Evening Ride

In our neighborhood, we have meeting to plan the entertainment for holidays and random parties. There are all inclusive and usually pretty fun. The planning meetings themselves are valuable as we share information about the neighborhood and the residents, comings and goings, who is selling, whose dog ran away and was found by whom.

I look forward to these meeting and when I am going solo (without the kiddo) I try to walk to get a bit more exercise. I arrive sweaty but since it is just us girls...I really do not care.

Last night I decided to ride my horse Bailey. I have not ridden him in months. He is sure that he is retired and has no responsibility except steal food from the other two horses. I call him gramps, he protects the youngest horse from his half brother's jealous tendencies.

When I went to get him in the pasture, he saw the halter and walked away just out of reach. I take a few steps toward him, he takes a few step away. It is a lovely and frustrating dance that we do, until I decide to play dirty. I get some feed and pour it in the small feed pen that I have for them. Now usually when I open the gate, I know the chosen horse will run right in and eat without me putting on a halter or anything. Last night when I opened the gate Bailey ran out, past the feed pen, past me, past the house and way into the front yard.

I just stood there and shook my head. He beat me at my own game. He knew it too as he munched happily on the grass. I got the halter and the food and trekked across the yard to him. Put on his halter and let him eat a bit. We walked together back to the feed pen to I could groom him and put on his saddle. He finished his feed while I did this and was ready for the bridle. Got it on, packed the saddle bags with head lamps for the two of us, my calendar and camera.

I documented out ride to the meeting, taking film shorts as we rode along. Tough to do on most horses but Bailey is slow. We rode in a all purpose English saddle but used the reins Western, neck reining and filming. It made for bumpy video but it will be a fun short that I will post after it is produced. I filmed through his reluctance to walk towards construction workers making a racket by cleaning up a site. But I stopped filming when he spooked at a blowing pizza box from someone's overturned garbage can.

We made it to the meeting. I untacked and put him in the pasture next door. He galloped off to the far end. Whatever.

I left before the meeting ended so I could tack up before dark. I put a light on his headstall and one on my helmet. Later I read this was not the smartest idea because horses can see very well at night (which I knew) but can be temporarily blinded by flashlights (did not know). I sang my favorite riding songs to keep a nice pace and rythem. He did not spook at all but clearly was not going to stop when I saw fun neighbor David taking out the trash or neighbor Lee guarding his gate so their Mustang, who was unintentionally loose in the yard, would not run wild. We got home safe and sound. I fed the screaming Arabian half brothers and gave Bailey a little more too.

I like riding at night.

Day 2 of Forced Relaxation

Well Things seem to be getting better. I can walk to the bathroom alone but it takes 20 minutes. Lest you think our house is huge, it usually takes 30 seconds. The pain is pretty bad. So bad that I really do not think the pain meds are even scratching the surface.

I am okay siting down or laying on the couch. Reaching or bending can cause a yelp of pain. I really did want to take some time ff work but this is not what I had in mind. I guess the universe is telling me that to take sick time you must be sick or in pain so much that you cannot function. At last I am getting the sleep I need.

Neighbors have been wonderful taking care of the kiddo. He has spent 2 nights down the street. I am not sure if he realizes that something is wrong with mommy or if he just thinks this is a great vacation. They took him to day care this am. I am curious to know how he did. Neighbor across the street will pick him up this afternoon.

I must make my dermatology apt tomorrow because I have had it for 3 months and I am afraid I have some skin cancer on my face. If I can't drive, maybe some one can drive me. I'll have to play it by ear. I am getting tired of being cooped up though. I wonder if they have wheelchairs at the dermatologist?

Husband gets home tomorrow night. He could not get an earlier flight. At least he tried. I am hoping his fear over my accident does not mess up my healing. He tends to get angry in these sorts of situations instead of sympathetic. I hope I am wrong on this one.

Sahil is Home!

Sahil, my 4 yr old Arabian is home from Rachel's house. Rachel, my BFF (funny to use that when you are over 25 yrs old) and horse trainer, has been putting so much work into him to make sure he is a safe ride for me. I used to have a HUGE buckskin dun that she swore would kill me if I didn't sell him. She was so worried about it that I did.

She gave me Sahil for my birthday a few years ago. He came home after being gone about 4 months. Things had changes since he was home, namely Dewey. The two met in the pasture. Dewey immediately went up to Sahil and started being a pest by nudging and sniffing. Sahil reacted with a swift kick to Dewey's shoulder. He got a few more kicks in before Dewey decided to keep his distance. Bailey, the old grump, played the diplomat, siding with with neither. He allowed both close but would not be involved when the others were sparring.

The next morning I went out and both the young horses were soaked in sweat. They must have been running around all morning. I might have suspected the nasty humidity but Bailey was dry.

Rachel and I rode Sahil and Bailey (respectively) around the 'hood Sunday night. Bailey was slow, as usualy and Sahil was looking around so it was good Rachel rode him. We just did a shorty. My order from her was to ride Sahil as much as possible, even if it is just around the yard.

We did that last night. He was pretty happy to have the attention. Freaked a little as some low branches hit my helmet and made a funny noise. We rode around them and the went back to that area again. He was better. We ended on a good note and then I fed him. Maybe he will associate riding with dinner. That would be good.