I love my horse

I am dismayed by my absence from my blog for almost two months. Riding and blogging are both luxuries, and while I have been riding the past couple of months, work, traveling for work, and hours on the computer for work have kept me away from writing about my horse adventures. But yesterday I had a wonderful lesson and ride. On Sunday I also had a fun recreational ride. On both days, Cleo was cooperative, willing, obedient and acting like she was happy to have me on her back. Yesterday, we escaped the confines of the indoor arena and rode outside up and down the lane. We even 'trotted' up the lane! True Cleo was following Paula, my trainer, as much as anything, but that's the nature of a trail ride at some level, a skill to develop like any other. In the past, Cleo has tried to go sideways, backward, in circles to avoid going where I asked. As you might imagine, this is very scary outside where there are ditches, electric fences and all manner of dangerous obstacles when your horse is not going in a straight line or in the direction you are attempting. So we are working both on her manners and my confidence. Yesterday we achieved both. Paula had me ride up a modest hill and next to the barn, places I usually avoid. The sunny weather made all three of us happy and relaxed--which is the key. Although I was happy to get off at a perfect time, I felt as though I could have stayed on for hours. Cleo is a great pet because she is alert and attentive. She knows the sound and sight of my car and voice and neighs to me when she hears or sees me. She never runs away or avoids being caught like some horses. But mostly, like most horses, she loves food, and if I could hear her words she would be saying, "Here comes the food lady," so I don't let myself get too flattered by her attention. But when we have a good ride, I feel like we are a team and waves of love for her wash over me, if you know what I mean. The feeling is so exhilerating, I am motivated to slog through the mud, or walk in the rain, or bundle up against the cold so that I can clean up her messes, brush her, clean out her feet, tack her up, and climb on her back even for a few minutes to capture that unpredictable feeling of teamwork.