Stand off at the Bailey Corral

It was early Sunday Morning (yesterday) - and I mean early. Around 5 am. We are usually up around then because there are dogs that need to "go", a cat that needs to explore and a day just needing to be aired out. I let the dogs out and went off to put the kettle on for some much needed coffee.

I looked out of the kitchen window up to the horses' pasture (we do like to look out of the kitchen window and see horses ...) and I noticed, on the far side of the pasture (the south, beyond the fence) a ... horse trailer??

Then I saw our little herd making a fuss and then I saw a young stallion on the far side of the fence racing up and down the fence line - and Moon (that young tart) was racing up and down our side of the fence line too.. There were two people with the trailer unloading a paint and saddling it up and with two dogs charging about the uproar was complete.

This stallion has escaped before - and for some reason he seems besotted with either Moon or Rosa (those hussies). This is the third time he has been by to pay us a visit.

It can be a tad exciting when there is a randy stallion on the loose - there isn't much of anything on his mind except getting through the fence and this young lad was no exception. he bought down the electric rope fencing that we have and broke the top strand of the smooth wire fencing on the south side of the pasture. In the meantime the two guys were busily saddling up the paint so that they could rein in the stallion.

And then Bailey takes charge.

You all know Bailey. He is our elderly gelding - must be around 30 years old, he creaks around everywhere and we just love him to death. This horse has been around the block a time or two.

So, suddenly, before our eyes, 30 year old Bailey disappeared and in his place stood 10 year old Bailey- No slouching, no tripping - head up, ears pricked coat shiny. He bossed the two girls back behind him, he had them rounded up in an instant, he faced up to the stallion on the other side of the fence. He stood tall and he looked all business.

Boy I wish you all could have seen him - he was magnificent.






The adventure went on for the next half an hour with the stallion racing around, evading the horseman and the other guy first on the south side of the pasture and then, a race along the road and he was into our yard and then our neighbors to the west's yard where finally the owners caught up with him.

Throughout it all Bailey stood tall.

You all would have been proud of him.

Some Horse!