Its a dull day - lets play!

The roads have been too icy to go out and the boys are bored with the weather. 

I can see them from my studio window and sometimes I have the joy to witness them at play. With it being so cold I was getting myself a warming cup of tea and watched what was going on outside. 

Low and behold, 'Luke' was doing his best to instigate a round of play.

They are very good for each other, 'Luke' learns from 'Mr F'. 'Mr F' is very consistent and calm in most cases, something which the other horses greatly appreciate. 'Luke's playful moods on the other hand are keeping 'Mr F' in young spirits. 

 

Playtime is usually initiated by 'Luke' - he begins by nibbling 'Mr F's face, the mouth in fact, until he has a reaction of some sort.

 'Luke': "I am boooored. Do you wanna we play?"

 'Mr F': "No .... not in the mood"

 'Why not!? Nothing else to do ...

 "Come one ...lets play?"

 "NO!"

This can go on for 20 minutes or so. 'Luke' is not one for giving in. If he wants to play, he wants to play! But 'Mr F' being a right old grumpy pasture mate today.

 

'Mr F': "How many times ...

"... do I have to tell you that I am NOT interested?!"

 "Aww spoil sport!"

 But 'Luke' can be very persuasive ....

 "Play!"

 "No!"

 "Yes! Come on!

'Luke' really is not giving up and starts pulling on 'Mr F's rug at the back.

 And I know that 'Mr F' cannot stand that!

 "I said: leave it!"

But 'Luke' gets what he wants in the end:  "Yeah! At last ... !"

The next few minutes are being discussed mainly on their hind legs ... 'Mr F' has now woken up ...

"Now, there. That is enough play for now!" 

 There is 'Mr F''s  'stiff upper lip' again.

I remember when I saw them play for the first time the previous year; I had no idea it was play!

The view out of my studio window allows me to see them all day long if I want to and the first time they were playing I got up in a panic and thought they were fighting. But there wasn't anything I could do if that was the case, so I just stood and watched.

I eventually realised that it was just play; the only time they touched was during the 'interlude', when they nip at each other's faces, teasing. While they are on their hind legs, front legs in the air, they never touch. They pretend to go for each other's neck but they never bite. And the entire time the ears are not flat back but usually upright and pointing sideways. 

It is fun and very interesting to watch them play and they do it pretty much every day!