Every time I look around the farm, every time I pay attention, I see something I did not notice, did not see before, did not know.  Minnie, I realized over the last few days is using Red to help her come out of hiding and into the world after her leg was amputated. Most days she hides in the woodshed, underneath Maria’s studio barn, on her hay pile in the barn, we don’t see much of her. But Red has a habit of sitting at the pasture gate when he is outside, he is waiting – hoping – I will take him out to the sheep, his true purpose in life.

When he is sitting there, Minnie creeps out of the barn and sits alongside of him, takes in the world, explores the terrain, she once roamed so confidently and murderously. Red seems unaware of this role, oblivious to it, although I imagined if he really didn’t like it, Minnie wouldn’t try it, she is very sensitive to the dogs.

She feels safe with him, his presence gives her strength to come out.  When he goes into the house or out into the pasture, she vanishes.

This  reminds me a little of the way Red guided Rocky around the pasture in the past few months of the pony’s life. I have no idea what Red’s motives or intentions are – I doubt he has any here other than acceptance of Minnie – but I see she is using him as a steppingstone back into the world. Red’s professionalism – I don’t know any other word – has won him the respect and acceptance of all the animals, even the notoriously grumpy donkeys.

I am often reminded to pay attention to the animals, I never regret it.