Little Miss Nova is the ruler of all she sees, except her mom. Nova doesn’t try to boss around her mom…but she does everyone else.
Her favorite playmates are the two year old black geldings. She doesn’t much care for 9 month Isabell, because Isabel doesn’t play.
Last night, the two geldings and Nova got out into our back pasture which is being rented by the turf farmer. As the turf guy drove through the gate, he was assured by my husband that the horses were under control…and there went Salty, Kodak and Nova. ..through the gate. Freedom! They were in hog heaven…bluegrass!
I got there soon after this had happened. With a bucket of oats, I took Sage out into the pasture as I was afraid that she might get worried and go through the fence. She didn’t appear to be very upset. Well, the boys came over for some grain and then off they went again. It was terribly fun to cavort in this new grass heaven.
Our boxer dog was in the pasture. Baby Nova decided to chase the dog and away they went. She came back and kicked Salty in the chest. He takes it with the grace of an uncle.
I brought Sage back and handed her to Terry. We kept her in the same pasture where the loose horses were. I tried to catch one of the boys with the grain.
Nova was zipping around chasing the dog again. JR and Isabel decided to scream and run up and down the fence (in the horse pasture).
Guess what, the Turf farmer kept on mowing with his 60 million foot wide mower. His tractor made so much noise that the geldings couldn’t hear the grain rattle. I kept looking at the turf farmer to tell him to STOP THE TRACTOR, but he wouldn’t look at me.
I cursed silently. I could have cursed loudly and no one would have heard me.
Finally I caught one of the blacks. I led that one back to the gate using the fly mast. (Fly masks are very valuable instant halters.) There were 50 eleven million flies along with some horse flies attacking these horses. It was heck to lead a horse while under attack. Ok, We got him through the gate with much effort…without JR and Isabel getting out.
I went back and caught the other one. …with the same effort…to get him through the gate…without JR, Isabel and Kodak getting out.
Now Nova. I did catch her. I did manage to lead her to the gate. I couldn’t get her through the gate. Terry and Sage were trying to block all the horses from escaping through the gate…making Nova just a little uncertain about getting close to Terry.
Finally, we used some of the driving forward techniques that we had practiced. I told Terry to look down…and through the gate she went.
She had a great time. She was drenched with sweat. I was drenched with sweat. I wiped us off with a wet towel and no harm was done.
Nova has her new nickname…not just from this adventure…but her personality has emerged.
Just call her Bossy Nova!