Spring turnout

Yesterday I picked up a few bags of oats at G&E. After emptying them into my bins I decided to use one of the bags to do some "friendly game" with the horses. Gypsy came right up and started chewing on the bag and flipping it around subsequently scaring off all the other horses. It was a windy day as well, so as soon as she let it go the wind picked it up and blew it across the paddock, scaring the horses even more in the opposite direction. The bag stopped at the gate and all the horses stood with their bums against the fence at the other end, heads up, ears forward just waiting for that sabre-toothed oat bag to come and devour them. So I picked it up and folded it nice and small and did approach and retreat with all the other horses (besides Gypsy) until I could rub it over all of them. Surprisingly, IndyAnna was the least able to stand still (a year ago, she would let me do just about anything around her without flinching!). I didn't use any halters on them, just moved amongst them with the folded bag and kept going until I could rub it over all of them without them having to leave. Indy couldn't do it. I will have to try again, maybe in the round pen later.

It was a spectacular day yesterday and I should have been working with the horses. But the veranda and my book were calling me and persuaded me to take the afternoon off. And Yarrow and Jake kept pawing at the gate to get at the grass in the pasture. So, since we were out of hay as of yesterday morning, I opened the gate and let them out. They barely got their front feet through the gate before they were grazing! Mmmmm... yummy grass!! Pretty happy horses. :-) Me too... good book and a cup of coffee on the veranda... a perfect day all around.