Your story reminded me of my annual 'last time b/4 time change ride' where I scurry outta work to make it to a nearby 10 mi riding mecca lake park. Two years past, there is a stable on the route I took and this time the horses were out near the fence. Well I just had to pet horse noses and pull 'outside fence grass' for them, before I finished up the ride. I've missed them all the other times I've been at the lake so haven't had a repeat petting performance, but whenever I see cows/horses on the rides I go on I always hope I get to pet before I go on (very rarely am I so lucky).