Horses kin hurt ya. Sometimes on purpose.
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Horses kin hurt ya. Sometimes on purpose.
I looked up at the pig-eyed backyard horse. The roll of fat down the crest of his neck quivered as he snorted and flared his nostrils. He was not pleased that I’d managed to get a halter on him in the first place. He belonged to a 13 year old kid who rode him faithfully at least once a month. This horse was used to bein’ the boss and he did not tolerate my attempts to force my wishes on him.
I tried to calm him but the suspicion never left his eyes. Maybe I’ll try him without a twitch, I told myself with optimistic bravado. I picked up my plastic syringe of Ivomec paste, took a firm grip on the halter and gently eased the tube into his lips. He froze for a moment. I pushed in another inch and he exploded. He reared up. I fell back losing my syringe but tangling my other hand in the lead shank. He pawed and struck at me, hooves flashing on either side of my head. My hand came free and I toppled over backwards. He ran to the corner of the corral while I lay there with my heart pounding in my throat. That night I noticed a razor thin cut runnin’ along my cheek. A rough edge on one of his hooves, I guessed. So Close.