Jacob and James

He came to us on a cold winter day, full of knots in his massive main and tail. His eyes were closed and he seemed so passive to the world around him. Easy in the trailer and easy out was his motto. It was just by the draw of a straw that he was exiting upon our grounds rather than off to some slaughter house. Old was not a word for him any longer, tired yes, wary yes, and lonely yes. With no name to call him I looked about spotting my grandson in the window I smiled and led him to the barn. Come along old James I tugged on the lead rope.

All went well for James the first few days. He stayed to himself ate very little and made no dangerous moves that would cause attention to him. We did manage to comb out his main and tail after several attempts and days of working on it. With winter there was no question of getting a bath. Brushing and a bit of grooming here and there was all that came with the clean stall and daily feeding. Once in the field with the rest of the horses James still did not mingle with the crowd, he was always a loner and off to himself. I thought many times about his past and what was going on in that head of his.

To make a long story short, winter passed and summer came. James decided he would show us he was still alive and kicking when it came to bath time. I am not sure who got the bath there. He also showed us he wasn’t over fond of having a saddle on his back after all these years. So it was a touch and go trial and error kind of summer. Not a mighty warrior I told him one evening, after we both were exhausted from his little escapade of not wanting the bath, his 4th or 5th bath. He was going to show me he could care less he went right to the ground and rolled in the sand to pack into his wet body. Nothing could keep James off the ground that evening. I stood there with halter in hand saying to myself. You old goat that’s what you are, an old goat no wonder no one wanted you. He looked at me sideways then closed his eyes telling me the conversation was over and I was wasting my breath. Alright it was true he always seem to be the one getting his way but I as an old goat myself decided to not give in to him. Back to the bath we went, I washed sprayed and dared him to so much as move. I am not sure he understood but I can assure you that he did not so much as move a mussel.

We had James about a year when we got a new full time boarder inside our home, another grandson was about to meet James. Down to the barn he came morning and night to help me feed. Jacob was not very tall at the age of three years so he had to crawl under the door and drop the feed into the buckets, well most of it went on the floor and funny thing James seemed to like it fine down there. Look grandma Jacob said he is eating it. Good boy he patted James' head. You eat it all up like a good boy. I am not sure how it happened or exactly what happen over the next few days or weeks or how ever long it took, but Jacob and James bonded. Jacob is now six years old going on seven, he rides everyday that weather permits and guess what he rides James. When James spots that yellow school bus you hear the sound of a neigh, a very old quiet neigh but most effective it comes out clearly. Never does he make a sound until he spots that yellow bus. Jacob learned to ride on James, steady sure footed and sound. Jacob went down the road the first time on James, across the fields and goodness me down in the pond they go almost every hot sunny day. James doesn’t mind the water at all as long as Jacob is on his back. The old goat gets special carrots, celery, even apples that the others don't get at times. I can't tell Jacob not to give his special horse treats, and when I tell him to at least share with the other horses he tells me he can't. Why? I ask. James will get mad and he doesn’t like other horses grandma he only likes me comes his reply.

By Joanna G.