Still Following Me

The horses are currently in the southeast paddock.

That means they know that I am there as soon as I swing my car into the lane and begin the drive up to the gate. See those heads popped up and looking my way? There's no sneaking up on them!

By the time I had parked and grabbed the carrots, the herd was waiting for me at the gate.

Abby always softly nickers at me as I approach; today was no different. I love that sweet sound.

A quick check showed that someone is still nibbling on her mane; in fact, her forelock is now gone, too.

 The herd dispersed when Abby finished her carrots and I headed back to my car.

 Abby was meandering to another spot in the pasture...

 ... when she looked up at me as I drove past.

 Suddenly, she began following my car as I drove down the lane.

 I was driving slowly so it was no problem for her to keep up,

 and when I stopped for a moment to make sure my camera was working right, she kept going.

 Suddenly she realized that I had stopped. To my great surprise...

... she turned around and came back.

 I was still in my car and had not called her to come.

But Abby is very people oriented; in fact, that is why I made the decision to buy her in 2012 when I really had not intended to buy a horse. She had followed me all over the round pen at Indiana Horse Rescue, and ended up standing next to me and leaning her hip against mine companionably. My heart melted, and I signed those papers to make her mine.

 She stood and watched me until I waved goodbye and resumed driving.

Sometimes I marvel at how lucky (and how blessed) I am to have this mare. There is much to be said for the joy a horse can bring, even if they are simply a pasture ornament.