October 8, 2008 – Monster towel

Last week we had a rainy afternoon and Rory was shivering when I brought him in for the night. I was a little concerned so I grabbed a big towel to dry him off. He wasn't too sure about it and walked around mum to escape after I draped it over his back. I stopped him when he came round and he decided it was okay - until I started rubbing and the towel flapped against him.  That scared him and he backed into the corner of the stall. I kept rubbing and he settled without trying too hard to escape. Rory didn't really like his neck disappearing under the towel. After he was dried off as best as I could do, and he'd stopped shivering I dragged the towel over him and let him figure out that it was okay.

He's almost completely dark now, except for his face above his eyes, up to the base of his ears and forelock (and his baby fuzz legs). And the very base of his mane. His mane is going lighter again - there is a dark stripe on the mane hairs. It's only visible if I separate the mane at his neck and look in good light, otherwise it's not obvious. Against the browning fall trees he almost disappears, until he looks at me with that white face.