Aliens have invaded the pasture

Pluto and Mystery are still on high alert.  I wasn't really expecting it two days in a row.

I buzzed by the farm this evening to put the last dose of antibiotic cream on Pluto's owies (now pretty much healed) and to see if he were in a conciliatory mood.  I think he may be headed that direction, but he is Way Too Busy to bother with me right now.  He didn't argue with me walking up to him and fooling with his various parts, but he was not about to play pasture games tonight.  He had to keep an eye out for Stuff.

It's one of those situations in which it would be REALLY NICE if the horses could speak English.  I am not the only one wondering what is going on.  Bonnie wrote me email today about her experience out there.  Both horses were standing by the same spot on the fenceline, staring down the farm road.  I'm not sure if they are watching for something in that direction or wishing they could get away from whatever is in the woods by the railroad.  Either way, they are totally focused on something that the humans do not perceive.

Probably aliens.  Pluto and Mystery are the only two creatures in the world aware of the danger.  (None of the other horses seem to be joining in, btw.  Including those standing twenty feet away.)

Bonnie said when she came out to the farm, Pluto literally nudged Mystery to get him to move toward her.  Normally Pluto would be way out in front, begging for the treats and the attention.  Not today.  He's on alien watch.

As horse behavior situations go, this is not one I am equipped to deal with.  If it were just Pluto, I would write it off under the "He's weird, deal with it" column.  But when sane, normal Mystery starts buying into his psychosis, something strange is going on.

Three hypotheses exist so far.  1) Fallen tree limb is scratching the runin roof and making weird noises.  2) Some kind of small animal is living in the strip of trees between the field and the railroad, and making weird noises.  3) The horses were reacting to a broken chunk of electric fence, which was making popping sounds as it ground out.

The problem with all of these hypotheses is that the horses aren't staring that way.  They're staring down at the other end of the farm, 180 degrees away.  I guess investigating the other end of the farm is the next step.  But not with Pluto in tow, because that way lies broken reins.