Fly-By Danny Boy

Danny and I both just got schooled. Our pasture is terrible and we still haven't had time to fence the good pasture. So I've been taking the horses one by one out into the green pasture on the back side of the farm that borders the woods. Usually the gates that cross the road are closed so that if one of them gets away from me, I don't have to worry about them getting in the main road where the traffic is. But today, Steve is mowing hay and he had both gates opened so he could get equipment through. I'd taken Django out first and Danny was very excited to get his turn. He met me at the gate and practically put the halter on for me. He did well on lead which I haven't worked with him a lot so it's great how quickly he's learning. So out we go and Danny is so eager to get to that green grass. He's eating and I'm searching for music on my phone when Danny suddenly screams and jumps sideways. I think he's been stung but then he continues to jump and dance. I keep calming him and head us toward the gate to go back into the enclosed pasture but he's getting more and more agitated. He bolts twice but I'm able to hold him and get him turned and under control but it was like holding a bomb that you know might explode at any minute. I finally get him to the safety of the pasture but I'm still in danger because it's impossible to predict what the young horse will do next. I finally see what's causing all of the commotion, he's caught a thorn bush in his tail. He's kicking backwards now and leaning into me for security but both keep me from grabbing the tangled thorny limb. Finally, I take the rope off of him and push him away Then I get to his side and grab the thorn bush ....forgetting I don't have gloves on! He turns and runs but I can't hold on and the thorns scratch my hands. I finally go and get gloves and carefully make another grab at the bush. This time, between the two of us, we pull it out. I close both gates with poor little Dan clinging to me because he's still scared. I put the rope back on him and take him back out. He's nervous but that grass is just too tempting. Poor baby, it might take him a while to get over this one. As Steve says, our Danny is not into pain. Me, I did pretty good considering how my fear of what could happen was working over time. All I could see in my head was him breaking free and being hit by a car. I'm such a worry wart but at least I kept my head and my horse.

Dan enjoying the green grass right before the monster started biting his butt. ;-)