbuck, Charm and Tonto the trio of geldings were totally unconcerned by the weather ( rain….what rain ?) and very concerned at the wanton display of equine lust parading around the pasture. Inspired by the testosterone fueled posturing in the rain, Player, alone in his field decided to relinquish his refuge under the cedar trees and with tail waving like a banner and bucking like a rodeo ride he hurtled along the fence line in unison with his single minded stable mates across the farm road . Poor Tonto, Misty’s pasture pal is currently suffering a bout of lameness and is clearly unable to control the mare who has only one thought on her mind and clearly happy to influence every horse that gets down wind of her pungent chestnut tail. Helplessly Tonto tried to keep his wanton mare from the fence line where golden palomino Charm and black appaloosa Starbuck were intermittently aggressively chasing each other around the pasture and less than patiently offering their undivided attention to the pretty chestnut mare. Just throw in a few hormones, mix with a bucket of testosterone and you are sure to get a party…… we did…luckily, they didn't !
As the thunder rolled and torrential rain fell, the horses were happy to return to their cosy dry stalls where a bucket of grain and a full hay manger waited….except for today’s Prima Donna, grey thoroughbred, Player. Player had clearly decided that he was not going to make our day simple, easy, clean or dry and Player succeeded on every count. As the rain dripped off the end of my nose and my jeans soaked sodden dark blue, Player hid under the umbrella branches of the giant cedar tree. As a puddle formed around my feet and the thunder drew closer….Player refused to move. One last resounding thunder clap and the rebellious grey surrendered his bravado under the tree and raced headlong for the gate but the grey gelding was no longer grey, Player was head to tail, ears to hooves, thick, brown, wet mud. There was no competition, no hesitation, no doubt, we have NEVER had a dirtier, muddier horse to take care of, Player has been awarded THE blue ribbon for grime, top prize for muddy and for once….we weren't sorry to give him back.
Time to go, the cuckoo has spoken and it’s bedtime. Misty has taken her hormones to her stall, her ardent admirers are munching on hay and testosterone is taking a break. Player got muddy again today…..but he wasn’t ours and from a distance….it was mildly amusing !
Take care, keep safe, M
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