The White Stuff

 As mentioned before, only one of of our outdoor animals had ever seen snow before.  My Mustang was rounded up in Nevada, so she had observed the white stuff in small amounts in her desert home.  But this is Minnesota.  Real snow falls here.  In fact, we had a record winter.  So far, we’re in the top ten for snowiest winters on record.  As a family, we’ve learned about snow plows and snow blowers.  Clearing the driveway and shoveling our way off the front porch and into the barns.

That first snowfall was quite a surprise for the outdoor animals.  They were all tucked away inside their new barn overnight.  We built a large pasture and set up the panels as a round pen for turnout.  We don’t have a shelter out there, so the horses can only be turned out when the windchill is above zero.  

One morning, the first snow covered everything overnight and was still falling lightly.  I took the pony out of the barn to turn her out.  Sweet, little Florida raised pony.  Snort!  Stop.  Look of absolute bewilderment.  The whites were showing at the edge of her eyes.  I waited until she took a step.  Another step, and then she was walking cautiously with her head up and nostrils flaring.  I turned her out in the pasture to sort it out for herself.  She pushed her nose into the snow and drew it back snorting.  A look towards me as if saying, “This white stuff is covering my food.”  Bitsey the horse was next.  She was more savvy from her days as a wild horse, but still pawed and snorted at it.  She showed the pony how to paw the snow off the grass.  They were soon trotting with their tails high through the pasture. Lastly, the mini donkey, Tony, was led outside.  He was the first to jump around playfully and discover the slipperiness of it. He caught himself with his legs slightly splayed and reassessed the situation.  More cautious steps forward and then he was turned out with the others.  As a young donkey, he was the daredevil, testing the new surface.  One bit of a slip slowed him down a little, then off again to play.  He pushed his muzzle into the snow and then shook his head.  That was cold!  The goats, however, were having none of it.  Already very judgmental regarding rain, they were not buying its clever frozen disguise.  They made a quick u-turn right back into their stall.  Our two barn cats sleep in the heated workshop overnight, mostly to keep them safe from coyotes.  Ralph the barn cat trotted out behind Minnesota native cat, Polly.  He froze and stared.  His whole world changed.  Polly leapt about playfully in the fresh snow, leaving the cutest polydactyl tracks behind.  Ralph startled when I closed the workshop behind him and then looked up at me and glared before stalking off with irritable steps into the frigid white stuff touching his precious paws.  He wouldn’t even look at me while I turned the horses out and did chores.  The only picture I got of him is from behind.  He was so mad.  

Help!