Friends

     Twenty-two degrees today. Wind speed of zero, crisp clean air, and the sun’s gift of warmth surrounding the earth. Like cats in a sunspot, the horses soak up the rays while lying down in the reflective snow. Just peering out the window at them brings me to a place of quiet inside myself. They are perfect role models on how to live a peaceful, active life.
     Today after spreading several flakes of hay as a noon snack for my five beauties, I brought out the bucket of grooming supplies and set it on the ground next to me. I just stood watching these incredible mares enjoying their hay when Willow, our 29 year old chestnut surprised me. With a mouthful of green sprigs dangling from her lips, she picked up her head, turned on her hindquarters, and purposefully ambled over to me. After giving her a peppermint from my pocket, I assumed she’d turn right around and go back to her hay. They rarely leave their hay for any reason. However, she stayed. She stood shoulder to shoulder with me and rested a hind leg, inviting me to “be” with her. I picked Willow’s favorite curry comb from the bucket and began to groom her. She contorted her neck, closed her eyes, and let out a contagious sigh. After a few minutes of this I realized that standing behind me nudging my elbow with her perfect black muzzle was Scarlet! She wanted to be next! I turned my attention to Scarlet and began to scratch her ears as Willow walked away and went back to eating. As I curried Scarlet’s velvet neck and rib cage for several minutes, who showed up behind my back, but Grace! Laughing out loud, I began to curry Grace’s lean red back and hindquarters. She, in turn, started grooming Scarlet’s neck with her lips and teeth. Scarlet returned the favor by helping me groom Graces neck. We had become a triangle of “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” This is what friends do. After this joyful interaction ended, I walked away smiling. I’m pretty sure my mares were smiling too.



Scarlet, Grace, and Willow last summer