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Here’s a short story you might like about one of our horses and his
antics yesterday. My daughter got home from work and noticed all the
horses were lined up and staring over the fence at the hay field behind the
house. Wondering what had them so captivated she walked to the back in
the snow in sneakers and spotted a figure running around like a wild man.
On further investigation she recognized Nate.
He spotted her at the same time and came running at her like
a frightened 1600 lb freight train. She held out her
hand, but he didn't stop. Instead, he cruised past her and decided it
would be a better idea to do a few laps around her house. There's no
fencing around the house and the neighbor's hay field isn’t fenced either.
So, Plan B, she went and opened the gates leading into the barn area, grabbed a
lead rope and some Stud Muffins and headed back out.
By now Nate had found a small patch of grass under the snow on the
lawn and decided to graze. She was able to get the lead rope around his
neck, give him a treat and drag his goofy butt into the barn. He couldn’t
understand why no one else was in and started calling for his friends. So
now it was a mad dash to set up the barn for feed time and get the rest of the
herd in with frozen, soaking wet sneakers and work clothes on. She was
not amused. Well, actually, she kinda was. It was pretty funny once
everything calmed down.
You see, this is what happened: Nate hasn’t really jumped out of
anywhere but the indoor since last Spring. Nate doesn’t like the indoor
and on that day she let him wander around in there hoping to get him used to
it. He was doing fine and then suddenly spooked at nothing and came
charging towards the doors, which had a rope across the opening at about four
feet. Beautiful jumping form, by the way, and stuck the
landing. But I digress. We have a run-in shed in the corner of the
catch pen and it has a dirt ramp going up into it. Well, it seems that
somehow Nate must have lost his footing on this ramp which was snowy and icy,
and wiped out. With his legs out from under him, he must have landed just right
and somehow slid right between the two fence posts and knocked out one of the
bottom fence boards (they're PVC) went under the fence and popped right out on
the other side of the fence into the hay field. How he did this is beyond
us. Nate is 17.3 hands and pretty long head to tail. I’m guessing
he’s about 9-10 feet in entirety; the fence section is eight feet. There was a
big horsey snow-angel body print on the outside of the fence. Only Nate
could have managed this. As I’ve said before, whenever we do any thing on
the farm the first question asked is, “how can Nate get into trouble here?” We
never imagined this scenario. Now we know...
Luckily, he only had a few tiny scrapes on
his head and rump. Even luckier he didn’t run out into the road. I
think once you realize they’re unharmed and safely in the barn you can laugh
about stuff like this, but at the time you’re dealing with it things can get a
little tense.
Until next time
Quote
for Today
How do you catch a loose horse?
Make a noise like a carrot.
- British Cavalry joke
Make a noise like a carrot.
- British Cavalry joke
By the time I read 'horsey snow-angel body print', I was laughing out loud!! Oh dear Nate, obviously doesn't do things by halves! Glad he wasn't hurt. And so thoughtful, calling for his friends to join him ;o) Love the quote, by the way :D
ReplyDeleteI don't think he'll forget this for a while and I hope he doesn't try to recreate his snow-angel anytime soon.
DeleteWow - Nate's a Houdini!
ReplyDeleteLoose horse situations are very stressful. I always have a little wcs movie running in the back of my mind as I'm rounding them up. So glad all ended well!!
Me too, I'm just glad he didn't run down the road.
DeleteIt's amazing the trouble they can get into - but Nate seems to have a special skill set!
ReplyDeleteYes, he's very special.
DeleteNate sounds wonderful - and silly and tiresome and wonderful! So glad he was unharmed! Your poor daughter and her wet, freezing shoes. Ugh, we've all been there! Horrible, but happy to have a safe horse.
