By: Jessica Shaw

I’m not sure how many people have been graced with meeting an extraordinary yet odd animal, but I have. She is a plump palomino Quarter Horse named Cheyenne. Even when she is being really bad, she still makes you laugh. She is sooo funny that you can’t really help laughing. When she gives you one of her quizzical looks, laughter bubbles up inside you, and a big smile spreads across your face. When you meet a horse as absurd as Cheyenne, you can’t help but laugh.

Cheyenne has two great fears. Tractors, bikes, cars, even copperhead snakes don’t phase her. What Cheyenne really fears is my brother’s giant green ball and our neighbors’ Black Lab. My brother got a giant ball for Christmas and was playing with it outside when he lost control of it. The ball went bouncing down the hill right through the pasture. Cheyenne took on look at the ball and bolted like there was no tomorrow.

My brother and I found this immensely amusing, so now whenever we need a good laugh, we send the ball down the hill and watch Cheyenne run for her life! Cheyenne also fears our neighbors’ Black Lab. No other dogs bother her, only this particular one. Whenever we head out for a trail ride, we pass this house. Cheyenne won’t walk past by herself; she’ll only go if she hides her head behind you. Cheyenne seems to think that if her head is hidden, the rest of her is invisible.

Cheyenne loves food, and her round figure shows it. She’ll fall over herself to get food, so if seeing a horse in distress amuses you, simply stand outside her stall and eat something. We get a kick out of eating in front of her, but Cheyenne always gets a tidbit in the end. She will eat anything; chips, toast, pizza, fruit, cheese. Don’t be surprised to see us sharing a bucket of fries at a show, or to see the horse trailer going through the drive-thru!

Cheyenne has also created some interesting ways to entertain herself. One morning at the barn, I saw Cheyenne standing at the water trough just looking at it. What is she doing now? I wondered. I hear a weird whistle coming from underneath our raised water trough. I looked underneath, and to my amazement, a woodchuck was trapped. Cheyenne wouldn’t let it go! Every time the woodchuck peeked out, she chased it back under.

I had to drag Cheyenne away to let the poor thing go! Boy, was Cheyenne frustrated when I made her release her “prisoner”. I can just picture her rounding up this woodchuck like she was a real cow pony! Cheyenne also invented another game for herself using more defenseless animals. One night, Cheyenne didn’t come in for her grain. Knowing how much Cheyenne loves her food, my mother thought this very odd. After going to look for Cheyenne, we found her swinging around an opossum by the tail!

My very favorite weird story to tell about Cheyenne is how she hates hoof black. We were at the Pennsylvania State Horse Show getting Cheyenne ready for her Grooming and Showmanship class. My mom was polishing Cheyenne’s hoofs when the devilish little mare decided black was more my mom’s color. Promptly kicking the bottle in my mom’s hand, Cheyenne effectively covered my mom in black! My mom was furious; all our friends were laughing hysterically; Cheyenne looked delighted with herself.

Cheyenne has definitely made it clear that she is not your ordinary horse. She has a little “extra’ spunk that makes for lots for laughs, and she is an “extra”ordinary equine.