James wanted to go on a walkabout. He stopped when we came out of the little feeding barn, turned his body away from his pasture and looked toward the other barns and pens. “Okay, buddy. It’s your walkabout. I’ll let you lead.” I draped the lead rope over his back just behind his withers and gestured for him to take the lead. Even in something as simple as a walkabout, I love giving a horse a chance to have choices, to make decisions, to have a voice. James has certainly earned it. He has a lifetime of experience. James is a discerning wise elder now. He also has two swirls side by side high on his forehead- but that’s for another story.
James begins his walkabout by journeying across the dirt parking area and up to the pens. I love observing which pens he stops at and which ones he walks right past. Some of the horses he wants to say hello to, going muzzle to muzzle with for a moment. Other horses he has no interest in greeting at all. After some brief socializing, he goes around to the back of our two barns, spooks at a horse’s fly sheet hanging on the fence, snorts, and then moves on to greet a horse in turnout. With no interest in going into either barn, he turns around and walks back the way he came. As he draws near the scary flysheet on the fence, he gives it a wide birth. His ears are pricked forward to focus on the monster and his body caves away from it as he walks by.
Passing by the pens again, not stopping to say hello to anyone this time, he picks up his pace. He’s on a mission. He heads across the parking area and toward the driveway. I take hold of his lead rope, and place my hand on his back. We walk together down the driveway. He knows this driveway very well. It leads to walks along the dirt road, out to the fields where we’d trot and canter, and over to the paths for our trail rides. But today he’s just going out to find some good eats! At the end of the driveway he turns right, walks for another couple of minutes, and then stops at the first fresh alfalfa plant he finds. Score! Horses love alfalfa, and James starts happily munching on the fresh stuff.
“Isn’t this nice?”
He’s talking about all of it. Not just the tasty alfalfa, but the whole moment. It was just before sunset.
“It’s a beautiful evening, no bugs, and we get to be together. I like this simple and peaceful time with you.”
It was quiet. I was the only person still at the barn and there were not any cars driving by on the dirt road. The birds sang their evening songs. The herd was visible in the distance as I took in the beautiful evening light showing off the clouds in a ray of splendor. I listened to the sound of James munching. Horse people know that there is nothing simple about owning a horse. But, horses offer an unmatched simplicity when we slow ourselves down and just be with them. Just simply being with them while they graze on some alfalfa at sunset.
I was taking it all in when James piped into my thoughts to amuse me. He finds humor in the play on words. It’s his version of a good joke:
“These flowers are pretty. They taste pretty good, too!”
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