Changes in the Herd

Wilma here.

Yesterday, Dixie's partners came and took her for a walk down the driveway and over the hill. They do this sometimes, but yesterday, they didn't come back. No one in the herd knew where Dixie had gone. Later on, our partners came to the barn. They got me and Willow. They put Willow's boots on, 'cos she has feet that hurt sometimes. Then WE went for a walk down the driveway and over the hill. I was wondering if we wouldn't come back either, and I was a little concerned. But my partner was with me, so how could it be bad? We walked down the dirt road for a while, and then we got off the road and walked down a driveway thing. Suddenly, I heard a whinny. It was Dixie! I called back, and so did Willow. There was Dixie, in a paddock of her own, with a shelter and everything. The partners talked about Dixie coming "home". Willow and I both sniffed noses with Dixie, and she was so happy to see us she nipped us both. Since it is Dixie's home, she's entitled to do that, and I didn't reprimand her for that. After we had our little visit, we went back to our home.

Today my partner and one of Dixie's partners came to the barn and got me and Willow. They were talking about how Dixie is lonely and anxious and needs some company. My partner talked to Willow and asked her to please visit with Dixie for a while. Willow likes Dixie, but she wondered if she would ever come back to our herd. My partner told her that the visit would only be for a while, until Dixie's partners got another horse for their family. She said Willow is part of our herd and will come back with our herd, unless she would decide she wanted to be someplace else. Then we walked down the driveway, over the hill and down the dirt road to Dixie's house. It was between rainstorms, and the sun was shining. Over Dixie's house was a rainbow. I took this to be a good sign, and told Willow that this visiting thing would okay.

When we got to Dixie's house, I got tied to a post while my partner went into the paddock with Willow and took off her boots. She gave Willow lots of rubs and told her she hoped Willow had a good visit with Dixie. Then she let Willow go. Willow started looking for something to eat, and when we left, she was walking around the paddock, looking at things, and Dixie was following her. Dixie was very happy for the company, and Willow was being a good guest.

It is nice to be neighborly and help one another. We miss Willow in the herd. She and Dixie like each other, though, so I know they will have a good visit!