There wasn't a mean bone in his big body. He could do rotten things, like step on your sneakered foot and then turn without picking up his shod hoof. He could easily brush two giggling girls off his back by suddenly going under a limb.
He thought nothing of going the other way when he saw me come over the horizon with a halter.
I loved it when he breathed in my face. His breath was sweet smelling. On rainy days I would go out to the barn and lay on his back in the stall and read, and listen to the rain on the roof.
Once coming down an asphalt road in the rain he slipped and went to his knees. I jumped off, thinking he might go clear down, but he stopped, struggled to his feet and glared at me as if he were insulted that I thought he might actually fall with me on his back.
That's all. I just wanted to introduce you. He was a good and loyal friend.
I just thought you should know each other.
Horse sweat is second only to the scent of baking bread. Thanks for introducing us.
ReplyDeleteAlice
I had a couple of horses in my childhood. The one I remember most was Jessie. She was an arabian mare, and the gentlest thing. When I was 9 or 10, and had rough days at school (most of them), I would go out to the pasture and crawl up on her back and just lay back on her broad hips, looking up at the sky, while she grazed contentedly. No bridle or saddle needed.
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