The Takahe Stud Episode 4

Press, 29 July 1976, Page 5

The Takahe Stud Episode 4

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RAPHAEL J. MAC LOUGH LIN

Seeing the clogs loping towards her and the colt, and sensing their intent, the mare reacted with the instinct typical of her kind. Arching her back, she lashed out with the strength of her powerpacked back legs. The dogs, hackles raised, and moving warily round her, were, nevertheless, caught off guard.

One of them gave an agonised yelp as it was sent sailing through the air. Blacknose. meanwhile, was content to let the huntaways hairy the mare; he stood otf to one side looking at the coll He would bide his time until the right moment wnv. Thunder, for his part, was too frightened and puzzled to move.

The mare was fighting valiantly and proving herself more than a match for the huntaways when, suddenly, a leg went into a snow-covered hole and down she went. The dogs, quick to seize the opportunity, closed in from all sides. This was the moment Blacknose had waited for.

In an instant he attacked the colt, sharp fangs sinking into the soft flesh just above the withers, while cruel nails easily pierced the velvet-like skin on the terror-struck animal’s back. Thunder screamed, then gave way to shock as he fell to the snow, there to be held by a now coniiden’ Blacknose.

So sure were the dogs of their victims, they failed- to notice or hear the muscular fury that slipped and slithered down the mountainside towards them. One moment, Blacknose had the colt at his mercy; the next, he found himself under the threshing forelegs of the stallion.

While Blacknose yelped with pain, as more than one blow found its mark. Thunder headed for safety. Hearing the cries of their leader, the huntaways left the mare and tackled the stallion. Suddenly, soil and snow started to give way under the combatants . . .