I was warned by Carol Johnson, Bud’s rescuer, that he was very much afraid of men when she first encountered him. I did see that Bud was very cautious around me, sensitive to sudden movements or raised voices.

I tried to play with him once or twice to loosen him up, but he wouldn’t take the risk, so I dropped it. I figured he’d come around if I was patient and cautious, and so I was.

Bud and I ride around together, nap together, train together, hang out together, but until today he would never quite relax enough to play with me. Today, he did, and it was a sweet thing to see. Come and see for yourself.