""I had to make supper and that included picking the beans and then ..."
"We had a sudden influx of peaches and they had to be cut for drying and we have four driers and no one wanted to help and..."
"Horses suddenly appeared in my backyard"
I don't officially have homework for art, but my afternoon was interrupted by horses appearing in my backyard.
Filled with wonder and delight, I went out to see them, to see if I could get a glimpse of any identifying marks, and to hopefully figure out a way to encourage them to stay.
I was about 10 feet away when I realized it might have been wise to bring something to halter the horses if I managed to actually get close to them. This in itself was a little doubtful as they looked to be stallions.
Still, if I could... A cursory glance around showed little. There was a thin orange twine nearby, but it looked like it would be uncomfortable for the horse. As I debated, I slowly pulled at it, and meeting resistance nixed the idea at once.
I then pulled up some grass. Perhaps they would take something from my hand.
by now, our next door neighbours, (N.1) had shown up, as well as more children. I grew a little nervous as to how the horses would react to so many strangers.
Then the dog belonging to N.1 also finally got around to noticing that there were strange creatures in the yard next to hers, and began barking.
That, and perhaps my close presence, was a little too much for the horses. One of them decided to amble off towards the road. "All for one," the rest followed, although the last horse came first to me, and took the grass I proffered.
He then let me walk along beside him, holding his mane. I began to debate as to whether or not I should try to mount the horse. It had been three years since I had last done so. I was afraid of spooking him further. At the same time, they were heading off, and I didn't know how much I could keep up with them if they decided to go faster.
It was at that point the group of children and N.1 thought that perhaps loud noise would scare them away from the road. The horses reacted by going faster. I tried quickly to mount, failed, and ran along, grasping the mane. As they broke out into a trot, I let go, afraid I would fall else.
At this point I began to run alongside. A neighbour who works across the street and has horses had been called (N.2). I knew that the horses needed some sort of supervision. So I ran, feet slapping on the rough tarmac.
A neighbour (N.3) along the street called out, "lovely horses." Shooting past her, I answered, "Yes, ma'am."
Then N.2 caught up with us in a little cart. He was trying to herd them around just as a mini-van came around the corner. The horses spooked even more, and broke into a run.
I quickly dropped behind, and fearing I could do little, started walking back. I stopped to talk with N.3, who told me the horses had indeed come from the direction they were now running in.
Seeing N.1 drive by in his Rabbit, I took off to try and tell him the news. He stopped, let me in, and we drove to find that the cart had gotten caught in a ditch and the horses had stopped next to a retired chicken farmer and his field.
Another neighbour (N.4) had driven in after talking to N.2, and was keeping watch.
I went slowly up and tried to make friends again. N.2. told me to try and open the gate nearby. It proved to be padlocked with a rusty lock. So, I stood there, trying to keep them calm. They let me stand among them, and feed them a little, and pet them, but largely ignored me.
N.2, went and talked to the chicken farmer, and found out that there was another gate open around the barn. He asked me to try and lead them. That didn't work so much.
Then the one who had led the others towards the road (perhaps the mastermind of the breakout?) decided to move. He went around the barn and straight into the pasture of his own accord, leading the other "Musketeers."
After they settled a bit, N. 2 asked me to check the fence for apertures. Sure enough there was one on the far corner, where termites had felled a couple of fence posts. So I took up guard and watched them from a distance.
In the meantime, N.2 went off with N.1 and his son to try to find the owner. While they were gone, neighbours of the chicken farmer (N.5), came over with some boards and nails, and propped up the fence posts.
It wasn't long before they returned with the news that they thought they had found the owner, at work, but being notified by his father.
Horses secured, owner found, we went home.
No comments:
Post a Comment