If the early morning sky was any indication, Saturday was going to be a gorgeous day. After some confusion from a hurried message on my phone Friday to "come up and catch mud-caked horses to brush," I arrived at Lynn's about 6:30 am this time, which worked better than 6:30 pm Friday. Hey--if someone says let's brush horses, I grab some carrots and I'm there.
Lynn had already caught the horses and was in the process of bringing them to the trailer to be brushed. She feeds Brady his "old man grain" and usually gives the rest of them a treat every morning so they came right to her. I brushed Brady and whispered sweet nothings in his ear and then gave Star lots of attention, too. Lynn saddled up Star while I put all my apparatus back on my saddle--cruper, breast collar, and lengthened my bridle. Although it was fun to ride Star, and easy to get him ready, I was happy to be back on Brady.
Shirley arrived; we hitched up, loaded the boys, and were off. We took the "hoop-de-doo" trail, which is Brady's favorite. I don't think we walked over many downed logs; he was feeling good and we jumped and jumped! I reminded him that downhill jumping was not my favorite as my almost 50-year-old back muscles would complain later.
Coming out, Lynn let Ziggy run a little going up the trail and through the woods. Brady was in seventh heaven--we ran and leaped like he was 10 years younger. In fact, he took me by surprise over a new downed log that was pretty high and I came out of my stirrups and lost my front pack. Of course where we stopped to reload, the trail was not real level so I centered Brady over a small log in the trail to use as a step up. Being the kluts that I am, my boot slipped off the log as I went to put the other one in the stirrup and everyone laughed. Brady even looked back at me like, "What are you doing? Sheesh!" But then when we were on our way again with more running and jumping. Both Star and Ziggy were jumping and having fun, too. At one point when Star and Shirley were in front of me, I had time to notice how easy she sits her saddle--she was leaning up a bit, but her bottom never moved. Then there's me! Banging away in the saddle, poor Brady--Lynn always says he's rough, but I think half of it is me simply being out of control and trying to stay on!
Back in the meadow, Lynn and Ziggy practiced rounding up cows. He blew at them a little at first, but he does pretty much whatever Lynn asks him to do. (Except keep his tongue in his mouth!) He stood patiently still earlier on the trail while Lynn stood in her stirrups sawed some of Yew wood hanging down dangerously over the trail (as the bruise on my shoulder will attest).
As Brady and I took the last hills his favorite way (running to the top and then walking down to the bottom, then doing it again up the next one) Shirley and Star had a little rodeo. Because I was in the front, I didn't see it happen, but she said Star bucked a couple of times on each hill because he was mad about being last and not being able to run with Brady. He's never done that before! Hopefully she's not mad at me--it's probably my fault because once again, I let Brady do whatever he wanted and felt good about doing.
Anyway--we walked the last bit out like always and the boys seemed as happy as we were. After a good brushing and a little bit of grain we went home. It was another beautiful day ahorseback.
Alisa, if you're reading this--what are you planning for Labor Day Weekend? In the mood for wingdingers and laughing till we pee?
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