The horses got out yesterday. One of GBNP's rangers came driving in, and told me they were on the road. Perfect. Of course Number One is up on the mountain. Wifey came to watch the boys, and I grabbed a halter, and took off to try to get them in.
The only problem with this scenario? I didn't know where to put them. I wasn't sure where they had gotten out, and I was not entirely sure where they had been. I had seen them earlier in the field by CG's house, but none of those gates to the road were open.
I parked the van in the road by a curve, with the hazard lights going, and took off on foot. Of course none of them wanted to come near me. I finally got a halter around one, and he followed me all the way to the gate, into the field. I put him in, closed one gate, but left the other gate open and went back for more. It was hot walking on that pavement!
This is a busy season, traffic-wise, lots of tourons (tourist + moron = touron!) driving too fast in a rush to "See It All--Now!" So I wondered not only if the horses might get hit, but if my van would. Luckily nothing got hit. I got behind our miniature horse, Bilbo, and he started running. I ran behind the others, encouraging them by slapping my legs and yelling, and they all headed right in the gate. I still didn't know where they belonged, but there were off the road.
I cruised the fence line, found a gate that looked like it may have been cut (not much wire to fasten it) and managed to fasten it with the only tool I had: my fingers. Good thing I have pretty strong fingers. No other gates were open.
I was headed out on foot to check a couple other gates through the fields when I realized: I have to go through some tall brush. There might be snakes in there. I am wearing my sparkly sandals. I hopped in Number One's jeep and maneuvered it through the fields. I didn't know which gates were supposed to be open, which gates closed, but I figured if the horses could get to water, they'd be fine.
I sent Number One, up on the mountain, several text messages asking what to do, where the horses should be, etc. (In case you're wondering...no, we still don't have phone service of any kind down here. There is spotty cell service on the mountain, so I can email Number One from the computer, he receives it as a text, and then texts me back, which I receive as an email. It's basically emailing between cell phone and computer. It confuses some people. I'm honestly not sure why...)
This morning. A couple more park rangers drive in. The horses are on the road! First I said "Again?" And then I asked "Where?" Because the gate was open to the "Open Range" section--I knew the horses could get water at the creek, so when I found it open I left it open.
For those of you who aren't familiar with the term, "Open Range," it basically means an unfenced area through which a road runs, which isn't fenced so the animals are free to "range" back and forth on both sides of the road. This allows sections of land with no water (on one side of the road) to be connected to sections of land with water (on the other side of the road) so the land can be put to better use. It is well-marked with signs, so people have been warned. If they drive too fast, they are putting their own vehicles at risk--you don't want to hit a cow or a horse unless you want your car totaled.
The ladies said the horses were in the open range section. I said, "Okay, good, that's fine." But they wouldn't let it go. "People drive so fast! That little one is going to get hit! The chances! Oh, I just know one of them is going to get hit!"
"Yeah, yeah, I don't know what you want me to do about it. It's clearly marked open range, people need to slow down, cows get hit all the time because people drive too fast" I said.
They wouldn't stop. I kept repeating, "well, people need to slow down and look out" and finally they sort of threw up their hands and left. Honestly. They're our horses, right? It would be sad if one got hit, but of what concern is it to you? I'm not going to sit and argue with you when our horses and cows have a legal right to be where they are, when there are signs clearly stating Open Range. (Except for one time, someone put "W" stickers over all the R's on the signs, so the sign actually said, "Open Wange." Number One and I thought it was hilarious!)
I went inside, where I then got a text message/email from Number One. He said the horses were supposed to be in the pastures near the houses. Not in the open range. So I had to go get them in. I tried to find Wifey but she wasn't around. I packed up the boys in the minivan, grabbed a hat and took off. The halter from yesterday was still in the van.
I figured the horses would be right there, near the gate so I could just push them in. But NO. Where did I find them?
THREE MILES down the road. And guess where the four wheeler is? On the mountain. And I'm in a minivan, with two boys in the back. No off-road horse chasing with that thing.
I got behind the horses, parked the van and got out. There was a ton of traffic to watch the show. I whooped and hollered and ran after them, got them all herded up and headed in the right direction. I ran after them for a little while, then ran back to the van and drove ahead, yelling and honking from inside the van. I'm sure it was a sight.
I had to stop the van and get out and run behind them three or four times, but finally, in their own meandering, roundabout way, the horses just kept running in the right direction. Thank goodness, because the road veered away from their path at one point and they were a good half-mile or so away from me. No way I'm running through the desert that far in my sparkly sandals. (Yes, I wear them everyday. No, I didn't think to change my shoes before I left. I honestly thought it would be a piece of cake. I didn't envision I would be running through the desert and down the road so far in my sparkly sandals)
So, the horses kept running, me following beside them now, 1/2 mile away, still yelling and honking, waving cars past me. And I see Wifey, driving her truck down the trail, about right where the horses are headed! I really hoped she would see the horses running toward her, and park out of their path. Thankfully, she did.
The horses stopped at the irrigation ditch for a drink, and I drove down there, got out of the van again and herded them out of the ditch. They knew right where they were supposed to go, and ran right through the gate into the field. I ran after them and attempted to close the gate behind them.
I don't know what is up with this gate, but I couldn't close it correctly. I tried for a long time, but finally I just had to use my fingers again, and wrap a loop of wire around the bottom. At least it gives the horses and cows an "idea" of a gate. They could get through it if they wanted to, but I bet they won't.
Wifey had been picking flowers for her and I, some kind of lovely weeds. And she saw all of these hummingbird moths on the flowers, so I took some pictures.
The horses were right where they were supposed to be when I got home. And I got enough exercise for the week!
