As they approach, only the young one slows down, the other three thunder past and then circle back, arching their beautiful necks and reaching for my hands with their soft noses. As I give each one a caress and say hello, the others stand and wait patiently, looking at me with kind eyes and pricked ears. I shake my head every time. Why do they come, every time, seemingly glad to come and just say hello? What is it about this breed that makes them want to be with us when they could be out grazing in the sun? Where, in their long and storied history, did this closeness to man originate? I know of no other breed that feels this connection to us. I will always be amazed to see that they actually do seem to want to come up and say hi, that they actually do want to spend time with us. Why would such a noble creature as the Friesian want to share their time with us humans? Why do they come? I do not know the answer, I only rejoice that it is so.
Why do they come?
I open the gate to the field, walk ten paces out and just give a shout….”hey ladies”. Four heads rise up from their feeding, ears pricked, heads high. They turn away from the sweet green grass, letting the meal wait for another time. They have somewhere else to be, someone to see, and the “grass won’t pay no mind”. They are a long way out, but as I stand there, they quicken their pace, first the youngest, then the others. Each one is anxious not to be last. Soon they are all cantering, thundering through the field, getting closer and closer, and I can feel the ground shake beneath their feet.It feels like a stampede and the sight of four beautiful black horses moving so powerfully across the distance, mane and tail flying in the wake, is just incredible. I stand still, not fearful, since I know these wonderful ladies, and they are never threatening, just curious.
Submitted by: Joan [hdirkson@aol.com]