ReplyDeleteOne time when I was in middle school at a lesson barn we were all circling in the indoor. A small pony was in our lesson and we were cantering around and suddenly this pony, "Tiny Tot" jumped over the high chain at the one end of the indoor! My instructor was so calm and never missed a beat as she said to equally tiny rider, "Hang on - aren't you glad you learned to jump last week!" My mom still talks about that day! Your Nate sounds like he pulled a Tiny Tot trick out of the indoor, but his slip, drop and roll this time was all his own!
I only mentioned the indoor incident because we didn't think he would have jumped out of the paddock and couldn't figure out how he got on the other side of the fence. I love the instructors fast comeback to the tiny rider that's priceless. We once boarded at a farm where they had a pony jump over the door out of his stall and take a tour. Ponies are very entertaining!
DeleteHoudini!
ReplyDeleteHe's definitely a character.
DeleteWhat a great story! If you'd been there to see it, chances are you'd have a few (more ?) grey hairs. :) This is exactly why every morning before I head off to work, I offer up a prayer for our horse's protection and safety...God knows, I don't want to know what goes on when we're not home!! I wonder what went through Nate's mind when he popped up on the other side of the fence...too funny!
ReplyDeleteI don't think any amount of praying would help this horse. He needs to be bubble wrapped from head to toe!
DeleteWow, never a dull moment with Nate doing the limbo under the fence and snow angels to show off before heading for a frozen haydaquiri. Next thing you know, he'll be hitting the cash machine and heading to the race track to free his friends to join the party at your house.
ReplyDeleteNot a bad idea, actually.
You know, I can see him doing that! Thanks for the laugh.
Deletep.s. - just scrolled down to your post about each horse - Nate's comments were prophetic!
ReplyDeleteHe's one of a kind.
DeleteWow - I was reading along laughing and then came the sliding under/through the fence part - my goodness, Nate! That he ended up in a hay field just cements the story. Are you sure he didn't take a running start and do this on purpose, like one of those slip n' slide things parents set up for kids in the summer? I am so glad he is okay - what a thing to come home to!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it was purely accidental. He does silly things like this all the time. He's just a big goofy guy with no self survival skills. My guess is if he was in the wild he'd be the first one eaten.
ReplyDeleteNaughty Nate! Nate should never meet Dudley. Dudley used to escape all the time. A couple of times, he even led the whole herd over to the neighbor's house! (He hasn't escaped lately though, maybe because he's not in the Diet Pen).
ReplyDelete- The Equestrian Vagabond
Probably a good idea to keep them apart. No telling what they'd get into if they put their heads together.
DeleteThat is impressive, Nate!
ReplyDeleteI'll pass that along to him. He loves praise!
DeleteNow that takes talent!
ReplyDeleteThanks, he's been taking bows all day.
DeleteOh boy! First of all, I am so glad he's fine and none the worse for wear. I had to giggle when he decided to go for a gallop around the house. What a character! I remember when he jumped out of the arena too.
ReplyDeleteWell, at least he got some exercise for the day. We're glad he was alright too. A loose horse by a road can get your heart racing.
ReplyDeleteEverybody should have a Nate. My Boys take turns filling his shoes here, although it's mostly Tucker and Chance. Every time something like Nate's adventure happens here I laugh afterwards too. It can be scary when it's happening but what a great story it becomes later.
ReplyDeleteJust like this one!
I do like your detective work at figuring out how he actually got out, even if it was impossible.
I guess it just goes to show you that nothing's fool proof to Nate.
DeleteOh dear! Very funny, but it could so easily have been a disaster! But then that's horses for you, isn't it!
ReplyDeleteOnce you get over being scared you can laugh about it. He's a funny horse.
DeleteWow, what a character - now that's a horse with personality! Great pictures of Mr. Handsome.
ReplyDeleteHe is quite a character. He keeps us on our toes and laughing at his antics...most days.
DeleteVery pretty horse and nice color!:)
ReplyDeleteThank you Tiia.
DeleteHoly cow! He's a stinker, isn't he?!
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea the trouble this guy can get into!
ReplyDelete