I don't think there is anything in this world that gives me more pleasure then spending time with my animals. Even as a small child I remember watching cows, horses, chicken, dogs, cats and birds... I mean REALLY watching...watching how the reacted towards each other, their old, their young and other critters not like them. I remember thinking that people could sure learn a lot from them.
Someone once said that we tend to "humanize" animals. I agree that some people go too far with the coats and hats and shoes for pets...But in the grand picture, we too are animals and I'm sure there are few in the kingdom that would appreciate being humanized....In the human world, like in any animal world, we labor hard to provide food and shelter for our families. There are few animals that kill for sport except humans. There are few animals that will wage war for a strip of land, but humans will. Oh I could go on and on, but you get the picture...we just Ain't that GREAT as far as animals go. We are greedy and selfish and conceded. We have more flaws then any other animal on the planet and even now as an adult, I think we could learn a great deal, if we took the time to watch and learn.
I observed my horses this morning. It has rained for the past two days so the little goats haven't gone out. They are not fond of rain. The horses on the other hand, like it outside, no matter what the weather, although the did come in for a while because of the heavy rains yesterday.
This morning I put everyone outside, it was windy, but no rain. The little goats cried to come back in until Emma nudged Harley with her nose...he followed and of course Jake didn't want to be alone so he followed behind them. Once they were all down in the pasture everyone stopped to eat, Emma slowly walked along, looking back at the goats...finally she started to run and they ran with her. She'd stop, they'd stop, she'd run they'd run. It was her way of exercising them. I've watched her behavior before and this was a first since Blizzy passed. Emma used to run the little goats also. Not that she doesn't run when she is alone, but when she does she really runs the distance, something she doesn't do with the goats. With them she runs at their speed, not hers. She knows as long as she stays in the pasture they will stay with her. Normally she will come up to the barn in the afternoon, but not when she has the goats. She will bring them up this evening when it's time to go in for the night. I watch in awe how well they get along, so very different in looks, weight and needs...yet both horses take an active roll in training them.
I think we could learn a great deal about getting along from our fellow animals....but will we?
