I traveled back in time as winter days make me do. I remembered when Dad still lived and the valley was full of horses, tiny horses. I remembered the dreams. I revisited photos of dreams put away.
I remembered the time almost strangers held an entire herd while we came to retrieve them. Miniature horse ownership requires "child proofing". Pasture that held large stock does not necessarily hold small stock. They could walk under some places and just keep going.
We thought we had mini-proofed the place but sooo not so!!! Royce, my herd stallion, found the one place we did not think about. A water gate that held back full sized stock did not even slow this guy down. He had a mission of moving his herd and he kept on. Down the ditch to the water gate on the far side of the large pond he led. They followed. Traveling the ditch they reached highway 58 then proceeded down 58 to 69 highway to the town of Sage.
This happened before dawn on a Sunday morning or the ending would not be so great.
Six AM phone call woke us with a "Do you have miniature horses?" Yes, we do, several. "The neighbors and I have herded them into my yard from the highway. We're keeping them safe."
Several miles by highway and an hour later we arrive with a stock trailer. We lead Royce into the trailer. The herd followed as a true herd will. In goes Betty, Flo, Buford, Lucy, Fancy, Tracer and Fay with all the foals. Easy Peasy! Thanks to the kindness of neighbors and the grape vine our horses came home safely.
I believe I was born to be a horse owner, any size or kind, but things change as they always do and life goes on.
Dad's gone. The horses are gone. The valley never changes but the actions within are always different. Mother Nature tends to the beauty and we are in charge of the chaos.
