Message by carrier pigeon with mysterious hoofprint for a signature...

(My husband knows how I love the stories from the mustangs point of view, even tho they upset me - I wish they could continue to run free without human intervention. Brian helped Tripp write this, and they threw in a little humor to make me smile. It worked!)


Dear Long Hair 2 Legger,

As you're reading this I'm bouncing along in a trailer that smells of sweat, hay, rust, and good poop ;-) ! I'm making my way to you although I don't truly realize it yet. All the others keep whispering back and forth, well it's not exactly whispering but you get my point. They just keep saying the same thing over and over... Why? Why? Why? We were moving from our winter ranges down to get some fresh greens in the lower ranges when the thunder bird came over the hill. We were terrified but we stuck together, sure that we could outrun anything that came for us. We didn't realize that the wall of brush was really a wall until it was too late. Then there was nothing but the screams of my herdmates as we milled about with nowhere to go. I've been through a lot over these last few weeks but now the whispering has changed. For the first time there is a glimmer of something different. As we ride along every now and again I get short glimpses of small herds of my brothers and sisters. They're walking and eating among tall grass. Grazing with a look of bliss on their face. I can only dream of that again for now.

Imagine my shock! I actually saw a 2 legger on the back of one of my brethren. At least it looked like one of them, for all I know it was a large long ear with lopped off ears that had been shaved, everyone knows long ears are stupid! You won't catch me letting that happen! But now I see a female 2 legger and she's nuzzling what looks to be a mare and her foal. This just doesn't make sense. Doesn't she realize that 2 leggers will chase you? The mare is letting the 2 legger hold her head. HELLOOOOOO!! What is she THINKING!!! Ok, Ok, now I KNOW they put something in the water we've been drinking. I'm seeing things. But it still makes me wonder. I hear the others whispering again as we slow down. I see hundreds of my brethren standing around big piles of dead grass. They stare longingly down the hill watching the sway of the long grass in the breeze.

Do I know you're coming for me? Not really. Right now I'm just afraid. I have so many questions. What if you're like all the other 2 leggers? What if you try to touch me? What if you try to EAT ME! Will I be alone or will I have herdmates? Will I ever get to walk the long grass again feeling it tickle my belly or roll in it just to smell how sweet the grass is?

The gate's open... there are 2 leggers with sticks and they have what looks like a flapping tail on them, it's flopping around making a horrible racket. At last there's an opening and I jump into the daylight! I'm surrounded by my brethren again. So many different smells! We shuffle around trying to get a sense of where we are. I smell the stack of dead grass, it might not be as bad as it looks... I said MIGHT...

Here I am... I am alone... while surrounded by hundreds... fear in my heart and mind... I'm waiting for you and don't even know it... Come for Me...

Wishing You Long Life with Long Grass,

Tripp