I took Brat out to the local forestry centre yesterday and went for a ride on their public trails. It was a beautiful day, with sunlight through the yellow leaves turning the forest golden in places. After an hour I gave him the choice of going back to the trailer or going on. He chose the trail leading away from the trailer.
A little later I did turn him onto the trail going back to the trailer. Before we got there we encountered a family who had stopped their walk to watch the horse go by. One of the kids told me they liked my horse, and I stopped and asked them if they would like to pet him. The offer was eagerly accepted and they politely approached Brat's shoulder as I directed. Brat graciously turned his head to say hello. He's always been good at the Horse Ambassador thing.
It started when we were riding out regularly with a friend. We often stopped to talk to people walking the trails, and because Brat is calm, sensible and interested in people, he was the horse they got to touch. My friend called it playing horse ambassador first, and it kind of stuck as an inside joke.
