Our friend Dan...

For a couple of weeks we took care of a horse. A big Belgian draft horse named Dan. He belonged to the people who owned one of the pastures that we are going to be using for the Fall and Winter. When they moved to Virginia they started looking for a family to adopt him.

Dan is 23 years old. Pretty old for a horse. He limps when he walks and take a little extra time to get from point A to point B. But that did not make him any less likable. He was friendly and strong and proud. Over the course of the time that he shared the pasture with the cows he and I would stand at the top of the hill and watch the kids, dog, and cows run around in the field. He was like a sentinel standing over the younger generations. 

Aeryn fell in love with him immediately. She has wanted a horse for as long as I can remember and this was kind of like her getting one. For a brief time. We spoke with Jay and told him that if the owners did not find someone to adopt him than we would feed him and love him right along with our cows. As Aeryn says "Old horses need love just as much as old people." Smart little girl. 

Dan has moved on now. To a new life. He was adopted by what appears to be a wonderful family and is now sharing a pasture with a couple of other horses. He seems to be very happy in his new location. This knowledge softens the heartache Aeryn felt when I told her he was leaving. 

But Aeryn made me think. She is right when she says that old horses are like old people. Just as old cows are like old people. Animals have thoughts and feelings too even if we can not always tell what they are at a given time. My observant little girl is able to tell when her cows are happy, sad or scared. She knows when they are getting nervous or a bit stressed out. And the same applies to horses. Which makes me wonder are they really that much different than humans?

For the majority of my life I have preferred the company of horses and cows to humans. They are farm more pleasant to be around. Animals are also not deceitful. They are truthful and honest in their actions and mannerisms. 

Alex also seems to have a connection with animals. He could sit and watch Jay and Lilly's chickens for hours. Yesterday he and Aeryn got the joy of feeding them some bread under Lilly's watchful eye. I hope within the coming days to catch a picture of Alex crouching down with a big red chicken in front of him as he tries to get her to come over for him to pat. As a mother I have a horrible fear of the chicken just pecking his eye out. But my innocent boy has no fear. 

So I would like to give a thank you and a shout out to our friend Dan. He has made me think about the wonders of having animals in our lives. For us it happens to be being surrounded by horses and cows. For others it may be goats, sheep or chickens. And then there are people who have cats, dogs, birds....Animals are a blessing. Our lives would be empty without them.