Yesterday taught me a huge lesson.
When you think your life is idyllic... keep your mouth shut...
because it just might be an invitation for chaos to move right in!
Yesterday morning, early, we headed up to the upper pasture to bring in the horses.
They had been out for the night in their grazing muzzles,
and it was time to come back to the barn before the insects started to get annoying.
We walked up through the fields to get the horses...
since no one had yet made their way down to the gate.
As we clipped lead ropes to halters, I noticed that Donnie Brasco
was standing next to the fence with his head down by his feet.
"I think he's stuck on the fence!" I exclaimed to Jack.
Jack ran over to see... and found that Donnie was indeed stuck...
but not to the fence.
Somehow, during the night... presumably while trying to remove his halter....
he had gotten his foot stuck inside his halter...
essentially tying his face to his foot.
And there he stood for God knows how long.
I was distraught.
Jack got him untangled and began walking him back through the field.
Donnie was slow and stiff, but not in any great distress.
Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, Scarlet (Donnie's sister) came running over...
screaming...
and turned her back towards Donnie and began violently kicking.
Unfortunately, Jack was between Donnie and Scarlet and took the full force of the kicks
on his butt and right hamstring muscle.
I was completely dumbfounded as all of this drama unfolded.
Luckily, Jack is all right.... a little sore and bruised, but, generally unhurt.
I took Donnie by the lead, while Jack calmed Scarlet down and got her on lead.
He stayed behind with her while I walked Donnie back to the barn.
Apparently it is instinctual herd behavior to try to destroy the weak.
An injured or sick horse can hold the herd back and make them easier prey,
so they try to get rid of the weak.
It's a survival instinct... and a very strong one.
Donnie is now living with the donkey girls while his swollen and sore fetlock has a chance to heal.
He is on dry-lot rest and anti-inflammatories and lots of doses of love.
Meanwhile, bitchy Scarlet stands guard by the fence.... shouting terroristic threats
through the boards at Donnie.
I can only imagine what she's saying to him... and I don't believe it is very nice.
It seems Miss Scarlet has appointed herself to be protector of the herd.
Jack's still waiting for an apology.
I gained a few more grey hairs through this ordeal...
and Jack is officially a horse man.
Yesterday was his initiation.
As for my little Heaven... yesterday made it seem a little more like Hell.
Temporarily.
On a lighter note...
the ducks are officially out and about!
Comments
Eyes in the back of your head will be needed around Scarlet for a while.
Love the geese. Have you named them?
Looks like the ducks are happy campers..Jack may have to wait a long time for that apology ;)
Hope things calm and the Bee Haven normalacy returns!