Wednesday, April 01, 2009

the best celebration of spring I've seen so far

This morning I decided that after breakfast the horses and donkeys would get their hour in the front field, since it's cloudy, threatening to rain, and the temperature remained pretty steady overnight, so presumably the sugars in the new grass weren't spiking.

My son went out to the end of the paddock to open the gate to the front field, and Cody had already gone out. When I let Keil Bay out of his stall, he stopped to check out Cody's empty feed tub, then looked out and realized the front field was OPEN!

You could see the expression on his face: wow! not only did I get my yummy breakfast I now get to go out to that amazing grass! It was clear this was a top-notch morning in the Big Bay's opinion.

I wish I had a video - he sprang into a lively canter down the paddock, slowed to a very suspension-filled trot at the gate to make sure he didn't bowl over my son, and then revved back into the canter as he passed through.

He did a big canter circle, kicked up his heels, and then came to a dead halt, head down to graze before the blink of an eye.

Keil Bay turns 20 this month, and you'd never know it seeing his enthusiasm for life.

6 comments:

Grey Horse Matters said...

I love watching the expressions on their faces when they realize something good or unusual is about to happen. It's priceless. He seems to have really enjoyed his morning romp.
So happy that spring is finally here.

billie said...

That was it, exactly, Arlene. It was almost like he saw it, did the horse version of "oh my god" and then realized he'd better seize the day.

ponymaid said...

We wish Keil Bay at least another two decades of happiness and wonderful surprises. Jack says he's a mere stripling, just stepping into young adulthood. We would love to see a picture of him sometime - he sounds a handsome lad.

With Felicitations,
Sheaffer

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Awwww...he is truly a Spring Chicken when good things are happening to him....which under your loving care, is every day :)

~Lisa

billie said...

Sheaffer, I think I shall tell the Big Bay that he is a mere stripling and see what he thinks about THAT! :)

I'll try to get a good birthday portrait up soon.

billie said...

Lisa, thanks - I'll add spring chicken to the list of birthday felicitations!