Brrrrrr….

Well – it’s here  – winter has arrived with a vengeance as the thermometer dips to a “brisk” minus 25C for the first time this year.

As I was driving home I planned my evening – chores first as always and try to wrestle a heavy winter blanket onto a 1200ish pound twitchy horse whilst not getting stepped on- trampled on or kicked and I sighed. I will persevere.

To the barn I jubilantly shouted in my head and off I went with grain buckets in hand slipping and sliding with a full wheel barrow of hay. Grain fed – hay fed  – hay prepped for morning feed and stalls mucked/raked and cleaned. Time to wrestle the blanket on in the dark with numb fingers onto a horse who hates blankets. Born and raised in a posh gaming barn in Ohio – used to pampering and cushiness I worried how my ponies will survive this first deep freeze.

And then I saw my beloved Trigger – tip toeing along on the hard frozen ground with no cushion which smacked me in the face with the harsh reality – it could his last winter.

I am actually hoping for snow- it will cushion his feet and he will be happier and it will be easier to move around. He has a thick thick coat of beautiful golden hair. I have never seen a horse put on such a coat. Testimony of his life outdoors. Who am I kidding?? he will probably outlive me!!!

Trigger is 24ish we think… hard to confirm – many “experts” have tried to guess his age using the age old technique of looking at his teeth and he is either 10 or in his 20’s. My guess is in his 20’s. He is belligerent and cranky and typical old man prickish. God I love that horse.

As I have just come in after night check and a couple of flakes of hay ‘just in case’ – I sat with him while Rippy slept off his glut of hay in the barn – and relished the bond that we have. I sat on the edge of the feeder while he munched and I scratched him in those places he cannot reach under the stars – it is so crisp and clear out tonight and prayed that he will will make it through the winter -for purely selfish reasons of course – that I am simply not ready for him to leave me.

The horse people will understand that it is rare to form a forever bond with a horse.You can love every horse you own. Every one of them – but once in a lifetime – there is just that one who touches your heart. You know ever movement – every twitch of the tail – every nuance of the breathing. You trust that animal completely and fully – knowing that he or she will keep you safe. You would sell your soul to keep them happy – to keep them pain free and safe. You can climb on them – trust your families young children to yell and pull at him while he or she patiently stands there and know that it does not matter because they are safe.

I sat there for a bit – checked on Rippy and went back for another hug and breathed in his scent and warmed my hands under his blanket and he bopped me in the head with his nose telling to leave him alone – do you not know I am eating here!

We call them bomb proof, beginner friendly or husband horse.

I call him my best friend.