Today after I had Shunka out in the yard grazing I took him down the lane toward the next road. We do this often, going a little farther each time. Today we went all the way to the first light pole on the other side of the creek. This meant we had to cross the culvert both directions. There isn't any bridge just the road passes over a big culvert.  Shunka don't like the culvert. He snorts and looks askew at it but we went right over it. We made our turn and came back over the culvert. He wasn't really happy about it but he came across with me. We started up the hill toward home when it happened. He saw a cow - a big black angus cow, or bull.  I swear that horse tried to get in my back pocket. He kept pushing up behind me. I would step to the side and he would be right back behind me. I finally got him next to me and started up the hill again but then he circled around and was looked back down at the cow or bull and the bull was looking up at him and coming toward the fence. Now I know I should have let Shunka stand there and look at the bull till he decided it wasn't going to eat him or whatever he was afraid of wasn't going to happen but to be quite frank I am not really comfortable being int he vicinity of a bull myself. I kept moving him up the hill toward home. When we reached the top and could see our yard Shunka put his head down and prepared to bolt but I am wise to that one so he didn't get away from me.   We went into the yard near the round pen we put up there int he spring and summer and began eating grass. Then suddenly he heard something he took to be the monster bull coming for him and spooked out and around me.  I finally convinced him it was time to go home and got him into the barn area  where I could turn him loose. I laugh now when I think of this half ton of horse thinking a cow is going to eat him but when he was trying to climb in my back pocket it wasn't quite so funny.
Still it was a good day. We got home with no injuries and later in the day I sat on Shunka twice and on Pony a couple of times too. Shunka was ready to walk for me today but I didn't have a saddle on him and wasn't sure I could stay on bareback so I got off and gave him a treat. I do not want to fall off him again. I did twice before and it scares him more than it does me.  Pony is just getting to the riding stage with us though I am pretty sure he must have been ridden when he was at Riverton.   I am teaching both Pony and Thousand to line up at the fence for people to climb on just as I have taught Shunka. Today Shunka went to the fence on his own, lined up and waited for me to get on. I didn't though as we had more ground work to do first. It was nice that he wanted me on his back. He is a sweet Brat.

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