Winter Games!

Today was another cold and blustery day here in Wabaunsee.  About an hour before dark I pulled on my snowmobile suit.  Having no snowmobile and, currently, no snow, this may be a misnomer.  But I donned all the requisite warm stuff and headed out to our barn.  I checked the water tanks to make sure the de-icers were doing their jobs, put fresh shavings in the horses' stalls (and one of them immediately lay down and rolled in his - he LOVES fresh shavings!), and began setting feed out in their feed pans.  I laid out new salt blocks and glanced at the round bales, and then, after all was done, I sat down in a stall doorway to watch the moonrise and enjoy the last hour of daylight.  (You Pony Clubbers do not email me about sitting in a stall doorway: the horses are fed out in the pasture, not in their stalls.) 

The horses finished their feed and one of them ambled over to where I was sitting.  I immediately stood up in the doorway and continued to silently listen to the sounds of dusk and watch the moon continue its climb.  The horses kept casting a glance out to the creek (about 1/4 mile away), and I remarked to myself that they probably saw some coyote movement or other.  Horses can see great distances, and they also have great night vision.  If one observes a horse's gaze, he can often see things he would ordinarily miss.

All of a sudden, there was movement just on the other side of the now two horses who were enjoying my company by the barn.  It was still daylight, and a beautiful red fox trotted across the barn yard, perhaps only 15 yards on the other side of the horses!  He was so beautiful.  He couldn't see me - I was blocked by a 1500-lb pony.  I watched him for some time, and when he finally looked like he might go visit our ducks near the house, I softly called out "Foxy Loxy" (because what else would I call out, I ask you?), and he looked at the horses and ran back towards the creek. 

Here is a great clip of a fox out doing his daily work:
 Fox Hunt:

More winter...tomorrow!