This time of year we usually feed the horses after sunset. Although we have electricity in the barn, there are no lights between the house and the barn. I know the way so well that it is usually no problem, even on moonless nights, to walk out to the barn and turn the lights on. I actually enjoy the walk, because I can look at the stars.
Last night, I was halfway between the gate to the horse field and the barn when I heard the sound of hoofbeats coming near me at a rapid clip. I can see Rags in the dark: his light colored coat almost glows on its own. Smoke never moves faster than a walk, even when he is going to be fed. However, a mahogany bay like Hap is almost impossible to see, if his white facial blaze doesn’t catch a gleam of light.
Since the night “Rags ran into the fence”:http://www.stardel.com/fiveacres/archives/002403.html, I have trusted the night vision of horses a lot less. I started yelling at the horse I couldn’t see. I didn’t want to run to the shelter of the barn: I might be running into Hap’s path, since he was presumably headed to the barn as well. Finally, a little too close for comfort, I saw a shadow passing by a few horse lengths away from me, headed to the barn. I quickly and cautiously followed and turned on the lights. Hap was standing in his stall, doing his trademark impression of a feral Thoroughbred: head high, and nostrils flaring.
I try never to ignore the internal voice telling me that I just did something stupid while handling them. Last night that small still voice was telling me, When there is no moon, carry a flashlight, dummy!