Who's That??

I finally got out to the barn this afternoon. Abby was so happy to see me - I got lots of those nickers she does that melt my heart, and she hung out with me at the gate for quite a while. I didn't go in the pasture - it's in the fifties so the snow has all melted and mud is everywhere.

My beautiful mare was caked!

Mason and Hokey were out being ridden by Mason's owners, and Tim was saddling up Diablo and Trouble for himself and Brandon to ride. Abby was fine without her herdmates, but Dolly was nervous, pacing and whinnying, then standing still, listening, and repeating the cycle.

Abby ignored her. Until...

Dolly turned to the south and nickered to Mason and Hokey who were down on the trail behind the woods and coming into sight. Before she was done, a whinney was returned. Abby popped her head up in surprise, turning to look in the direction of the other neigh, and Dolly stood stock still, staring at where the whicker had seemed to originate.

She neighed again, with the same response. Something about it struck me as a bit odd. Then Abby nickered in the same direction, getting a similar response, only the nicker was higher pitched than the previous response. In fact, it sounded like...

Abby.

It was an echo! The girls' neighs were echoing back to them, and they were a bit confused. Abby figured it out after a second neigh and returned to hanging out with me, but I don't think Dolly ever did. She even gave a squeal and a little buck, and then trotted a few yards to a different spot where she neighed again. But her change in position meant there was no more echo.

Abby contented herself by staying by my side, having her ears and throat scratched, and crunching a bunch of candy canes. (Minty fresh breath on a horse is nice, but I prefer the sweet smell of hay. Abby's vote, though, is most definitely for candy canes!)