Every Day's a New Day with Horses

I'm not always sure who will be greeting me in the morning or the evening when I go to feed Cleo. Sometimes she stands patiently at the gate or in her stall and nickers 'hello' and other times she is a regular bucking bronco. Winter and spring are the worst since horses seem to respond like little children to changes in the barometer and the weather in general. This morning Cleo started bucking and kicking when I came down the lane with the wheelbarrow full of food. She got Kass to jump around and her other neighbor, Kassy, to rear on her hind legs. Kass and Kassy are both Trahkaners and probably related at some point in their pedigree. Kassy is as white as a horse gets and Kass is almost black. Cleo, who is smaller than either of them and white and chestnut (sort of orange) is quite a contrast in that she can out rodeo them both. Usually after she has a few bites of food, she calms down. But today, she would snort, make menacing faces at Kassy, jump and buck and then return to her food. Her unpredictable behavior extends to her ground manners; lately, I have had to have a 'back-up' in case she tries to act like a wild horse as I am walking her to and from her stall and paddoock. I used to question my decision to have a horse when Cleo tested me this way. I felt like an incompetent horse owner--a fake--a wannbe-- who should give up riding for knitting or crocheting. But I have come to terms with my abilities and limitations. Cleo has taught me that it's all right to ask for help; that's what friends are for--and I have wonderful horse friends. I repay their skills with my mine--like getting up every morning early and feeding my horses and those who have owners who want to sleep in.

Happy New Year

Today is already January 5th. I gave Cleo a week off from being ridden since she seemed a little gimpy after her Christmas Day 'rodeo exhibition.' I rode her on New Years Day and she trotted fine except for extra exuberance. Then yesterday I had my first lesson in a couple of weeks. We had a great time. Paula had set up a course of ground poles and cones that acted as gates, and Cleo and I walked and trotted in and out of gates, over and around poles, and back and forth in patterns and circles. We were both exhausted and proud of ourselves afterward. We were lucky to have our lesson in between torrential rains and hurricane level winds. Cleo even had an opportunity to go out for a couple of hours afterward and roll in the mud and sand. The rain and wind promise to hang around for the next week, which is miserable for two and four legged creatures, but I am told snow and ice are even worse. I don't plan to find out. The challenge is to keep stalls and paddocks clean and dry with no help from nature. Today I plan to ride for a spell and then let her stand in the rain, if need be, while I clean her stall and get it ready for another night of cold and rain. Last night we even had thunder and lightening. Horses benefit from breathing fresh air even if it means getting wet and dirty, otherwise their lungs get clogged with bedding and hay dust. I always dread this time of year since I have had horses. It's not that riding is less fun--although sometimes I feel like a kid in a snowsuit after I get bundled up--it's that most of my effort and decision-making surrounds what I call land management. Who goes where and for how long.... I have to tell myself, "It could be worse."