OPENING THE GATE

Does anyone know a reliable history of, I don't know, some of the small items we deal with daily but just take for granted? Things like doors - so who started using doors first - who came up with the concept of a lock on it - when did people begin fencing in their places? Why are doors always rectangular? Are hobbits the only ones who thought of maybe having them circular?

The only reason I am even thinking these strange thoughts is because of some considerate actions of one of my horses.

Horses are often viewed as pretty stupid animals... by people who don't like horses. While horse people will usually say, if your horse says no, you either asked the wrong question or asked the question wrong.

I've even found that my horses use tools. Really.

I must explain to those of you who don't live in Arizona -- mesquite trees are 1) legumes, 2) able to survive where almost nothing else can grow... like in the Arizona desert.... and 3) mesquite trees are ARMED with needle-sharp thorns up to 3 inches long, with spines tough enough to go right through regular shoes and puncture tires.

So Najale will step on a branch of a mesquite tree - then positions his big fat belly right over the adjacent branch, and jiggle the first one until he gets that huge tummy of his scratched just in the right spot.

That's called using a tool.

The colt also has an odd habit of picking up random pieces of bark in his teeth, and then using it to scrap the dirt at his feet. I don't think I can call it writing, but he certainly concentrates hard on what he is doing - maybe an artistic equine streak.

And several of my horses have learned that art of opening gates.

Najale began the gentlemanly habit of opening the corral gate when he was certain that his symbolic mom, Sally, has eaten enough of her own feed, and would kindly race over and devour whatever was left.

Then both Renegade and Triple A decided to get in on the same trick, and soon any gate was also secured with a double-knotted rope to prevent such food encroachments.

Now EVERYONE has figured out how to easily lift the new simple gate latches, and tonight the horses have scheduled a class specifically on how to UN-KNOTTING.

An escape is obviously being planned.