Canon

Today on the trail Jill and I saw, in the distance, a very large horse. I immediately pegged it for a draft horse, and as we approached we could see that his coloring was really vivid - pristine white and deep mahogany, almost black. When we were within speaking distance of the rider, we asked. Turns out Canon is part paint, and part draft. He was gargantuan, and immensely calm. He wanted nothing more than to be near our faces and accept our adulations. We patted his mane, his nose, his brows, his cheeks - nothing at all perturbed this guy. After a few moments of admiring him, I remembered my manners and introduced myself to his rider, Diana. She told us how difficult it was to keep his white white - seems Canon likes to roll in the dirt whenever he can. But today he was spotless, from his immense and lofty shoulders to his gigantic hooves. His hair on his white socks was quite long - yet it too was pristine. Evidently he loved attention, and had no concern about Dylan's stroller or the impatient dog that was traveling with us.

I wish I could say the same thing for that dog. Inti whined and growled - not a vicious or angry growl, but the annoying sound she makes when she's jealous. I was commiting a terrible faux pas - I was fawning over some other, very very large puppy. Jealous? She was positively pissed off. Canon wasn't concerned, and neither was Diana. As for myself, I didn't particularly want to see Inti get any more annoyed. Canon could probably have squashed us all with just one hoof.

We have enough property to have up to three horses here, though we'd have to apply to the Pinelands commission to clear any of our woods. For a moment today it seemed like a grand idea. Then the moment passed, and I came back to my senses. It's enough for a couple of the neighbors to have horses. I can visit them whenever I want. There's even a baby just two doors down. I can bring an apple, some carrots, and enjoy myself while chatting with Marilyn P. I already have enough manure to relocate.