The intention was always to leave him for the winter 'to grow'. The Ugly Brown Foal had recovered from his operations, been introduced to a New Best Friend and literally chucked in the field to grow, like a weed. I feed him twice a day with extortionately priced food fit for his age, and he has plenty of hay that has been specifically sourced from the mainland. This plan for him 'to grow' is working, because now he is flipping enormous. He is still bum-high but his withers are taller than my head. His chest is filling out slowly, transitioning from a gangly foal into an awkward teenager. He is still only 2 years old and looking like he will make 16.2hh or more, I gulp at the thought. I swallow my nerves as he towers above me, I centre myself purposefully to be able to lead this powerful animal and remember he is looking to me for confidence and trust. I watch him throw shapes in the field, his bucks so playful and flexible - he stands on his back feet easily, waving his hooves in a vertical rear, showing me how big, beautiful and capable he is.
This is now a very different horse than the one who arrived 10 months ago. He was simply a dejected little foal when he stumbled off that lorry, underweight and in pain with a matted coat and tiny cracked hooves. Now, he is humongous and well, he is cheeky and playful. He loves his two snoozes a day. Taking a daily afternoon siesta in his shelter with a thick, fluffy straw bed, he stretches out fully using his poo as a pillow. He plays 'bitey face' with his field mate and galloping games with the horse next door, up and down the fence line. He nibbles at the plants and grasses over the acres of land he has to roam - a rare and luxurious thing here in Mallorca, as most horses are kept in stables or tiny corales.
I love to watch him chew his hay as the sun comes up over the hills, melting the ground frost and making the almond blossom glint like diamonds. I love to see him investigate his surroundings with curiosity and little fear. I love to see him learning from his friend on the acceptable way to be a horse. I love to watch him take in the everyday life around him - the traffic on the busy road, the dashing dogs, the hay lorry rumbling through his field, a bonfire and sharing his breakfast with the ducks.
I just love to watch him grow.
