The Story of Sage

This morning when I opened Sage's stall door, she bolted past me, ran out of the barn, and headed for the road. Fortunately, she stopped before actually going in the road. Yesterday, when it was time to put everyone out in the paddock, Sage got impatient, reared, and managed to get one of her front legs caught on her stall door. The only way I could think of, to quickly free-her-up, was to unlatch the door, even though I knew it would mean having to repair the door. The door came crashing down, ripping off the hinges, and Sage took-off out of the barn. When things like this happen with Sage, my initial response is anger. I have to stop and remember that she has very poor eye-sight and her hearing is bad. She is not being naughty, she is just panicking because she thinks she will be separated from her herd. Herd equals safety, even though no one in her "herd" has ever bonded to Sage. Poor old Sage!!! Sage has been at Stony Bridge Farm for 5 years. She belongs to a college friend of Marks'. Sage was Lindseys first pony. Lindsey outgrew Sage,but Sage remained with Lindsey. Paying board for Sage, and tuition for college was getting increasingly more difficult. One day when Lindsey was visiting, I overheard her telling Mark about her dilemma. I said "Bring Sage here. Whats one more poor old soul!" When Sage arrived, I waited with anticipation to see the cute new pony. What a surprise! She was the homeliest equine I had ever seen. Head too big for her 12 hand high body, long shaggy coat, and the strangest coloring--sort of roan, but not quite. Well, little Sage is still the homeliest equine on earth, and a pain-in-the-rear end, but many a child has enjoyed getting pony rides at Stony Bridge Farm.