Cow in the pond

The plan for today was to ride Sage around the pond. We've been working up to it all week.

We were ready.

I had a bad night and was moving a bit slowly this morning. Karen got to the barn first and sent me an update: "All the horses are very upset," she said. "There's a cow in the pond."

What?!

I grabbed camera and headed out.

The horses were still atwitter when I arrived. I checked in with Sage, then I walked out to the pond. Sure enough, there was a cow in it.

I walked a little closer.

He stood up, and I saw he was actually a steer.

A very cute steer.

I couldn't look away.

I've seen a lot of steers in my life, but never in a retention pond between a barn and golf course in suburban Aurora.

It wasn't just me.

Everyone - both the humans...

and the horses - was looking at that steer.

Taking pictures, too.

Sage seemed more curious than worried, so I put a halter on her and led  her down the alleyway towards the pond.

She gave him a good long look as we stepped off the property.

Then she put her head down and started to eat.

I led her her back and forth a bit. She snorted at someone mooing at the steer, but displayed nothing more than mild interest to the steer himself.

Good pony!

Despite her bravery, today was clearly not the day to ride around the pond. I put her out in the field with her friends, and then Karen and I went out to look at the steer again.

At that point, he was on the move.

He stopped to watch some golfers.

Then he decided the golf course was the place to be.

Enjoy your freedom while you can, my friend! It was fun hanging out with you this morning.