Not wanting to hike all that way out to them, I whistled for Abby, and then unlatched the green gate and stepped into the pasture to wait for her arrival. The trough had overflowed and there was quite a bit of mud on the ground. I was figuring out a way to negotiate it when I looked up and realized that all five horses, not just Abby, were thundering my way! They'd heard that whistle and come running, hoping for a treat!
Now, I don't mind being surrounded by horses at all, but when five are stampeding your way with food on their minds, it's a good idea to be wary. I put my hand out and said, "Whoa" and Hokey and Trouble, who were in the lead, slid to a halt and sidled up to me, poking their noses out, searching for a treat.
Diablo, the herd alpha came in behind them, and that started some ear pinning and milling about. I thought it best to get out of the middle of that, so I slipped back through the gate, barely beating Trouble who thought he should accompany me.
Of course, then their heads were stretching over the gate, hoping, hoping, hoping for a nibble.
Abby always gets the first, the last, and the best treats. She knows it, and so do the other horses. She was behind them, standing by the trough, watching me intently. As soon as I stepped in her direction, she began nickering softly - my favorite sound that she makes.
She got two big carrots and then I gave everybody a sugar cube. (Hokey cracks me up - he does not know how to take a treat from your palm. He makes clumsy, sloppy, lipping motions trying to grab the snack!)
A long draught from the tank before heading back out into the field for the evening.
From the left: Hokey, Trouble, Diablo, Abby, and Mason.
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