Heading into the Autumn months sees piles of dead leaves and branches build in gardens. Those who have lots of land make the bonfires bigger, throwing on any old bits of wood from friends and family before setting it ablaze.
Although the horse acts scared of many things, there is only one thing that truly puts him on edge – Fire!
One day, leading the horse to his field, I could hear and see a bonfire at the bottom of the neighbours garden.
The horse having senses greater than mine, and being too nosy for his own good, put on his giraffe imitation.
“Woah! What’s that!?”
I tentatively tried to pull his head down to a more normal height “That’s fire, Horse.”
“It’s so bright!”
“Yes, come back down now.” I pull harder but he’s lost to the flames.
“I wanna go closer!”
“Woah, hang on, Horse! Not so fast!”
“Look, look, look… FIYAH!” we had reached the bottom of the first field, but now I realised the gateway to his field (and paddock beyond) was next to the fire which, had been placed just the other side of the hedge in the neighbours garden.
“Oi, Horse!”
Nothing.
“Hey, pay attention!”
Still no response. I stretched onto the tips of my toes and placed my hands in front of his eyes.
The Horse blinked and looked down at me. “Oh hey. Did you see the fire?”
“Yes, Horse. Let’s go to your field now.”
The Horse marches forwards a few steps, stops. Marches, stops.
We eventually make it to the gate.
“I don’t think I can do this.”
“What are you on about, a moment ago you couldn’t wait to get close?”
“I don’t know. It’s so loud and hot and crackly and smelly!”
“Just get through the gate.”
“OK. I’m just going to, nice and slow, walk past thisOMGITCRACKLEDATME!” The Horse tried to dash towards his paddock, which was still most of a field away, with me still attached to the other end of the rope.
“OI! Calm down!” Now I was getting agitated. A panicking half ton horse on the end of a rope is not fun. I quickly grab the gate and shut it behind us just in case the Horse makes a run for it. “Just calm down, Horse.”
“It’s right there! I can see it! I can hear it! It’s going to get me! Run! Run!” The Horse trots beside me on the end of the lead fighting the instinct to flee flowing through his veins. The further we get from the fire the calmer he gets.
“See, Horse, it’s not so bad.”
“I guess I’m not going to die…”
“Don’t be so silly. Get in your paddock.”
“Ah, grass. This I can handle.” He immediately approaches his friend to tell him about his adventures before grazing. He blatantly ignores the fire.
Silly Horse.