Username: Isabella45
How you get close to her:Well, it was a breezy autumn day and I was out kite flying. Unfortunately, my skills with a kite make Charlie Brown look like a pro. I lost my kite in a tree so I climbed it to retrieve the kite. Unfortunately, my fear of heights got he best of me and I sat there in the tree for about thirty minutes. Then I heard something moving about below me. I cast a cautious glance down toward the ground and my breath caught in my throat. Standing there below me was the most magnificent beast I had ever seen. Now, I had never believed unicorns were real, but this sure changed my mind! For a few minutes I was too scared to even breath, I just watched as the mare moved about below me. Then I did something kind of stupid. I leaned forward, just a bit at first, then a bit more, a bit too much. I fell out of the tree right in front of her. For a moment she just stared at me, raising her head almost haughtily, then she turned and cantered away.
I sat there on the ground, dumbfounded, then made my way home.
The next day I casually wandered that way once more, hoping to see her. But I didn't.
I went back to the spot every day for a week, but with no luck.
When I had to go out to that spot again a month later I had long been decided that I would never see her again, if i really had to begin with.
So I went out there with
Houdini to let him get some exercise.
Maybe it was me, maybe it was Houdini, maybe it was both of us. But I saw her again. She came out of the woods in all of her elegance. While she appeared calm, I saw by the look in her eyes and her posture that she was ready to run if need be.
I decided that I would ignore her and hope she was friendly.
Well, to my relief, and I must admit, some disappointment, she was more interested in Houdini than me.
The two seemed to hit it off and galloped around the field while I raked up some leaves.
They might have gone on forever and ever, but finally I decided that it was time for Houdini to go home.
So I whistled for him and reluctantly he came to me and we walked home.
I woke up at midnight to hear the sound of retreating hoofbeats.
Houdini is well named, and he must have decided it was time to go see his new friend.
I didn't bother going after him. he had escaped before but always come back.
I didn't see the unicorn again that month, but Houdini visited her frequently.
Early one morning in winter I walked into the stable, ready to start my day, only to find Houdini in his stall . . . with the unicorn.
I was so shocked I jumped. I thought she would run at seeing me. But when she didn't I looked closer and noticed her drooping head and half closed eyes.
Then I saw the blood on her front legs.
I never figured out what happened, weather she fell or was attacked by some wild animal, or maybe just missed a jump.
But that day started a long healing process. At first the wouldn't even let me get near her, but after some time, and maybe some words from Houdini in their own language, she let me clean and bandage her scratched, bruised legs.
That became my daily ritual. Feed Houdini, bandaged her up, then take care of the rest of the horses.
As soon as her legs were healed we were back to our old relationship though. The one where I kept my distance.
But, she stayed around. Probably because of Houdini and some of the other horses.
I guess our relationship grew stronger over time.
I remember feeding her daily with Houdini, and one day she let me pet her. But after that she seemed to be a bit spooked. Maybe it was just too soon. She disappeared that day and was gone for three days. When she came back things were different.
She seemed curious of me. Almost like she wanted to be my friend but didn't know why or how.
Then it was time for me to take a step toward forming a good relationship.
I started talking to her when I was cleaning in the stable, leaving sugar cubes on the ledge near her stall.
One day when I was cleaning, raking up some dirty hay, she came up behind me and took the sugar right out of my pocket! She took half of the pocket too.
She stayed all winter.
Come spring all of the horses needed to be thoroughly bathed to get rid of winter's mush and dirt.
Now, I hadn't intended to bathe my feisty unicorn friend. But she saw the other horses getting bathed and ran in front of the hose!
After that she looked like a drowned rat.
So, I cautiously tried to groom out her mane, and the end of her tail. At first she aimed for me a couple of times with her hooves. But finally she seemed to relax under my grooming attempts and she seemed to enjoy it!
After that I became a little more bold. I attempted not only grooming and cautious pets, but hand feeding. She allowed most of my attentions. But saddles and bridles were definitely out!
While I had wanted to ride her at first, in the end I was glad I didn't. She was so wild and beautiful, it seemed like riding her or putting a bit in her mouth would take away some of the wild beauty I had come to love in her.
Now, I can't say she is exactly tame, or that we are always the best of friends, but we get along pretty well!
She comes to me for grooming, and of course, sugar! But keeps her independent spirit too.