Smart Pets

My owner walks into the barn this morning, her long, thick mane is down, which is unusual for her. Only when she is feeling special does she wear her mane down. In a moment, I see why. A male human walks around the corner. He is taller than her. I notice how his eyes follow her every move.

As my master puts my halter on and rubs my neck, I can feel love in her touch - but not the love that she usually has for me. Her love for me is a tranquil, deep, calming sensation. This feeling that is coming from her tense hands is an electrifying love, pulsing through every fiber. It makes me excited. I love this girl that takes care of me every day. She has earned my respect. I have felt this electrifying feeling before. The other day when she was riding me, I suddenly felt her pulse change. It quickened and then she squeezed her legs to make me go faster. Her heart pounded and I caught the thrill that coursed through her body. It seemed to me that she would fly away. Today, I can sense that same feeling, though it is much stronger now than it was earlier.

She leads me out of the stall. As she does this, she avoids meeting her companion's gaze directly, but I notice that she tries to sneek glimpses of him when she thinks that he isn't looking. Every time their eyes meet, I feel that electric pulse suddenly quicken as her hands tighten on the lead rope and her body tenses slightly.

The male rubs me down, his large, strong hands rubbing my back and neck and ears. Strange that I can sense the same thrill in his hands as I can in my master's. His hands are firm but gentle. His strength makes me swish my tail in anticipation. He is going to ride me.

In the dusty arena, I try to stand still as my master instructs the male what to do. He seems to know as he constantly nodds his head. Impatient, I shift my weight. My master mounts up and I toss my head, ready to fly. I can feel her soaring already, and my muscles bunch beneath her. I am ready.

We race around the arena and we fly over jumps. Her racing heart drives me on, pushes me forward, gives my feet wings. When her companion mounts up, I take him flying too. We race around and his heart beat is exactly the same as my masters. After several exhilierating rounds about the arena and several times over the jumps, he reigns me in.

In the barn, the male rubs me down and cools me off while my girl goes and retrieves the treats. I am disappointed when she gives them to me, however. Her eyes aren't on me, but on him. She doesn't lean her head on my face and whisper of her love to me, but gazes furtively at her companion. He rubs my nose, but his eyes don't rest on me, but on my master. They begin to talk and it seems as if the whole world fades for them. They talk and look in each other's eyes and wouldn't notice me if I kicked them in the face. I snort and my master doesn't turn. Instead her hand absently reaches out to rub my nose. But her heart isn't in the pat. Finally she turns her eyes to me and rubs my nose. The male is already walking to the car. "Goodbye, my friend," she whispers in our customary farewell. There is no reluctance in her eyes, no lingering look. I watch my girl trot to the car and realize that she is no longer my girl.