Hear deer here dear...

OK, I didn't actually hear them before I saw them, but why compromise a perfectly good title with dreary ol' facts?

Beautiful October afternoon in sunny Hampshire. A little chill in the air, but not too bad, no flies either, which is a bonus.

Mr Max and I went for a lone hack, all ridden. He had his special spook hat on today because it was a bit windy. He was very tall and narrow for pretty much the entire trip, and was forever saying "What's that?!... Oh my God! What's THAT? And THAT?"

None of the "thats" were anything much; the funniest was a mound of dirt strewn across our path "Head for the hills!" exclaimed Max as we trotted sideways past it; the bravest was two old rotten bits of branch a bit farther along the same path. These, even to me, looked like pretty angry snakes, and Max spotted them lurking well before he was upon them.

This is where he baffles me. Imagined danger and we have to dance around and try to turn for home, but something that actually looks like it might be a threat, and although he's cautious he does not hesitate in his approach and gets his head down to give the thing a bloomin' good snort of disapproval!

He did this with the branch snakes, and then stepped over them, exposing his vulnerable belly as I guess he had determined that there was no threat. There was a click treat though, gratefully accepted.

As for the deer, spied them in a stubble field that ran alongside the bridleway we were on. There were seven of them, nibbling at whatever it is deer nibble at, and totally unconcerned by Max and I, although they did spot us and watched our progress. This is the cool thing about seeing the countryside from a horse's back. My line of vision was above the hedgerow, so deer were easily spotted, and also, I sometimes fancy that approach on horseback is less threatening to the critters of field and forest. They scatter when I'm on foot, but not when I'm on Max.

Rugged up little green man again tonight. Although this afternoon has been lovely, blustery rain is called for tonight, so best that he's got a little protection from the wet and chill.

Today we have changed his move forward prompt from "Walk on, Max" to "Rock on, Max".

Because it makes us laugh, that's why.