Horse Tag

Sunlight glinted off his buckskin-beige back as he pranced. Plastic grocery bag gripped in his teeth, the yearling tossed his charcoal mane and rustled the bag. He reared up and waved the bag, taunting. Four other yearlings in various tints of brown turned to grab it.

He bowed down under their snapping teeth, whipped to the side and ran. They thundered after him in mock fury. Sixteen graceful, dusty legs powered the herd of youngsters towards the far fence by the stream where I stood with my friend and our dogs.

The tan and black horse reared up again, laughed his horsey laugh, and changed the game from Keep-Away to Tag. He put his head down and ran bag-first toward his buddies. They whinnied and scattered in mock terror. He chased them in circles, until they all got tired.

A few moments passed. Peace began to settle on the paddock.

Just as the horses’ muscles began to relax, Mr. Buckskin shook his plastic bag in a frenzy! Everyone startled and jumped to grab the bag again. He ducked, reared, pranced, and ran, celebrating the joy of being young and strong on a summer day. Then he dove after the others again, shoving the bag at their haunches in an unmistakable effort to tag them.

The mares in a nearby pen watched, probably keeping score. We humans watched, envying them their natural beauty and wild power. Our dogs were more interested in swimming. As we continued our hike past the horses, I marveled over the innate understanding and enjoyment of those two games - Keep-Away and Tag - that’s common to all mammals. I even played tag once (very carefully!) with a wolf. It seems that we’re all born knowing the rules.

When played by spunky young horses in a sunlit field, those games are transformed into utterly beautiful dances of celebration. I’m so glad I was there to see it!

© Copyright 2006 bonnie willow. Last update: 8/30/2006; 8:02:38 PM.