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Post by DianneC on Jul 5, 2011 10:11:44 GMT -5
It was an interesting night last night. The neighborhoods around the 12 acre pasture are not big homes, but someone must have money as they put on a two hour show with constant huge fireworks, the kind that go 200-300 feet in the air and make a huge deep boom that echos off the trees behind us when they go off. I stayed in the pasture with the horses to keep them calm. First the mares, Quil was most upset so rubbed her and then stood between them and the fireworks, just ignoring the noise and light. The mares settled at the far end of their pasture, with Rio and Sedona just across the fence. Blue was having a really hard time as he was by himself, so I went and "stood guard" in the middle of his pasture, which was closest to the fireworks. He kept coming out from the corner where he was most comfortable and making a circle close to me and going back. I thought at first that he wanted to be with me but was too scared. Finally I realized he was trying to get me to come be with him, so I did. We stood side by side for a long time watching as these huge things went off immediately behind his pasture. He would walk off or trot off when he got too nervous then circle back to stand by me. Then Blue started standing ahead of me, guarding me. I thought he was so brave!
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Post by Michelle Clarke on Jul 5, 2011 12:09:30 GMT -5
How cool and what a good momma you are! The only good thing with this stinken' drought here was a ban on the fireworks, so I did not have to stay out and watch everyone.
How sweet that Blue was protecting you!
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Post by nrly on Jul 5, 2011 15:06:09 GMT -5
that was so cool of them, and of you. I to am so thankful we too are in a drought, so not to much a problem here.
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Post by sbutter on Jul 5, 2011 20:59:00 GMT -5
You're such a good mom  That would have been an interesting photo of you with the horses and the fireworks. This year was quieter for us, so we didn't have to worry that much. I love hearing about your herd dynamics. |
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Post by lindad on Jul 5, 2011 21:28:38 GMT -5
Dianne, that is a beautiful story. Cool that you figured out that Blue was trying to herd you to his safe spot.
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Post by DianneC on Jul 5, 2011 23:38:49 GMT -5
It was scary for a while as Blue was looking for a place to jump the fence to go be with the other horses. Quil was a help at first, after I worked with her she came and grazed near us and everything was fine until the big boomers got started, then she left for the herd. I thought fireworks would never end, for two hours there was another blast about every ten seconds and the mosquitos were out! Blue is such a great guy. It took lots of tries on his part, at least 12 or more to get my attention and no ears or attitude at all. I learned the motion by watching Cedar with Prairie in the video I took of them. Cedar steps over to Prairie then turns and leaves. Prairie did a turn on a hind foot and followed. So I finally realized that was what Blue was doing. He was incredibly beautiful all worked up, but not careless about where he was going. And he has this quick trot that is so smooth. I was really proud of the change he made going from scared and running around to scared but calm and protective. We both learned something last night.
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Post by kimk on Jul 6, 2011 13:38:45 GMT -5
My horses so do not care about fireworks. Just another day to them. But then.... I live a long block from the reservation bounaries and they start in with fireworks on the 22nd of May. It won't stop until the middle of August then will begin again in December.
When I take anyone off to another pasture and the landowner asks me how they do with fireworks, I say they are immune!
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Post by lindad on Jul 6, 2011 23:12:29 GMT -5
Mine are not much bothered by fireworks, as we live in the land of lakes and they all have fireworks that go on for much of the summer. The boy next door is preparing his pig for fair and taking it for walks a every evening at our chore time, creating some nice photo poses as my Kigers freek out. I wish hubby had got a pic of Chica effortlessly jumping the 4'8'' fence because of the pig. Cola, the donkey, walked closer to get a better look at a safe distance, and Jerry the mule must have been raised around pigs as he has no fear and went right to the fence to investigate fully. Bolero just pranced, snorted and did his Antonio Bandaras impersonation. I'm confident that if I gave him a sword that bolero would brandish it.
Dianne, yours was a spiritual experience and magical opportunity. Mine was more like a comical side show.
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Post by lilnagy on Jul 6, 2011 23:28:15 GMT -5
We have neighbors who build bombs for the 4th. We were out at friends for the evening, and when I got home I went out to check on the horses. Every time one of them went off, Checotah ( our lead mare) would turn and bite Jim (the new guy) on the rump! She must have thought all the noise was his fault; I felt so sorry for him, each time scared by the noise, and then "chomp"! I caught Jim and put him in the corral by himself for the night. :-)
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That would have been an interesting photo of you with the horses and the fireworks. This year was quieter for us, so we didn't have to worry that much. I love hearing about your herd dynamics.
