Sage and Eleanor, choosing each other, eight years ago
My horse constantly surprises me. Perhaps it is for the simple reason of keeping me on my toes and letting me know that I do not know it all.
I was sweetly reminded of that yesterday, just two days after blogging about how Sage usually resisted leaving the herd, could definitely be called herd-bound, and seemed to usually prefer the company of horses over mine (see Herd Is A Four Letter Word).
Well, I arrived at the barn Wednesday, a beautiful and sunny autumn afternoon, not expecting anything different. However, as soon as Sage saw me she gave out a little whinny welcome and didn’t walk but trotted up to see me with enthusiasm. Normally she walks up to me but sometimes she will just look and then go back to eating until I walk up to her. I have never had to “catch” her or walk after her or use treats to get her, but since settling into this herd I have felt sometimes like the outsider.
What a lovely, profound thought that she perceived this somehow. Or maybe it was just purely coincidence.
In any case, she walked all the way back to the barn with me, away from the herd, only slowing down to belt out one loud whinny, calling to her mare friend River. Another surprise, River came away from the rest of the group to join up with us. The two geldings remained with their noses in the grass and blackberry bushes.
I felt like Sage had called out to River saying, “hey, come on, this is our herd leader right now, and we don’t want to let her down”.
I guess when you give up needing what you can’t have, it might just come to you when you least expect it.