She talked a considerable amount to me whilst she debated removing the caked mud from my face whilst moaning it was MY fault that I was so muddy. She clearly did not know that the mud threw itself at me as I rolled casually. I chose not to comment. She has no right to remove the mud, I protested with my head held high. I will not be subject to such degrading treatment in front of my fellow horse.
She continued her talks with me about the dark coming in and that we should hurry up, when quite frankly, I am not of the inclination to be rushed so I fidgeted, skipped and leapt occasionally to express my displeasure.
We move off up the darkening farm track. I see wolves eyes glistening at me in the bush, I leap from left to right and bounce accordingly, before realising they are pheasants, I do not feel it right to let the girl know, that I know they are pheasants, she would not realise the danger that pheasants also present to a young horse. Unfortunately, she remains seated. We continue up the drive.
She yatters on about one thing and another but I pay little attention to her, my worry is only for the wild horses to my left. I spot them in the distance and stop. They are galloping towards me, I snort, are they coming to say hello? What danger follows? I snort louder to alert my fellow horses, I whinny loudly but to no avail.
She continues to press me up the track, she has not seen the wild horses galloping over. Fortunately, I am happy to rescue us from this situation by spinning and by galloping off at the fastest pace I can in the opposite direction. She tries to hold me back, but I have to RUN……….THIS IS LIFE OR DEATH.
At this stage I have little care for her, I shall go it alone. I reach my head down as quickly as I can and throw in the most ferocious air leap I can muster, she stays, she sits, silently. Why? WHY ? Why would she do this to me? Does she not know the wild horses are galloping over and every second lost brings me nearer to death ?!
After much to’ing and fro’ing, I look up to see the wild horses have arrived. They stand looking at me in the paddock adjoining the farm track and mock my lost battle. I realise it was all a game, the wild horses are the holidaying polo ponies from next door, god damn them and the 100 acre field they roam and gallop about in. God damn the girl seated on my back. We walk off, back down the farm track, she does not know I have already spotted another pheasant.