Spooky ride or the Terodactyl is going to eat me!

This thought crossed Gilly's mind today I am sure!!!

Gilly and I went for a short ride today. He was beside himself right from the start, Blue Heron has a nest somewhere on the hill above the barn and it was screaming! I'm here to tell you that it will make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end! He was snorting, blowing and dancing around like crazy. Took me awhile to get him saddled up, since I knew what was making the noise, after hearing it many times now, it wasn't bothering me today....and we were riding! Here is a link to a recording of their voice: http://www.naturesongs.com/gbhe2.wav
Just as I was ready to get in the saddle it started to rain, just a light rain so I gave up the idea of riding in the hayfield, too slippery for trotting. We rode up the road first away from the barn and Gilly seemed to settle down some but still the ears said otherwise. He was listening for the giant Terodactyl (in trying to find how to spell this prehistoric bird it seems that now there is a "P" in the beginning of it? When did that happen?) that he just knew was going to swoop down and carry us both off for supper!
After about 5 minutes up the road we turned and came back toward home, rode past the barn, now he is getting really nervous again. Pokey is running past us, on the other side of the fence which makes Gilly even jumpier. Thank you Pokey! But I made him go on down the road toward Kim's house. He wanted to turn and run several times but I kept his head straight. I would squeeze first one rein then the other just to keep his mind on something beside wanting to run. I didn't tighten up on the reins either, which I used to do which just made things worse. But I think that by squeezing and releasing my hands on the reins kept him focused on me and not the sounds he was hearing. It was starting to rain harder so I turned and rode back to the barn, again he wanted to run but we just walked along at a good brisk walk. I stayed calm, cause I knew what it was, and that helped him.

I hurried and got the saddle off, raining harder now, went to put Gil in the barn but he won't go, still afraid. So I turned him loose in the field by another gate and he and Pokey are still standing there, 3 hours later. Silly boys!!! But since it's still raining they are getting a bath! LOL
We will work on more scary stuff tomorrow!
Jane