Not-At-All-Tall Tilly Tales by Irena Szirtes ... ... ... ... 2: The Pony and the Phone

credit: Kate Palmer

 Tilly loved to come in. Her previous field had stabling with open access, so when she came to the yard, I did wonder if  evening bring-ins might strike her as somewhat restricting. I needn't have worried. Tilly took to bring-ins so well, she soon insisted on being the first. Round about bring-in time,  even a little before, she’d wait at the field gate, then show displeasure by pacing and whinnying, if  horses on earlier bring-ins passed by.

      It was still early days when the yard manager, Jill, told me how carefully Tilly walked when her young son Aiden held the lead rope. If Aiden led her, Tilly forgot her eagerness to reach stable and feed, while Aiden took  pleasure in her doing all he asked. It was, therefore, surprising when Tilly halted mid-bring-in one evening. She stopped and simply refused to move. They paused and tried again. Tilly wouldn't budge.

   Jill  decided an adult's experience was needed. After talking to Tilly and stroking her neck, she began encouraging  her forward. Nothing. When they tried again, Tilly scraped her front foot on the ground and nodded vigorously. Sensing frustration and fearing lameness, Jill ran her hand down Tilly's front legs. There were no hot spots, no swellings, no cuts or grazes, but there was something else - something in the grass. Jill's phone! She'd lost it earlier, but had no idea where. Phone retrieved, Tilly walked happily back to her stable. Aiden may have imagined it, but he was sure there was an extra spring in Tilly's step that night.