January 20, 2007

It's blowing about 20 making the wind chill about -25. Nitro and the others were left in today so that they would have liquid water all day and not be exposed to the cold wind. Nitro doesn't where a winter coat he says it makes him feel like a sissy. Every now and then he takes his army blanket just draped over his back just to take the chill off. Nights he's cold it's still on in the morning. Nights its not as cold it's on the floor. Nitro grows nice long hair in the winter and warms me up when I ride in the cold. I reminded him of the night at Halls Corners. We had just got the barn and the coldest weather I ever remember set in. The temp. gauge in my truck read -7% and the wind was blowing. I wondered just how tough I was and thought that Nitro and I should go out that blustery cold night just for goofs. The barn was like the frozen house in Dr. Zhivago. There was ice from the frozen buckets four feet high on the wash stall drain. The pipes were frozen as were my hands and feet. BUT Nitro seemed bored and so I tacked him put on all the clothes that fit and rode up the snow drifts into the black night. Nitro, game as always hoped and plowed through everything sending up a blizzard of snow powder into the blowing cold air. We made the top of the hill and my forehead felt like it was hit by a bat being it was the only piece of skin exposed. I had no choice but to head to the wind shed and seek cover. We stayed up there alone in the bitter cold with the howling wind and drifting snow in the dark and it was surreal. Nitro ears up, ice forming on his whiskers knee deep in snow and I alone. Alone, I knew that I could never make it back to the barn in the blowing cold. I knew I was totally dependant on Nitro carrying me back. I could not feel the reins, or stirrups, or see the path back, yet I was warm. Warm in the gratitude I felt for this creature who could endure all this for my whim. I collected my thoughts and Nitro went back out into the squall and down the hill through the drifts forcing the snow to part to his will. I felt, heard, and saw the steam bellowing back at the cold from his nostrils as his determination bullied through the snow. We made it. Good night old friend, I'll bring coffee tomorrow.