So it finally rained up in my corner of the state today....but.

[Tsiyu]

15. Maybe this time Coyote will bring a good trick!

I was never scared of coyotes until a good friend's horse went down. Someone had gifted my friend with hay that was not properly cured. He brought some to me for my girls but I could smell that sickly sweet "off" odor of it and I wouldn't feed it to my mares. I tried to warn him, too, but his horses were mostly on pasture and he thought it would be okay.

Well, two days later the horse went down, bloated and rolling. Couldn't get her up despite many hands and many tries. My son and his son were staying up with her, but they were exhausted from two days of keeping watch due to lots of coyotes around here. So I offered to take a shift so they could get some sleep.

They refused at first but finally relented. One of their geldings was keeping watch with me and he was a tough guy so I felt safe ( the mare was in a round pen .) They left a .22 with me "just in case."

Around 3am a huge pack started their song maybe a half mile away. Then another pack on the other side started in with their eery yowling. Then another on another side. It seemed they were getting closer and closer. I have rarely been that frightened of any creature besides man. I admit I almost bailed and ran into the house.

I was never happier to see dawn and hear their front door open to let out another human!
( sadly the horse did not make it )

Here's hoping for abundant rain and a treat rather than a trick for you.