Firefly's adventure last night

[kigerfan]

Last night at about eleven thirty pm, Firefly figured a way out of her stall. I knew she was out immediately. I was wearing nothing but a long Tshirt, but I ran right out the front door and over to the gravel driveway, knocked on my hubby's window in passing to let him know she was out, then ran barefoot down the gravel driveway to the front gate to close it. As soon as I had it closed, I immediatly turned around and ran back back up the gravel driven to where the stall is, I stopped and grabbed a couple of treats, her rope halter and her leadrope. My hubby went and got in his truck and went to the back of the property so that he could backlight her with his headlights so I could see her. As soon as I was able to see her, I called her to me. She heard my voice and immediately turned towards me (she looks at me kind of as her safe place ever since I chased five dogs away from her that were biting her). I kept calling "I'm here little girl" so she could follow my voice. As soon as she had me pinpointed, she ran at me at a full gallop. I put my hand out in a stop command and as she got to me she stopped right at my hand. She was animated and prancing in place and snorting. I gave her one of the treats and slipped her halter on her. Then began soothing her and petting her and letting her know everything was alright. Once my hubby had his truck parked, he came up too and was petting and soothing. She calmed right down and followed me calmly back up to the stall. We took her up into the light of the porch to make sure she wasn't hurt, then I tied her in the light and fixed the area where she'd made her escape. She watched me curiously while I worked and when I was done, I retrieved her and walked with her back into her stall. She let out a relieved little snufflemoan and you could see that she was happy to be back in her area. I gave her about a half a flake of bermuda grass which she contentedly munched on. I checked on her a few times before I went to bed and she was fine. One thing that she had in the lower stall area that she didn't have in the top one was a solid piece of something attached to a stall panel that she used as a security blanket. She has that up here now too. I think maybe what was going on was there was a whole pack of coyotes that had gotten on the property and they were running all around out there. I think that made her uneasy and she wanted to get away. Just a guess. Anyhow, alls well, she's her normal happy spunky self today and for the last week or so, her favorite daytime hang out and rest place is right next to the sliding glass door. She likes looking in and when just the screen door is closed, she can hear everything that's going on inside. I think she really likes that, it makes her feel much closer to us.

You want to feel a bit uncomfy and exposed, go running around in the dark searching for a horse with nothing on but a tshirt. This is decidedly not on my top ten list of fun things to do.

[angelsdream]

WOW - sounds like an adventure for sure....and oh how scary. Are coyotes common in your area? you may want to look into getting a burro or jack or something that will chase them away. I've heard they could be some pretty fierce little protectors. I'm glad all is well with you and firefly - hopefully no one got you on video running around in your t-shirt!! hee Keep a eye on america's funniest home video's!!

[DianneC]

I think you may be right about the coyotes. A horsey type companion might make her more comfortable. The need for a herd is strong in these horses.

[kigerfan]

I'm watching her tonight and she's much calmer with her 'security blanket' back hanging on her stall. I think it gives her somewhat of a feeling of protection.

If someone taped me running around in my tshirt, they'd have to have done it with an infra red camera otherwise they'd get a whole lot of black screen. I was never at any point lit up by anything, that's why Firefly needed to follow my voice to get to me

Right now, with this economy, we're just hanging on by our toenails, (I think we'll not cut them for a few weeks so we can get a better grip) So I can't afford another beasty right now. When I can, Firefly is guaranteed to have a baby to raise.
I'm getting ready to go out and give her her final treat and smooch for the night. She loves muzzle smooches and she just about falls over when I softly rub the insides of her nostrils.

[kigerfan]

Oh, and yes, coyotes are very common in our area, however the coyotes here are a might on the small side, seemingly just a little above the size of a common fox. I saw a whole mess of them last night. I don't mind them really because they do work to keep down the rodent population and we have LOTS of rodents. They'd never bother Firefly, she's too big, they have too much smaller prey by far on the property and they are very very timid creatures.

Where my other horses were, there were lots of coyotes and they were very used to each other, in fact, I saw coyotes all the time in the day time, they would just keep a 'safe' distance from me and keep going. No fear.

[kigerfan]

One thing I've done with Firefly that is fun and had really bonded her to me is I go on food searches around the property. She and I basically forage together. I find tastey little morsels and show them to her and while she eats, I 'stand guard'. We also play a lot. She'll wait until I'm a good distance away and then she will run towards me and as she goes by, she will buck and well..... release excess air within her system. I have taught her not to buck near enough to me to be dangerous, she bucks at least six to seven feet away at her closest point. She knows my personal space. At points, I run and she will run right next to me and I stop and snort and stomp and such. It's really pretty fun and funny. Then after we've had fun playing, we take a little while to just stand and rest together. She might lay down and roll near me and then I will rub her neck and muzzle and nostrils and such. She knows I go into the house after a while and she will stand and rest right next to the glass door on one side, or right next to my husband's window on the other side. If she comes up, she will always be talked to and she will hang her head and rest her foot and let her eyes droop.

[nrly]

am glad she and you are safe and sound, I understand the running out with just your pj's on...
Stormy saw her first coyote the other day when she and Jim were out riding, she hated it, she snorted that loud one, and her neck arched, but she calmed down when Jim spoke to her, and kept touching her...

[fantasykiger]

Having an only horse, it is so wonderful that you can take the time and do spend so much time with her until she can create her own partner. Though a couple buddy sour horses is whole other set of complications you have no worries about