Spring has come, and Smoke is as excited as ever.

The first ride of the year was great. We went excitedly through our little town of Monmouth, up and down roads as the horses took their chance to take in the nice air. It was a perfect day. Or, at least it would have been, if Smoke hadn’t snapped and decided that his life, at that very time, was devoted to attacking his little pasture mate Nugget.

Smoke is not very subtle in his attempts to attack that horse, but he’s pretty mean when he actually manages to get at her. The first thirty minutes of our nice little ride was quite entertaining, with Smoke pinning his ears back as far as the tiny muscles would allow, and then, a full five minutes later, he would attempt to attack.

Now, any horse person could tell you that when a horse pins back his ears, he means to attack. Of course, most horses are quicker than that, as well. Usually it is a quick attack, with the ears going back, and then in less than a second, they’ve already attacked their little friend. Smoke is kind enough to tell you a full five minutes in advance, so that you can get a small stick from a nearby tree to tell him ‘No’ within the four extra minutes that you have to prepare. His ears will make one last effort to go back even farther on his head, and then he will strike! Or at least, he will attempt to. By that time you have already snagged your twig and slapped him with it.

Smoke will look at you with the most pathetic expression that any horse person could ever see. It is quite amusing. First, his eyes will fill with wonder, and shock, as though it was improbable that anyone would ever try to correct such a sweet horse. Then they will fill with anger, and he will begin to plot ways to get back at you. If he could start beating you with a log, he would be overjoyed, and would smile as he did so. Of course, he soon forgets his plans for revenge and turns his attention back to Nugget, licking his lips in anticipation. Five minutes pass, and just as he is about to attack, then WHAP! He spins, looking around in shock. A higher being is attacking!

Well, not quite, but you are a few inches above the top of his head, so you could be considered one. Then the accusations start.

“You hit me with a stick!”

“It was a twig, you baby.”

“You hit me!”

“No I did not.”

“Yes, you did! You totally did!”

“Can I blame a tree?”

And then the process starts again. Plot, attack, get slapped, VENGEANCE, plot, attack, get slapped, ACCUSATIONS! Yep. Smoke is such a sweetheart.