How not to organise a hay delivery!

What happened, and what should or shouldn't have happened...

Before the mayhem. One of the gates which I should have closed!

We have a new shelter in the winter field, so much easier to have the hay bale under shelter and a dry area for the horses to stand and eat. The photos are before it was finished with doors to the hay shelter.

The new shelter, hay shed to the right (now with doors)

Hay storage and horse shelter (the bache was soon trashed and replaced with doors). My story concerns the second bale we had delivered when this one was eaten up.

The farmer came on his big tractor with a round bale on the spike, and in order to deposit it in the hay shed he had to drive into the horse's field and manoeuvre. He was cold and it was raining or hailing, he was in a hurry and my first mistake was to let him rush things. I let him through the gate, and should have closed it (second mistake) while I sent the horses further into the field and opened the shed doors, meanwhile the tractor was turning and I thought the horses were well out of the way in the field.

Then I heard a shout from the farmer and turned to see Lucie the Camargue going for the gap behind me. She shot through the open gate and out through the secondary gate (which I also should have closed!). Fina made to follow and another mistake, I could have stopped her; she hesitated, but I thought, let them go, they will only go into the next field... 

So I helped the farmer deliver the bale. Meanwhile the two horses had continued at full gallop, round the next field and instead of stopping there, they went out into the track, and disappeared at speed, past the neighbours's house and into the woods! They saw where they went, by now out of sight, so trying to hold back panic, I set off after them with halters. 

I finally caught up with them after an anxious walk along an uphill forest track which led to a grass field, where the horses were grazing (that moment of relief when you see them safe!) but still on high alert. I had only grabbed a thin mac and boots when I saw the tractor approaching earlier, thinking I would be out for 10', so I was cold and wet as well as fighting panic. 

I realised the horses were still high on adrenalin and not approachable and all I could do was join the herd and wait until the emotions settled. So I just mirrored them as they enjoyed the grass, breathing and not allowing my thoughts to rest on catching them, even though it was late and the light was fading. 

At first, if I got too close they would move on or turn away, so I had to be patient. I already knew that it was Fina who would be the softer touch, she is "mine" but will be led or misled by Lucie, she is divided between which of us she connects with and responds to. When I considered the molecules had finally settled, I was able to scratch her underneck and felt a connection re-established, and when I offered the halter she put her nose in it without question. I asked her to graze again and checked out Lucie, I judged her not ready to respond to me so decided to make out we were on a normal outing and it was now time to go home. I led Fina off and called Lucie to follow, but she was sceptical and watched us, keeping her distance. I wanted her to feel she was with us, not being abandoned, so I turned and led Fina back to her and this seemed to give Lucie confidence to follow us back down the track, when I led off again. I was purposeful but unhurried, and strategically suggested grazing breaks on the way. Making things my idea. Now I felt I had "hooked" Lucie. She then tried to come past me and Fina so I quietly blocked her and she accepted it. Yes! That was the sign I was looking for, she was now right behind Fina and I offered my hand and when she didn't react adversely, I scratched her head. Then I offered her the halter and she accepted that I take charge. 

After that, all became normal, a walk back to the field (a momentary high head from Lucie to check that there were no tractors) and they waited patiently for me to give them some hay. 

No sign of harm on their side, the impromptu outing and exercise probably released their emotions after several days in the wet field enduring bad weather. 

I was physically and emotionally drained!

I didn't learn any new lessons only paid the penalty for not remembering the old ones and respecting the horses' way, and allowing myself to be manipulated by an outside influence, forgetting that my job is to protect the herd and their space from intruders, even those bearing gifts! Although I know I did not set it up for success, and took my eye off the ball and lost control of the situation, I am slightly disappointed in Lucie for reverting to her nature and acting like a prey animal, but she amazes me - for her age and with a gammy leg, she can still gallop like a youngster if she thinks she has to!