Thanks, Pal. I'm flattered...

If you don't keep company with horses, you won't understand this.
The other day, I arrived at the barn a little late and the herd had already been fed.
My partner was up in the far corner of his paddock where the crew had put his hay and grain on a high, dry spot.

As I started up the hill toward his paddock, I called out his name.

His head popped up from his grain bucket and he trotted down the hill and met me at the gate.
We greeted each other in our usual fashion, then walked back up and I waited while he finished his grain.

It dawned on me that something very special had just occurred.

I know that food is a "primary re-enforcer" for a horse. I thought about all the times we had led an unleadable horse by luring him with a little grain in a bucket.
But here, this old boy leaves his grain without hesitation, just to come over and say hello to me.

I don't want to make too big a thing of it, but I think it may mean that he kind of likes me.
Maybe I'm ok, after all.

sj