For the Love of Longears

Worked until 8am...napped. Mowed yard.
Ate.
Hmmm.
Chores done.

Badger was standing by the gate.

I've noticed over the past few weeks that he is breathing much easier. If one did not have a skilled eye, they wouldn't know he suffered from heaves or RAO.
One wouldn't know how close we came to losing him either in early May when he had what the Vet called a severe 'asthma attack'.

Hubby had taken the skid steer up the steep driveway and was repairing the washout in our upper 'shared' driveway.

I looked over at Badger. I looked towards the house.
Badger let out a long lonely bray [his brays are high pitched and soft, not coarse like his half brother and sister].
He ended the bray with a grunt.

I submitted. I grabbed a lead rope ... and Badger and I were going off on our first ride in at least a month.
Badger and I have achieved that goal that many equine people want to reach with their horse.
Mental mind melds.
He knows what I am thinking as I think it.
He knows what I want to do before I do.
He reads me like an open book.
He is my mule.
My buddy, my best friend.

When we reached the top of the hill and passed the mailbox, Badger moved into a trot, as though eager to prove to me how much better he was feeling.
I obliged and went along for the ride.

We stopped to listen to a buck snort and then leap out of the woods and across the road in front of us.
The Killdeer screeched and flew playfully over the road and oat field.
An owl hooted somewhere close.
The red wing black birds began to sing their 'good night song'.

Badger and I stood on top of the ridge and listened
and
watched.
We are a comfortable pair.
He likes my company, I like his.
We talk without speaking.
Truly we do.
I'm not even sure I can put into the words the joy that I felt tonight watching the summer day close out...
Badger's warm breath on my shoulder as I stood next to him...

Joy and contentment.
For the Love of my Long Eared Friend.