The World Through Silvyr's Eyes: In a world where you can be anything you want- be kind.

A good friend of mine recently lost his best buddy, companion, ally of many, many years. When feeding the mares yesterday morning, I noticed our neighbor's gelding standing in his usual corner, but unlike always before, this time he was alone. I immediately started to worry.

Timber, the bay, and Red were put into the adjoining pasture to our mares sometime in early Spring of 2018. My ladies were huge fans of the elderly gentlemen, and more often than not, they would maneuver as close as possible to hang with their new friends.

Wynter, that dirty horse who's supposed to be white! ;), especially loved Red. Wyn is stalled at night, but as soon as I'd release her into the pasture in the morning, she would call to the geldings, and gallop out to greet them.

I, actually, knew the boys from two previous owners! They were the beloved horses of our county Sheriff! When he and his wife moved, they gave the boys to one of my past preschoolers- a kind, smart, little girl who was just learning to ride. When she grew up and left for college, Red and Timber were given to our neighbors for their grand-daughter's first horses.

I was thrilled to have them so close- and so were my ladies. The five horses had to feel like they had their own little herd under the best, possible conditions- plenty of food and water and care. It's a good life, for sure.

But yesterday... Timber was alone.

He was just standing in the corner, staring up the path to his barn... waiting. Alarmed, I ran to the house, and messaged our neighbors. The news I dreaded was confirmed. Red had died suddenly, from an apparent heart attack while climbing the small hill to the barn just days before. I was so sad but I, also, knew from experience how drastically horses can grieve, and I knew that Timber was 28, already on borrowed time.

I knew because the whole reason we even had Wynter, was because we'd lost our daughter's pony, Koosa, who had been with my mare, Dakota, for 19 yrs. When Koosa died just short of her 40th birthday, Dakota went beserk... running the fence lines, and screaming, until she finally just stood in the middle of her pasture and refused to eat. She was inconsolable. Our little Sheltie, Piper, would go stand with her but I knew she needed a horse companion, and fast! So, Wynter joined our family, and I'll forever be grateful for her. She saved Dakota's life.

Now, I worried about Timber.

We've gotten so much snow this Winter, I've been keeping Journey and Magick in the pasture closer to the house. While they CAN reach Timber and Red's favorite corner, they haven't been. The snow is deep, and they rarely ventured out that far. They have each other, so friends could wait until Spring. I needed to facilitate a meeting.

First, I decided to trek out in the snow and discovered that it was over-my-knee deep. I forged ahead anyway, bringing a tiny treat to keep Timber occupied.

Frankly, since he's well fed, he was more interested in just hanging out with me, but I hoped that Journey would see him eating, and be enticed to check in with her buddy. Journey loves her food.

Then, I did some juggling. I managed to get Journey in the pasture with Wynter, leaving Maggie in the far field alone.

My reasoning was that Journey could break a path to Timber that Wynter could follow, and once Maggie saw the other two mares hanging with their buddy, she would break a path out to be with them!

And it worked.

For two days now, my mares have kept Timber company.

I know.

I know that no one asked me to love this horse. I know that he has a family that cares for him. I know many people are shaking their heads, and getting a superior chuckle at my expense. I know plenty of people who think animals are lesser beings unworthy and unaware of my efforts.

I don't care. I know they are wrong.