Talon's Finally Here!

After what can only be described as the Oregon Trail for horses—minus the dysentery, thank goodness—Talon is finally home! His journey involved a week in a transport trailer, delays thanks to a blizzard that traveled right along with them clear across the country, getting stuck in a 3-foot drift, then getting plowed in by a snowplow, then the trailer throwing in the towel on the very first big hill on our road. Honestly, if Talon could write a travel review, it’d just be one long snort.

When the trailer got stuck just four miles from our house, it turned into the winter version of a barn-raising. Half the town showed up—some to help, some just to see what kind of circus we were running this time. One local guy took charge like he was directing traffic in a blizzard (because, well, he was). He plowed a path into a nearby field so the transport could back in and turn around. Then he borrowed someone else’s two-horse trailer, because apparently trailers are like Tupperware around here, and drove Talon the rest of the way home himself. In the dark. In a snowstorm. And then stayed to help unload him. I’ve never been so grateful to live in a town where “helping out” includes blizzard horse extractions.

Getting Talon into the paddock was an adventure. It was after dark, snowing sideways, and windy enough to blow the freckles off your face. I showed him the hay and water in the shelter, took off his halter, and he turned around and marched right back into the storm like, “You know what? I’ll take my chances out here.” Can’t blame him. He’d just survived the horse version of a disaster movie and now found himself alone, surrounded by sheep and goats who looked at him like he’d landed from Mars. Meanwhile, the livestock guardian dogs two pens over were going absolutely bonkers because, apparently, they’d never seen a horse before. You’d think we’d just imported a rhinoceros.

But this morning? Whole new horse. “Oh hello, yes, I believe it’s breakfast time. I’ll take that right here, thank you very much.” He followed me around like a big fuzzy teddy bear, and even gave me kisses on the cheek. I had to call Nate out to take pictures because I couldn’t get far enough away from him to photograph anything other than an extreme close-up of his nostrils. Which, by the way, I think he tried to eat. The camera, not Nate. Although... give him time.

So this morning I’m thankful. For shelter in the storm, for a safe arrival, for neighbors who show up with snowplows and spare trailers like it’s no big deal, and for a husband who lets me chase my horse-crazy dreams, even when they come with snowdrifts, mystery barking, and a whole lot of hoofprints in the driveway.

Welcome home, Talon. Next time let’s skip the epic saga and just show up quietly, okay?