When Intrepido first arrived at our farm, he was smallest of the small. At only eight months old, he was going to be THE small fry in the field, and I knew that most EVERYONE would want to pick on him. One of the principles that Parelli taught us was to "Protect Your Herd of Two," and at this point, little Intrepido was going to need all the protection he could get.... regardless of the species. This meant that I needed to establish myself as the leader of our herd - he and I -, protecting him as a mother would protect her foal. At first, I wasn't sure this was going to work, but I picked up my carrot stick, and off Intrepido and I went into "The Big Field."

Of course, when word got out that there was a "new kid" in town, the herd came running, thundering over the hill like wild elephants. Intrepido was beginning to dance around on the end of the lead rope, much like a June-bug tied to the end of a string. As the group neared, I rolled out the string on my Carrot Stick, swishing it back and forth like a mare would angrily swish her tail. I asked Intrepido to stay behind me, to which he eagerly complied. The herd drew nearer still, more curious than anything else, completely terrifying Intrepido, but I maintained my position in front of him, and he was quite happy to peep over my shoulder.

Slowly, each horse would come close to Intrepido, sticking out their nose to say "hello." Those that were a little too bold had to go to the back of the "line" until they understood that NO ONE was going to pick on this baby. We did this every day for many weeks, until our entrance into the field was no longer hailed by thundering hooves and curious stares. Each day, Intrepido became a little more brave, and would wander around with me, checking out the logs in the pasture, rocks, trees..... all the while safely within his "circle of protection." When it was finally apparent that no one was very interested anymore in this big-eared youngster, it was time to take the next step....

Intrepido and I made our usual trip to the field, walked calmly through the gate, and stood there as all the other horses paid no attention to us what-so-ever. Hmm....seemed like a perfectly good time to untie the halter. Intrepido just stood there. We had done this so many times that he still felt connected. Ever so quietly, he began to mosey towards the herd, who were now looking at him with some interest since I wasn't "attached" to him. He called out to them in a soft, uncertain voice, "Ummm.....hello?" The group began to walk towards Intrepido, until finally everyone was standing there....sniffing noses. I thought, "Hey, this is good....." and started to give myself a heartly pat on the back.

Too soon.... About that time, the younger geldings decided that it was high time for a game of "Chase the New Guy!" and tagged little Intrepido as "IT." He immediately took off, little black hooves flying, with a merry band of hoodlums on his heels. They meant no malice, as was evidenced by their glee.....but they simply had not conveyed this to the young colt that was fleeing from them. Feeling that he was in some sort of imagined peril, Intrepido did the only thing that he knew to do........find the safest place in the field.....which was where? BEHIND ME. Now that was fine, well, and good when we were just standing around getting to know everyone.

But, now, when that little gray freight train was barreling straight towards me with the obvious intention of getting behind me, well......the thought did occur to me that perhaps he might feel his only option to get there would be to go THROUGH me! I had two choices.....shut my eyes.....or DO something. Sure enough, Intrepido had learned his lessons well, and just as he neared me, he careened to one side and slid to safety behind my back, his head perfectly poised over my shoulder. Of course, the other horses, realizing that he had made it safely to "Base," gave up the chase immediately, and settled back down to grazing. Eventually..... Intrepido made some fast friends out in our field and they all enjoyed a good game of "Chase" and being "It", but there were several more occasions that he came running to my side just to feel "safe", if only for a few moments. One just never knows the comfort that another creature recieves in the smallest of actions taken in their defense....real or imagined. They do not forget those things......and Intrepido never has.

Now, as Intrepido has began to mature, we have learned that there are VERY distinctive differences between these two breeds. Where the Saddlebred has a "built in" Play Drive, busy, busy, busy - always interested in what you're doing and not afraid to get right in there to "help," well......the Andalusian is somewhat different. Intrepido is a bit of a "Conservationalist" when it comes to his energy output, and he doesn't operate with the "High Volume" that some of our Saddlebreds do.

Case in point......When we put hay out for the horses to eat, Intrepido will mosey around looking for the perfect flake of soft, hybrid Bermuda. Sniffing over here, sniffing over there.......voila! There it is.....a perfectly fluffed flake of hay. Circling around it for a moment, he then folds up his legs and lies down right beside his find, contentedly munching away. And if the morning sun is shining warmly down upon him, he is certainly not opposed to falling right asleep, as his neat little pile of hay also makes for a n ice, edible pillow.

When we look out into the field now, it is hard to remember Intrepido as the shy and awkward youngster that arrived on our farm almost three years ago. Each year, he amazes us with his continued transformation. We understand that it will be several years before Intrepido reaches the impressive size of his sire. His presence, however, is already becoming quite evident. There is an unusual "quiet grace" to this young gray stallion.......a nature that only speaks to the hundreds of years of selective breeding from only the most noble of bloodlines in Spain. Through his veins runs the blood of ancestors who carried their soldiers into battle, who deftly manueved past the horns of bulls, and who regally pulled the carriages of kings and queens.....such echoes of nobility can be seen as he calmly and confidently walks across the field, every step now placed with confidence and certainty. He is a true representative of the "The Horse of Kings".....and somewhere deep in the heart of this most gentle and noble horse......Intrepido knows that.