THUNDER IN THE PASTURE

My Hubby and I went to look at a 3 1/2 month old Mustang that was for sale. On the way there, we talked about where we were going to put him so we had all that figured out. Hubby wanted to know when we would put him in with my gelding and our older mare. I told him I wanted to wait a week and let the older horses get used to him being there. We drove in to the place where they had the baby and went to see him. We both fell in love with him right off. We didn't have a trailer but the people said that they were bringing their horse to a trainer in our area and could deliver the baby to us.

Well the day arrived and I had to work late that night so hubby and the kids stayed home to be there for the baby's arrival. We put the baby in the new barn away from the other horses and every day we would walk him over to the pastures where Poco my gelding and Dava the old mare was. I had talked to the vet about getting his vaccines and what to feed him. As we talked, she told me that when I turned the baby in with the other horses to watch my gelding because he might hurt the baby bad, " you know how Poco is Connie". I told her that " yep I sure did, but that Poco had changed and I really didn't think I would have a problem with him". She told me to put him in with the old mare first and let them become buddies and then turn him in with Poco. Poco is very dominate and 4 years ago every one called him the killer horse. I just make a joke of it now because Poco and I have a bond that is unbelievable. I can tell that horse stuff to do and he does it.

Well, the day arrived to turn Thunder Cloud, the baby Mustang, in with my killer horse. We put flags on the fence so Thunder Cloud would know where it was. We made sure that the fence checked out 5 lights on the fence tester which it did. " OK, ready every one, go and get Thunder Cloud and walk him around the pasture so he knows where his boundaries are." Hubby says that he will go and get him so we waited and all of a sudden everything went crazy. Thunder Cloud got scared at something and slipped out of the halter and the race was on. Up to the house he ran and as my daughter and I came out of the house we heard him whinny. All of a sudden it dawned on me that he was loose. He wheeled around and raced down the lane with Hubby in hot pursuit as I yelled out instructions to my daughter to get some grain and yelled at Poco that the baby is loose. While I got the lariat and Jason got the Four-Wheeler, Poco started running up the pasture calling to Thunder -- Poco's call turned Thunder to ward him instead of running out of the lane. I saw Thunder start down the fence row so I started to cut across the pasture and the next thing I knew Thunder was in the pasture. He went through the fence to be with Poco and Dava, so I yelled to Poco "He is just a baby, be good, you are a good boy Poco".The old mare went ballistic and started charging toward Thunder , by this time i was in the pasture and seen Dava start after The baby I yelled Poco save that baby , he came down after Dava at a full run and as he pasted her he kicked out toward her and turned her away never breaking a stride, Poco took over then and got between Dava and Thunder so Dava wouldn't kick him. I kept telling Poco he is just a baby and you have to protect him from Dava. I just about started crying right there and then because Poco was protecting Thunder, licking him just like his momma would have to assure him that he was OK. After things settled down I said to my family, " look there" and as they looked, I said " there goes Poco and the kid. The Horse that every one called a killer and the baby that is following the killer horse all a round."


Article by Connie Beckner of Lafayette, IN

Ms. Beckner would love to hear from you! Please e-mail to her at: pocosonny@msn.com