Smokey the Sassy
After sweeping Smokey into the horse trailer, things vastly improved, at least as far as loading went. Nine times out of ten, she simply walked or hopped in. The trick was to keep out of the way, and not to make the space look crowded by standing in the way. Thow-ra was great, of course, because she always walked into the trailer, as soon as she was pointed towards it. Smokey began to do the same, and if she even considered planting her hooves, all I had to do was pretend to pick something off the ground, and she’d hop right in.
Still, there was one time in particular that she managed to still surprise me. As per usual, Thow-ra was already loaded on the driver’s side. The heaviest horse, is always best, traveling on the driver’s side of the trailer. Roads are crowned, so that water runs towards the ditch. If one horse, or the heaviest horse is on the driver’s side, then if the trailer was to come unhitched, it wouldn’t go straight into the ditch. It would have a bit of time to slow down, as it tracks that way.
As I said, my wonderful Thow-ra was already loaded, patiently waiting for Smokey to join her. Realizing, I had inadvertently left a rubber tub, up in the manger, from the last time I had used the trailer, I stepped in, leaving Smokey waiting outside, on the end of her lead. At least, I assumed she would wait. I mean, this was Smokey at the end of the lead. Maybe I’ll be obedient and compliant, but then again, maybe not, Smokey. To my great surprise, I heard the sound of hooves hollow and echoing on the wooden floor, as she climbed in right behind me. Felt the rush of her short, yet considerable width, filling the trailer, and I hurried to get out of her way.
Forgetting about the tub in the manger, I scooted out the small escape door that was situated, half over the fender. Smokey wasn’t done with taking me by surprise yet. I barely had time to turn around and see, to my greater surprise and disbelief that, Smokey was following me! I don’t know how she did it, but that chunky pony, squeezed out that tiny door, right behind me. Somehow, she managed to completely miss the fender and step, to land as lightly as a deer upon the ground, between the trailer and myself.
As long as I live, it will be a memory etched clearly in my mind’s eye. That big pony popped out of that trailer, like she’d been squeezed out of a tube. It was about as hilarious a sight, as I’d ever seen. I will never forget how quickly and easily she managed it, and how fast I had to move, to get out of her way.
Standing there looking at me, as calm and cool as could be, as if she did such a thing every day, she completely amused me. What a character she was. Well, leaping through escape doors or not, we still had somewhere to go, and she still had to be loaded into the trailer. Without any ado, that darn pony climbed in again. This time, I was ready for her. There would be no ponies, escaping through tiny people doors again. She taught sixteen year old me, a good lesson that day. I never gave a horse, the chance to try to exit such a way, ever again.
Leave a Reply