So I’m coming to you from the house with the creaky doors.

That’s what I’m calling it.

Every door here creaks when it is opening or closing.

EeeeeEeeeeuph.  EeeeeeeEEEuph.

I feel like I’m in a haunted, new house.

ENOUGH TIME HAS PASSED

Anyway, so today was the day!  I felt that enough time had passed where the horses felt safe in their new, little pastures… and that it was time to release them into the huge 5+ acre pasture.

So, I fed them… and as they were eating (so they would be preoccupied and not too excitable), I opened the gate to the huge pasture.

Me (triumphantly):  Look horsies, a huuuuge pasture for you to frolic!

Them (mouths full):  We’re fine, thank you.

Me:  Huh?  Look, a new pasture!!

Them:  Looks scary, no thanks.  We’d rather eat.

And so it was.  Anti-climatic.

SO, I WAITED A FEW HOURS…

So, I waited a few hours and went back outside.

The entire herd was standing in the corner of their primary pasture, staring at the newly opened gate.

Me:  Well….  go on.

Them:  No.  It looks scary.  There are no trees.  It is too open.  A mountain lion could get us.

Me:  Or not… maybe you would have a good time in there!

Them:  Or a mountain lion would eat us…

Me:  OK, then follow me (as I marched myself through the open gate)

They all followed…

FROLIC AND THEN… run and tag homebase!

So, they played ‘follow the leader’ and faithfully fell into step behind me as I walked through the gate and into the abyss.

“Et Voila!” I exclaimed!

Finn took off running and circled the entire pasture.

The others huddled near the gate.

Me:  Wassamatter u?

Them:  There is no cover.  We will be eaten.  We’ve read about this in National Geographic.

Me:  You won’t be eaten.  There are no mountain lions.  There are only grapes and grape harvesting machines.  No mountain lions.  Hey, look, there is a bunny!

Them:  A HORSE EATING BUNNY?!

Me:  No.  A bunny.  They eat what you eat.

Them:   We see teeth.

SO THIS IS HOW IT WENT…

I spent 30 minutes out there with them.  Finn, BG and Wrig would run one way – and them come back to home base.

Gwen would trail behind.  (It is sad to me to see her aging.  Gwen was the first baby born here and I cannot believe that she was 21 this year…)

Finn would get a wild hair and they’d circle the pasture again – and then tag home.

Each time I went to check on them, they were all in the homebase pasture.

Oy.

THE MUSTANGS

I looked over at the mustangs who are all sharing a one acre pasture.

Mustangs (Remi, Rojo and Sam):  We’ll go.  We aren’t afraid.  Let us go!

Me:  Well, I cannot get you there unless you don’t fight with Finn.

Rojo:  I’ll kick his domestic rump!

Me:  That’s what I feared.

Rojo:  Just kidding… C’mon, let us into that pasture.  It is wasted on those domestics!

Me:  I’ll think on that.  Ro, will you kick both Finn and Wrigley.

Rojo:  Yes.

Me.  Uh huh.  OK.  Thanks for your honesty.

Secretly, I thought the Mustangs were right.  They deserved to be in the huge pasture.  They could take care of themselves and had no real fear – they were simply discerning.

Tomorrow that will be my goal.  Integrate Rojo with Finn and Wrigley – and then stand back.  They’ve been across the fence from each other for years…

AND SO IT WAS.

At feeding time tonight, the tiny freedom herd was all back up into the security pasture – in a tight little unit.  Sigh.

We’ll see what happens overnight and tomorrow.

But, for sure, I’m going to give the Mustangs a whirl at it.

JULY BUCKET FUND GELDING:  (In my haste to get his story out yesterday, I made an error.  He doesn’t need gelding surgery… but he does need major care and, hopefully, transportation to a Mustang Sanctuary where he can live out his days in peace!)  To read his story, click here.  To donate (Starbucks?  Car change? ), click here!  Thank you so much for your support!