Tex Melts my Heart

I managed to get out of work a few minutes early so I could get home before dark and help Brett move the horses into the barn.  The sky was dark and cloudy when I pulled in the driveway, and a cold breeze made me shiver and pull my jacket tighter as I walked to the house from the garage.  I put on my heavy jacket and warm work gloves before going back outside to help Brett.  He had the stalls set up with hay already so we headed straight to the pasture.

The horses knew what was up.  They always do.

Lucy and Pistol were at their gate, waiting.  Pistol stood quietly while Lucy paced and banged the gate with her chest.  When I went into the pasture with her halter, she resisted moving back, and she didn't want to lower her head for the halter.  Oh, boy, I thought.  This is going to be interesting.  Sure enough, I had to remind her with each step -- I kid you not, each. step. -- to behave.  She looked sideways at the posts Brett put in for the new bridge (which she could see from her pasture).  She thought it would be best to side pass over the bridge while giving it the hairy eyeball.  And she kept trying to stick her head ten feet in the air.  Sheesh.  Not fun.  Walking Lucy in a cold breeze is not easy.

On the other hand...

Tex and Flash were also waiting by their gate.  Tex stood about 20 feet back and waited for me.  He dropped his nose into the halter and then as I reached for the buckle, he jerked his head up and away.  I realized that my gloved hand was pulling on his mane without me realizing it.  I apologized, let go of the mane, and he immediately relaxed.  I took off my glove to reach into my pocket for a cookie and as my hand came back out, Tex dipped his nose and wiggled his nose on my sleeve.  It was such a sweet gesture; so friendly and trusting and not at all pushy.  It feels like he has crossed another comfort line -- he knows he can touch me (respectfully) and that seems to have made something okay in his brain that wasn't okay before.  He is more confident and comfortable approaching me, and he is more relaxed when I work with him.

Of course, he walked to the barn on a loose lead like a perfect gentleman.

When the Sun Shines

We've had a brief respite from the rain.  Clouds are moving back in, and the wet stuff will return tomorrow afternoon.  But, we had a wonderful weekend of sunshine.  All of the animals were doing this:

Brett and I did the morning chores in our heavy coats and warm hats, ate our breakfast, and then headed back outside.  By 10 am we didn't need jackets or hats anymore.  I worked in the garden and groomed the horses in a sweatshirt.  Brett finished up the chicken run reinforcement.

I think we hit 53F.

Brett's next project is rebuilding the bridge that crosses our largest stream, giving us access to the girls' pasture and the compost piles.  Brett needs to be able to get his tractor and truck over there to work on cutting up the tree that fell into the girls' pasture.  So, the bridge has become priority one.  Yesterday, he was busy buying supplies. He was telling me about his bridge plans last night -- as is typical, the bridge will be strong, sturdy and plenty large.  I'm thinking a semi will be able to rumble across when he's done.