Several people have requested an update on the little mustang filly who was trapped in the snow all winter. I took three trips to the middle of nowhere to get these shots (the first time I forgot a piece to my camera; the second time it was snowing with a flat grey sky that didn’t make interesting photos) so if three time’s the charm, well, here we are:
Little Thankful has grown a lot.
There isn’t much snow now, but there still isn’t anything for her to eat. The ice has melted and there’s no way to cross the river at Suzy’s house. Instead of skiing east to feed her, Suzy drives a few miles down the road and hikes in with hay from the other direction.
The trouble is, Thankful is still skittish to the extreme. Someone has brought her hay every day since early January, but no one ever sticks around. So I brought in some equipment–a beach chair, a bottle of water, my good old dog and the NYT crossword puzzle–and I settled in right next to her food.
She paced back and forth. She pretended she wasn’t hungry and walked away; she came back. This took the first chunk of the crossword.
Then she started making a slow, step-and-pause approach to the hay
and finally dared a mouthful with a human being sitting six feet away. Not such a big step, really.
She calmed down enough to eat, and to look at me while she ate.
and she listened to me tell her what a good nice horse she was.
And whenever she forgot, for a moment, that I was there, she’d shut her eyes as she ate, and pause to take a deep breath that was filled with the scent of hay.
Ah, it’s good to see the little beauty is getting along well. “Thankful” reminds me to be grateful for such things in my life as food, companionship and warmth
Beautiful photos as usual!
Many thanks for the update on Thankful! Was beginning to fear the worst, but can see she’s in good hands. thanks again Alice.
Yay!
Not such a big step, really.
And yet, at the same time, probably one of the biggest steps she’ll ever take.
Awww… what beautiful pics! I’ve been wondering how Thankful’s been doing.
I’m glad you stuck around for awhile. I bet she was glad for the company.
I’m so happy Thankful is able to get around now. I would love to sit out in your scenery and work on a crossword! Life doesn’t get much better! Thanks for hikin’ out to check on her for us…
Thank you for checking on the abandoned filly. And for sticking around a while so she could see that humans aren’t so bad, even they left her alone in the wilderness.
I hope you will continue to report on her progress, although it may be difficult when the grass greens and she is able to graze as she pleases. Will anyone bring her feed then? I’m also wondering if she will hook up with other herds of horses … will the ones that were taken away return to this range when spring gets a better foothold?
I appreciate knowing that dedicated souls saw her through the winter and she now has a chance.
You are doing exactly the right thing with her - just sitting and ignoring her. Does anybody have an interest in catching her and taming her? She is certainly young enough to learn and have a better life than she would have in the wild.