June in Humboldt County

Horse people in Humboldt County wait for June. The rain stops, the mud dries up, the wind dies down, the light stays until 9:00,the temperature hoverss in the 50's and 60's, and the mares have recovered from their first 'in season' in the spring. That is, until global warming, or El Nino, or whatever is causing the unusual weather all over the country this spring. Most Aprils I can't keep the hummingbird feeders full to accommodate all the migrating hummers; this year they just arrived this past week. The weather has been unseasonalby cold following a four day hot spell that broke all time heat records since recorded time. Although our annual rainfall is down four inches (from 37+ by this time with 38+ the yearly average), we are still plagued by the early spring 20--30 mph winds that drive both humans and horses into a frenzy. Cleo seemed to have escaped her annual spring 'marish' behavior until this week, as well. At our lesson, Paula had to rescue me out of a corner that Cleo wedged us into and wouldn't leave in spite of taps with the spurs and whip. She was busy trying to intimidate the other horse in the arena as well as me. We finally got her to pay attention to her task at hand, but she had numerous regressions into belligerent behavior. It didn't help that it was not only windy outside, but also drizzling as well, and she was wet from the overnight showers. We had beeen making great progress walking and trotting up and down the lane outside at the end of each lesson, but the weather canceled that opportunity on Tuesday. The day before she had been bratty as well. Tomorrow I will try again and hope she has turned back into her sweet, cooperative self.

Spring has sprung

I rode Cleo today for the first time in a week; Paula, my trainer, was sick on Tuesday and I used the day to recuperate from a miserable few weeks at work. I have been missing weekend rides due to work-required travel and other responsibilities, but many of us in Humboldt County have spotty riding schedules from November through March related to weather and often the winter gloomy blues. But I have been making progress during my weekly lessons and on the weekends when I can ride. Even though I missed Tuesday, I had ridden both weekend days last weekend, and I rode today and will ride tomorrow as my Mother's Day present to myself. Cleo has been pretty good lately, especially since it's spring and very windy. Not only do horses often react to wind because it flashes unfamiliar objects within their vision, but also the wind carries new and sometimes scary smells from far away. Spring also turns mares' thoughts to love, even though stallions are forbidden at our stables. But then there are the exciting smells carried in by the wind, perhaps. At any rate, our new accomplishment is riding up and down the lane without Paula there to rescue me if necessary. Today the weather was almost warm, and Cleo was pretty good considering she is 'in season,' the wind was blowing, and three other horses were also in the arena--one also a mare, and new to her. On occasion, she has rebelled when a horse she doesn't know is sharing her 'space.' But she behaved until the very end when she wanted to hang out at the rail with the other horses while their riders gossipped. "It's not fair,"she complained and tried to avoid trotting in the other direction away from the fun. But thanks to my whip, spurs, and some firm direction on my part, we 'worked through it' and then managed to follow the other horses down the lane and back into the arena with no argument. In other words, 'a good horse day.'

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.

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."