The Wind Strikes Again

What the BLEEP is it with horses and the wind? I had kind of forgotten about the whole wind situation because of Bre. Bre is one of those rare horses who doesn't care about the wind. I recall once when she was 3 or 4 and it was a super windy day. The barn felt like it was going to fall down around us, some people were opting not to ride. I decided I was lazy and going to ride bareback. People were peeking in the cracks of the arena door just to see if that crazy girl on that dangerous (she was known for going to crazy town) red horse were really in there. We sure were riding in the wind and Bre was fine. Bre might think bikes (the pedal kind, not the legitimately scary Harley kind) emit horse killing death rays but she will take you out into a hurricane no problem.

So the fact that it was a brisk fall evening on Weds with the wind picking up didn't even enter into my mind as being a factor on Dickie's walk today. He came up to me friendly and engaged so I figured we would have none of the power struggle shenanigans from the earlier week. Boy was I mistaken. He showed me some fancy footwork. He wasn't being disobedient, when I would focus him he tried his hardest to listen but the world had him on overload. Generally when life is scary he will snort, grab his lead rope, then look at me (sometimes whacking me with his head in the process) to see if I agree it is time to get out of dodge. If I seem calm he will relax and keep going with me. Today he still checked in with me but then decided I clearly wasn't taking the danger of a windy day seriously enough and went on guard for both of us.

Dickie:
Snorts, snaps around to see mom and whacks mom with his head "Sorry about the head whack but LOOK!!! Do you see that!! It's a cougar over there in the field you are leading us to" 
Mom:
"Dude watch  your big head, how can you even see where you are going with your head looking backwards!! NO NO lead rope is mine! "
Dickie:
"Boy you are clueless today, you must not see the cougar. I think I can calm down if you let me carry the lead rope in my mouth." sigh, relaxes for about 60 seconds "SHIT,  RUN FOR YOUR LIVES IT'S COMING!!" Nearly falls over from sideways scootrip, rears, lands somehow still in upright position, still right next to mom.
Mom:
"There is nothing there, I can't see anything. Wait wait I see it........Dumbass, it's a cat!! You like cat's. There is grass over there in the cat field don't you want it?"

Both parties walk relatively calmly, albeit apprehensively, into the field.

Dickie:
"Ahhhhhh!!! COWS!!! These aren't normal cows, these are totally zombie horse eating cows. I am so sorry to do this but....... THE ONLY WAY OF ESCAPE IS RIGHT WHERE ARE YOU STANDING". 
Mom:
"DUDE!!! I am too old for this, my butt doesn't get out of the way fast enough. Time to walk backwards because walking over me is not an option"
Dickie:
"Sure I can walk backwards AND sideways if  you want me to. I will chew and lick and be submissive. I am a good boy. And I can do it all with my tail up in the air and eyes locked on the cows".

Finally horse realizes he is standing fetlock deep in clover and decides zombie cows need friends too.  After clover eating both parties head back home towards the gate. Said gate goes between tall blackberries bushes.

Zombie Birds in the Bushes:
"SQUAAAWWWWK, cackle, cackle, squeek, SQUAWK"
Dickie:
"No way man, we can't walk by those bushes, haven't you seen that Alfred Hitchcock movie?"
Mom:
"They are just birds, totally unnatural sounding birds but birds. You are HUGE, you can kill them if needed".
Dickie:
"Not moving, you can't make me. And I certainly am not walking next to you. You just want me between creepy devil birds and you."
Me:
"Ok, maybe you are right. Those birds are a little creepy, sounds like they are plotting something. Now you are freaking me out. UGH, I will go first but don't run me over if I walk in front".
Dickie:
"Seeeeeeee, I told you those birds just aren't right. I will follow you through. No, I won't step on you but I don't have to be calm about it". 

That was a snap shot of our walk. I am happy to say that no feet were harmed in the process. We had round pen workout that was going great until dinner time started so I would say today is a win. At least I got a good taste of how he behaves when he is upset.