When I was leaving the barn on Monday, I was talking to Mrs. W about Daniel, and how the other, younger horses take his grazing muzzle off him (I guess that's the equine version of I'll tell my mom I'm at your house, and your tell your mom you're at my house, and we'll go to a concert we've been forbidden to go to!) She thought she might put a grazing muzzle on Cayuga to keep him from pulling off Daniel's.
I suggested that maybe that's not fair to Cayuga, and since Granit has to wear a grazing muzzle, and since she's all alone since Tessa left, maybe we should turn Daniel out with Granit (the only mare, a gorgeous 21 year old Oldenberg). If they both have grazing muzzles, they can't possibly grab each other's muzzle and pull them off, right? Mrs W. adds,"and they're both fat. And old." I reply, "Right!" and I think, they're both old, fat, substantial, and have similar temperaments, and deserve some peace and quiet in their old age, not to get picked on by younger horses. Mrs. W asked,"Should we try them tonight?" I suggested that maybe we should wait until the next day, when there's people around to keep an eye on them.
Margaux, Granit's "Mom" liked the idea. Granit's been lonely for about a month now and needs a friend. She called me yesterday and told me that the two of them were in the front field together and doing OK. Great! I had to go to a workshop then out to dinner with friends last night, so I didn't go check him.
Today, Margaux called again. Granit and Daniel are the cute little old couple. She said that when Granit's been out alone, she'd fly to the gate when Margaux arrived. Now that she has a buddy, she's a bit reluctant to leave him. She also said that when she took Granit out of the field, Daniel paced (at a good clip and with NO sign of lameness!) back and forth. Then, when she put Granit back out in the field, Granit RACED back to Daniel, only to apply the brakes when she got back to him. Let's hope the novelty doesn't wear off! :-)
