Stuck Like Glue: Take 2

Sasha scanned the herd of Teddy Cobs grazing in the open field, looking for the familiar bay gelding. There. His long mane swirled around him as he grazed in a patch of yellow wildflowers. It was Elmer. Sasha held her breath, scanning his mane, seeing if the bell she had woven in the day earlier was still there. As he took a step forward to find a better patch of grass, she heard a faint jingle. She scanned his mane again, still unable to see it.

“Hi Elmer!” Sasha called out. The gelding’s ears perked in the direction of her voice, and he picked his dainty head up to meet her gaze. In his mouth, was a gold bell on a long orange ribbon. How had it come out of his mane? She had knotted it in so tightly she wasn’t sure if she would ever be able to get it out.

“Guess I need to put that back in, huh buddy?” Sasha sighed as she walked towards him. Just as she took her first step, he tossed his head, dropped the bell,  and launched into a trot, again going to the other side of the herd. Not this again. 

“Elmer, come on. Come here little dude.” Sasha coaxed the Teddy in her most soothing voice, again trying to approach him. She knew he would let her tie the ribbon back in his mane… eventually. If she had done it once, she could do it again.

After what felt like hours, Sasha decided to take a break. She noticed some new faces in the herd, and glanced over them. A tall liver chestnut caught her eye, but he already had a bell tied in his mane. Anyway, she didn’t want just any Teddy Cob. She wanted Elmer. Finally she stood, deciding to give it one more shot. She began to approach the small bay, moving slowly and talking calmly and quietly. She held her breath as she got within arms reach. She stretched out her hand… and Elmer nuzzled into it like he had been waiting for her all day. What a fickle pony. Sasha grinned at him as she rubbed in between his warm dark eyes, his long wooly coat twirling around her fingers. After he had soaked up enough attention, he went back to grazing, but allowed the girl to tie the bell and ribbon into his mane. Surveying her handywork, she gave him a pat on his short withers.

“I sure hope this stays this time. I won’t be able to come see you until the pony drive.” Sasha whispered to him, giving him one last scratch. And with that, she set off back over the hills, hoping to get to the car before it got dark. That pony sure was stubborn.