A New Addition to the Family

As I sit here sipping a cup of hot tea, munching a Thin Mint cookie (one of many), I have a fire going and the washer and dryer are humming and my taxes still sit on my dining table waiting to be completed. Outside the wind is picking up and the rain gauge is getting fuller by the minute, but all I can think about is going riding or helping Lynn feed the horses. Actually one might laugh watching how much I help feeding anyone--all I do is ride up there with her and then stand around and talk to and rub on Jupiter.

Looking around at the herd of horses, Shirley asked if we had enough sorrels yet. Well as far as I'm concerned we do. (: Jupiter is the smallest of the boys, but he will fill out and pass Indy up in no time. He came from a pretty ranch in Oregon called the Poco Loco where he was obviously well loved and trained well. He has a beautiful disposition and a gorgeous face. When Lynn sent for pictures the first time, I fell in love with him instantly. We were fortunate to find that he was as good as he looked and as wonderful as he was portrayed in the ad. The women who owned him saddled up a horse for Lynn (a champagne ride, named Sparky) and one for one of them and we rode around their ranch. Much of the ride was like riding on the Hennessey and Jupiter was smooth and easy. It was a real treat to be able to try him out and see how he behaved on the trail. Shirley says I got the best deal of the year. I couldn't be more happy.

Star has been ill and in the hospital for a weird fever caused by a tick bite. We have been checking the horses for ticks regularly ever since. Just a note: if you ever hear a horse grinding his/her teeth, it means they have a high fever! Star is very thin because he wouldn't eat or drink while he was there. Shirley said he practically dragged Don (T-Texas) into the trailer once he realized it was in the parking lot. He was ready to come home! He already looks better--his eyes are bright and he is more spirited again. Shirley is feeding him vitamins and sweet grain to get him to fatten up and be healthy; she wants her cadillac ready to roll.

Also in the trailer were Brady and Jupiter. Jupiter needed his shots and would not get into the trailer. Who could blame him? The last time it was a long ride! Anyway, because Brady is the best horse in the world, he was brought down to help convince Jupiter to get in. Brady ended up eating all the bribery and going for a ride to Arcata and back. He likes to get out now and then anyway.

Yesterday, we rode up the Hennessey. It was a beautiful sunny March Saturday morning. Lynn rode Brady, Shirley rode Ziggy, and Jupiter took his first local ride. Once again, he was baulky getting into the trailer. Let's see--a six hour ride and then a ride to get shots. Hmmm. Not his favorite thing. Anyway, our ride was very nice. Jupiter did great. He did not like it when Brady and Lynn (go figure) said, "Stay here, I want to check this out," and took off up a different trail. Jupiter got a little nervous and danced around a bit, but not too bad. We finished the ride and he got into the trailer on the second attempt. Maybe it's not so bad after all.

Shirley was funny riding Ziggy. He isn't very competitive (right now, anyway) and Shirley was left in the back--not her favorite riding place. And she said Ziggy was rough. We think she is just spoiled. I practiced using my legs to turn Jupe and we went in circles around some of the briar bushes by ourselves. He didn't mind being away from everyone else. He is barefoot right now, and although he has very tough feet, being on the rocks already made one of his hooves split a little, so Shirley is calling the farrier to come and shoe everyone.

So--Ziggy hangs his tongue out, Star is a cranky old man who throws little fits occasionally, Indy is an airhead, and Brady is just Brady; well Jupiter hangs his head down and sniffs the ground as he walks along. I think he was taught to stretch his head down toward the ground to relax(?) anyway, sometimes he drops his head all the way down and seems to be smelling where we are going. Lynn laughed at us. Oh well, I guess we all have our quirks. Thankfully, I am better at finding the right relationship with a horse than I was at finding a husband!

We are looking forward to riding with Alisa in a couple of weeks and I can hardly wait for camping at Cueno Creek the end of May. Next week is spring break for me and I hope to "help" Lynn feed every day.

Shopping for that special relationship

On Sunday, Shirley, Lynn, and I went horse shopping. We had so much fun! Although we only got to see Romeo, a beautiful bay, it was not wasted time. Romeo is half Arab/ half Quarter horse. He is tall and long-legged, traits that instantly attracted Lynn. He crossed his front legs like a runway model when he walked and that concerned Shirley. I wasn't too sure I really wanted to get on and ride him until Lynn had as he seemed a little high strung. Anyway, long story short, Romeo's guy rode him around and we decided that he was probably too much horse for me--too much work and not enough fun. I told Lynn if she really liked him, she could ride him and I could always ride Ziggy--Mr. Easy-going.

We searched everywhere we could think of for ads selling horses, but we could not find any! The ones we had searched for on Craigslist and Dreamhorse.com did not leave phone numbers so we couldn't reach them either; however we had left our cell phone #s on their email and Lynn did speak with one who had already sold his gelding, but he was a nice guy and gave us some leads on others.

So after a lot of driving around, watching a slow gymkana, reading every free newspaper and horse magazine ad section, and talking to cashiers and feed store workers, we decided we would try again another day. We already had one possibility, Otter, in Oroville sort of set up, so we would just line up some more and come back.

It was a gorgeous day and we laughed until I thought I might have an accident--in more than one way. We also found another great place to ride! We met Romeo's seller at the Swasey Trailhead. He rides there all the time and gave us tips about the trails.

In a moment of serious, contemplative quiet, Shirley told me not to worry and not to fall in love with and buy the first horse I saw. She said no one could/should buy a horse for someone else. She likened it choosing someone's husband for them. Having a horse is a special relationship and that I would know it when I found it.

Although the advice is good and I appreciate the feeling behind it, I do wonder if she remembers that I am single and must have missed one part of the lesson along the way. So here's hoping I will recognize the special one for me when I meet him.