Friday, 27 December 2013: Two Hundred and Seventy Days Old

Ayla met her first horse today.

She also met a couple of cows, a cockatoo and a whole bunch of dogs, but the horse was definitely the most special.

In the yards by the homestead are two wild colts, unbroken and fresh, chosen from hundreds of brumbies on the property to become the next two human companions.

It took a long while before the biggest of the colts came close to the fence where Hubby, Ayla and I were standing, and despite being too skittish for a pat from us the colt seemed taken by Ayla.

He stretched out his neck and sniffed Ayla’s tiny hands that were wrapped tightly around the top fence rail.

Then the colt reached even further and tickled his whiskers on Ayla’s cheek.

But when the colt breathed heavily onto Ayla fine whispy hair, and rubbed his top lip against her head, Ayla’s smile beamed and she started to chuckle.

But even Ayla’s laugh didn’t deter the colts curiosity.

I thought the noise and movement might have sent him bolting across the paddock but instead he stayed and learned from Ayla, just as she was learning from him.

It was as if the colt could tell Ayla was somewhat like him; vulnerable, and fresh, and getting to know the strange new world around her.

PS: Ayla also had her first piece of steak tonight; a stir-fry sized cut of Station beef and let me tell you…. Ayla chewed down on that chunk of meat like she had a mouth full of teeth!