A New Four-Legged Friend

Bailey has a new 4-legged friend these days. Since the two older dogs aren't very fond of the younger one, Kenai, Bailey has graciously adopted him as our fourth horse. And Kenai is delighted! The two of them play non-stop across the fence and in and around the pasture. They chase each other...darting right, then left. When all this first started going on a couple of weeks ago, I almost had a heart attack and was trying to get Kenai out of the pasture in a total state of panic. He kept looking at me...confused, wondering why I was getting upset when all he wanted to do was play. After watching more closely at what was going on, I became amazed at how gentle and knowingly playful they are with each other. Bailey has, on a couple of occasions, acted like she was going to kick at Kenai, but her aim and force is exactly tempered so that she barely flicks his thick winter coat and then quickly recoils her leg. Kenai is the same with her...he never even acts like he is going to really bite her, but rather he opens his mouth a little in excitement and plays with her much like one horse would play with another and I have even caught him licking her on the nose. As for Bailey, one of the pictures below actually shows her nuzzling and mouthing Kenai's shoulder. They are too funny. I finally managed to capture some photos and video of this blossoming new friendship. Don't worry, for all you who are faint of heart, I am always around when the playing ensues and I NEVER let it get out of hand....not that it has ever come close. Proof that prey animals and predators can be friends!...and I threw in a couple of snaps of the horses on a gorgeous sunny winter day after we got a few inches of snow.

Bailey after munching on some snow



Bailey and Ranger enjoying a very cold, but sunny day

Bailey and Kenai playing