I'm gunna need a new straw hat!
It began like all perfect spring mornings. A cool breeze blowing on my sun warmed face pushed me to stay outside as long as possible, working on a new fenceline in the lower horse pasture. I snaked a pole saw high into the scraggly branches, and trimmed up the limbs so we could work and walk under the trees. I worked until my shoulders ached. Then for a change of pace, I worked a different set of muscles with the weed eater. At some point I ditched my straw hat; reasoning that I was now working in the shade, so didn't need it. I placed it carefully, off the wet ground, onto a 5 gallon bucket. Then it happened.
Mocha and Little Joe had been grazing closeby, and Mocha in particular had been watching me. I noticed him approaching my hat, but I was too far away to chase him off. He knew it! I swear, he grinned at me, then snatched up my hat in his teeth, bolting wildly across the pond! He was the star in his own circus show, flinging his head up high, I could see the hat slapping him in the face, then he banged the hat down violently on his chest, up and down, up and down as fast as he could, while he galloped at top speed through the pasture. Little Joe, seemed somewhat bewildered, but followed along for a good run. It was too late for a hat rescue, all I could do was laugh at his antics, and be tickled that he has such a sense of humor. Later when I called it quits on my hard work and trudged up the hill to the house, I found the trampled hat, torn through with teeth marks, and chalked it up to a worthy loss, for such a character of a horse! I was nearly ready to retire that hat anyway.
