Trudy Andrew | Canadian Author

Horse Tails

 

That’s Thanks For You

What a great morning. I walk out of the house, only to startle, and be startled by a huge eagle, perched atop an evergreen, right at the back of the house! Then I go to do chores, only to be greeted by a chorus of desperate neighs, because of course, they’re starving (so not). Way off in the riding ring, Aurora and Jim are the loudest, most dramatically desperate of all.
“Feed us first, we’re starving! We really are!”
“You’re not starving,” I call back to them, “You can wait a few minutes. I’ll be right there.”
Of course they didn’t believe me. Their voices only got louder, as I fed Ranger and Cactus first, and locked up the geldings. Little did princess Arab and spotty horse know, but I was locking up the geldings, in order to allow them to peacefully graze in the adjacent pasture. I surely didn’t want any drama between princess Aurora and the geldings, over the fence. Jim doesn’t need that kind of confusion. The whole time, I’m feeding and getting things organized, the pair of them carry on with the pitiful crying. By the time I get to them, they’re in an accusing tizzy.
“What’s up with this nonsense?” Aurora clearly demands, as she checks me for food, “Where’s our breakfast? We want breakfast. I want my breakfast!”
“You’re going to get to pick your own, right away,” I answer, as I crawl between the rails (yup, I really did). Come,” I gently encourage, sliding my hand along her soft coat, as I walk by, “Come … I’ll show you both.”
The utter disbelief was hilarious. Honestly, they could not believe that I didn’t have hay for them. Being an Arab, Aurora stubbornly stayed by the gate, while curiosity got the best of, Lucky Jim. When the humans said ‘come’, it always meant something good. He wasn’t about to take chances, especially as he hadn’t been fed. Not one to miss out on possible good things, Aurora caught up to us, by the time we reached the gate at the far end. She was the first out on grass, too.
It took a bit of persuasion and cajoling, but careful step, by careful step, Jim tentatively followed me through the gate. Did I receive a single thanks or backward glance from either as they hoovered the grass? Not a one, but that’s okay. Happy horses, are all the thanks I need.

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About Trudy Andrew

Trudy Andrew lives on a small farm just east of Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she enjoys her Morgan horses. A dreamer since she was a child, its no surprise to those who know her well that her imagination would find an outlet in writing, as it has in the past through artwork.
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Location

 Oakbank, MB