Green: an hour in the life of a horse! by Jennie Hart

'Star' by Millie Hart

For- goodness- sake Millie! Do I have to have another day in this god-forsaken field? Mara’s eaten all the nice munchy tops and thinks I can thrive on Ragwort. There’s not a blade left in the whole acreage. Oscar and me just about coped but Mara’s stretched the limit.

Sorry I spoke, here you come with my bridle. Oh I see, we’re not riding today, you’ve only got my leading rein. Well, that’s sensible; we don’t want another accident do we? Are we going up Moel-y-Golfa or just round the lanes? It’s a bit wet and slippery you know and my nails need clipping. And,I haven’t had new shoes for ages. 

Looks like it’s to be the lanes. At least I’ll have a chance to supplement my diet. And of all the cheek, Millie says I’m getting fat. It must be down to all those buckets of water I drank in that horrible hot weather. And they still insist on putting my rug on at night!

Oh! I love these juicy verges but Millie will drag me on. Where is a boy supposed to get his nourishment? Ah! We’re pausing. Chomp chomp. Chomp chomp. Sycamore leaves. A bit of a mistake. I like those rounded leaves with jagged edges, with a name the shade of Nana Joy’s eyes. Is it hazel I’m thinking of? That’s right, hazel; just a bit further on near the field gate. We’re walking on now but Millie usually let’s me stop there; she knows I am partial to a bit of hazel. Here we are and we’re stopping. Good old Millie. Knows how to spoil a horse. My word, it must be all that rain. Big succulent foliage like the palm of Millie’s hand. Absolutely delicious! I can’t get enough! Who said anything about greedy? It’s fuel for my fetlocks and marvellous for my mane! A dream for my diet.

Millie is letting me gobble my way along the verge. No ‘Come on Star!’ Not yet!.

Cow Parsley! Thistle tops! Meadow Sweet! Such sumptuous flavours! Millie, please don’t lead me on. Just one more chomp!