Summer Dinner

Tonight, as I sometimes do, I held Nitro's grain bucket for him as he ate. He has issues at feeding time but if I hold his bucket and turn it for him so he can get out all the grain he tolerates me. I think he even rather I hold it cause he gets all the grain without spilling any on the ground. As he ate, the sun was setting this warm summer day and its rays glistened off his golden mane with all the brilliance of a rainbow. I saw white hair, gold, silver and red all glistening in the sun set. I looked beyond to his flat muscular back and massive hindquarters. I felt his jaws chew the grain and watched the muscles of his jowls pulverize and grind. I looked into his massive brown eye and big gold eyelash. I let his ear rub my face and scratched his head. Finally the warmth of summer, the joy of time with my horse in the simple task of holding his bucket. Last week he took fifth place in a gymkhana pole bending event. Not bad, it was only the second time we ever did it. On the trail ride the other day he was perfect, almost anticipating my every wish. He even went up the river and bobbed his head and cooled his feet, standing in the cool water. I closed my eyes and just let him be, then after a few minuets he turned and we headed back to the barn doing bends. We ended up in the ring and did two sets of barrels. Who would ever imagine we would be so good together; me, a rider without a clue and him a horse, who could throw a bull rider. Yes, as I watched the sun set through his mane, I wished for another twenty years of NITRO and warm days. Oh, after his grain he went to his hay, but not before charging me to get me out of his paddock. Seems he doesn't like anyone to feed him his hay.