I was absent this weekend, due in part to the beautiful weather we had. But also because I was busy. This weekend was an extra fun weekend. For the first time since I’ve been here, we went out- and not to a wedding. Actually out.
Friday started the weekend, with Bud, Zach and I going to Timber Lake, SD where we met up with Bud’s wife Kirsten, and a bunch of the DX boy’s cousins- Danial, Jewel, William (and his wife). I got to get dressed up and the city girl in me liked that- though upon arrival to the first watering hole, I discover people there in carharts and women who looked like they’ve been calving out heifers (and in reality they probably are/were). So I might have been overdressed- but at least I felt haute. Of course I met a bunch of other people whose names escape me now, except for the one- a very annoying little man named Boyd. I guess I can’t forget his name, because he was so annoying. Anyway, we went to both the little dives in town, and at one of them played darts- at which I am absolutely terrible and it was purely my beginners luck that Zach and I beat Bud and Kirsten.
Saturday morning rolled around, and while I had a slight headache from the night before I powered on because it was way too pretty outside to stay holed up in dark room downing aspirin and water. We did sleep in; you know Zach had a rough night when he’s in bed until 10:30. The man is up nearly at the crack of dawn daily. I have so go to readjust my internal clock so I can do that too, since it’s now nice enough to run again and by the end of the week we should be able to ride in our outdoor arena again. I went down to the barn to bring Gump, Shuttle and Camo in to eat, and discovered while I was there, that Lucy had come (literally) face to face with a porcupine the night before. Poor girl. She had about 20 quills in her nose, most of which were on the right side of her face. I had fully intended to ride her (and the rest of my crew) that day, but it took the better part of the afternoon and a sedative to get the quills pulled out of her soft, sweet nose. I rubbed on lots of colts Saturday afternoon too. Dolce thought about playing chase with me, but she decided against it. I actually sat on her for a while. She was lying down and her fat belly and wide back made a great chair. I’m pretty sure that next fall when we go to start her under saddle she’ll just think it’s fine and and dandy. I got more beads on Saturday so I made necklaces Saturday evening, and Zach’s niece, Cindy came over to visit at around 10pm that night. I went to bed a little after midnight- I was just completely worn out; she ended up spending the night.
Yesterday was glorious. It was as close to t-shirt weather as we’ve been since September. I wore, two thin long-sleeved shirts, a down vest and a ball-cap and I was almost too warm! I brought Gump and Shuttle in to eat- Camo didn’t want to come but he was also standing knee-high in the prettiest, sweetest smelling grass hay God can make, so who can blame him really? I fed my two and then saddled Gump. We long trotted about 3 and a half miles, and walked another mile, working on getting his left shoulders to continue to follow through, and getting him softer in the face. As a former run away/race horse, this will be a war that will have constant battles. Regardless I still love him. So. Much. Shuttle was really excited to be getting ridden too. She and I loped about 3 miles out- the mare was not even winded. On the return trip we too were working on softness and roundness when she ignored a cue from my leg, and slipped, in the bar ditch going completely down on her right side. I was forced to step out of the saddle (ok so it wasn’t quite as graceful as that sounds) to keep my entire right leg from being crushed by her. I tried to keep a hold of her from the ground as she got up, but was forced to let go of the reins because she couldn’t balance enough to get up with me holding her. She almost stepped on me too when she managed to get up, but luckily missed me. I’m glad she’s not a bronc, because we weren’t behind a fence- we were riding down the road and she very easily could have been scared enough to just take off down the road; lucky for me, we’re fast friends, she and I, and she stayed right there, relaxed and waited for me to climb back up. Needless to say, there was no more ignoring the leg that day. She’s fine but my back and neck are all torqued and my tailbone hurts. I don’t bounce like I used to! I didn’t handle Lucy yesterday. I wanted to give her one more day to get over the trauma of the porcupine.
Today it should be about 60 degrees with winds out of the west at 10mph. I hope to ride Gump and Lucy and probably Camo. Shuttle will probably have the day off after yesterday.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have horses to ride!
its starting to get warm round these parts too.. isnt it awesome?
🙂
I’m glad you weren’t hurt badly and neither was Shuttle. And, it’s great that your weather is improving. – should brighten the mood. So, what did you wear to the local honkytonks?
Let’s see: I sported an cute, off-white,sequin striped tank top with a bolero type capped sleeve sweater that matches, a pair of jeans (that I bought in vegas) that are embroidered with a butterfly across the back pockets and a pair of sequined wedge flip flop type shoes. Oh, and of course a pea-coat. I can’t decide if women up here just don’t care how they look, or if they don’t have the time or what the deal is.
Glad you are okay!!!
That poor baby and her nose! I guess horses are just curious. She couldn’t keep her nose away from that thing, huh?
Glad you got to ride, but it sucks that you are hurting now. Yea, we don’t bounce like we used to!!! LOL