Snowflake's Story

My First Day in Foster Care -- Intrepid
March 31, 2005

My foster Mom came out to see me early. The sun was barely up. She praised me for eating almost two flakes of hay. I drank most of my water too. My foster Mom let me wander around the barn while she cleaned up my stall, then she put on my halter and lead rope and we went for a walk. My foster Dad came out and checked on us. He said I looked better already. I think the brushing helped me look and feel better. I was walking fast because I wanted to see everything and smell everything. We walked on a lot of fresh green grass. It has been a long time since I've seen that. I smell it, but keep on walking fast for about 30 minutes. I take one small bite of that green grass. I'm not sure if I should do that or not. It tastes good, but I keep walking fast and sniffing everything. Finally we go back to the barn and she puts me in my stall. I get more grain, I really like that and the manger in full of hay again. Then foster Mom and Dad left me in the stall for a very long time.

They came back and it was late afternoon. They talked and said they were worried because I only ate one small flake of hay all day long. Foster Mom took me for a long walk around the pastures while Foster Dad cleaned my stall. They fed other horses in the barn too, but I didn't get to see them. I think Mom and Dad are worried that I will get too excited or excite the other horses too much. I did see two donkeys and some goats on my walk and I stopped and stared for a very long time. I have been alone for so long, I hope these animals will be my friends soon. I still wouldn't eat the fresh green grass. It was too new to me and I was busy looking around and checking out the fencelines. I tried one or two more bites and I think it is okay if I eat it. The taste is becoming more familiar. Foster Mom takes me back to my stall. There is more grain and hay. I get brushed again and she cuts most of the burrs out of my tail. My whole tail is pretty much gone, but she says it will grow in nice and thick. She takes a baby wipe and clears out the crud around my eyes. That feels so much better. I am still dirty and I am shedding, but I think it is too cold for me to get a bath. I love the attention from these people. I just close my eyes and drop my head while they brush me and clean me. I guess my day is done. The lights go out in my barn and I doze and munch.