Hat Stealer

Jules held her breath as the golden gelding slowly approached her. Before she knew it, he was pushing his velvety muzzle into her thick winter jacket. She adjusted her knit hat, its large pom-pom trembling in the winter wind. She gently pet the gelding’s cheeks, his palomino coat smooth under her touch. He pressed his forehead into her, and she giggled. She had heard stories of how affectionate and friendly Teddy Cobs were, but this was the first time she had experienced it first hand. Her friend Lorelei had invited her along on her trip to attempt to claim a Teddy, a long-standing tradition that required prospective buyers to tie a bell into the hair of a Teddy. If the bell stayed in until the winter round up, the prospective buyer was able to bid on the pony. Jules hadn’t expected to find a Teddy she felt connected to, as she was more of a warmblood girl. But this little palomino had absolutely stolen her heart, just with a simple headbutt. She dug the bell out of her pocket, thankful that Lorelei had convinced her to bring one. She braided the ribbon and bell into his cream-colored tail, which was somehow even silkier than his coat. Just as she tied off the ribbon, she felt a tug on her head, and a cold breeze on her ears. Turning, she saw her hat in the gelding’s mouth, the pom-pom firmly clenched between his teeth. Jules could’ve sworn that he gave her a playful wink before turning and taking off, hat still in his mouth. 

“Hey, no!” She exclaimed, but was giggling while she said it. She took chase, and finally the gelding let her catch up to him. With a playful whicker, he dropped the hat at her feet. As she reached down to pick it up, he gently nudged her back, causing her to topple over. She rolled into her back in the grass, laughing as the pony stuck his muzzle in her face, breathing his warm breath against her flushed cheeks. She softly shoved his face to the side so she could get up. Rising to her feet, she gave the cob a hug around the neck. 

“You’re fantastic,” She whispered to him. He wrapped  his neck around her, as if to hug her back. “I’ll hopefully see you soon.” She gave him one last kiss on his pink nose, and headed off to find Jules.