He's His Own Master

Speedy and I have been partners for many years now. He and I met when he was just three years old - a baby really. At seventeen, soon to be eighteen, we're still partners, but the truth is that Speedy is free to make his own decisions as long as those decisions don't get him into too much trouble.

When you have the run of the yard.

We're having an unusually wet December which is great for someplace that exists in perpetual drought. The downside is that it has been really muddy the last few weeks. Both boys have large, sandy paddocks, but they choose to spend their days in the same areas which means lots of mud. While I ride Izzy, I often open Speedy's gate so that he can get out of the mud and graze on the winter grass that is springing up around the ranch.

The ranch is truly a beautiful place to be.

Free range Speedy is mostly well behaved, but I do have to keep my eye on him or at least make sure the feed room door is latched tightly. Over the years, he has learned that he is allowed to cross the threshold with his front feet only. Left unsupervised, I worry that he'll come all the way into the room and not be able to back himself up without knocking over everything as he exits. And knowing him like I do, said exit would probably cause a panic.

When you know your girl is in the feed room, and you know exactly where the door is.

While I miss our daily rides, I enjoy Speedy just as much as a retired old man. He seems to know that living a life of ease is all that's expected of him. Watching him as he visits all of his neighbors always makes me smile, and knowing that he's happy helps me feel like I am paying him back for all of the years he spent doing what I wanted.

Now, he gets to do what he wants. Isn't that what retirement is all about?