The way to Heaven is on horseback

"Get Rusty!" Shirley hollered from her deck. Lynn was out catching Ziggy and, well, Buster, because he is catchable. Lynn just shook her head at her mom. Pretty soon Shirley was back on the deck, screeching to Lynn down in the bottom field, "Get Rusty!" Star was still running around the field, "Ha, ha. Can't catch me." Under her breath, Lynn muttered, "You're getting this one. If you don't like it, catch your own damn horse." I think Shirley yelled three times for her to "Get Rusty!" The third time, she had enough, so she yelled back, "Rusty's DEAD!!"

It became funnier when the two of them finally caught up to each other in the field and they thought about how clear the air is and what the neighbors must be thinking: "Oh, how sad. I wonder which one was Rusty."

Anyway, Jupes and I had a great two days this weekend. Yesterday, we worked on trotting and listening. He did everything I asked him to do and I felt incredibly comfortable in the saddle. It was if everything just gelled. Then, on the way back, he and I rode in circles around the bushes at the trailhead. It was like he kicked into a memory and said, "I know how to do this." In fact, I'll bet he was doing lead (leg?) changes like on TV. (Even without a stinkin' arena!) Of course it had nothing to do with anything I was doing, but he felt smooth and happy. (: Today we also did some bushwacking and he was perfect.

Big Al is turning out to not be a good fit for Alisa and all I can say is that I hope and pray she finds a perfect match for her like Jupiter is for me.

"Nothing is more sacred as the bond between a horse and a rider. No other creature can ever become so emotionally close to a human as a horse. When a horse dies, the memory lives on, because an enormous part of his owner's heart, soul, and the very existence dies also."- Stephanie M Thorn

Big Al comes home

As of Saturday, Big Al has a new home and Odie has someone to ding around with. Alisa drove off the mountain and picked up Al from his one-time owner who had been considering keeping him. Lynn and I have had many conversations about this very topic--I couldn't have done it. The woman who owned Al foaled him. He grew up in her pastures and has been part of her family for six years. I am sure she let him go for purely unselfish reasons: he went to a good home where he will "have a job" as she put it. She did not have the time to put into riding and training him, but it was obvious she loved him. Al is lucky--he will have had two wonderful people who love him and will look out for his best interests.

Alisa said Al loaded and rode well. He was calm and not a problem unloading. Odie immediately began showing him the ropes and seemed happy for the company. Alisa ran the weedeater, painted, and hung around to make sure they were fine, but it seems like all is well. I think it was meant to be!

Here at home, we went on short ride up the Hennessey. Lynn is pretty sore, and according to the chiropractor, has some torn tendons or ligaments (or both!) in her back. Trotting was a definite no-no. It was beautiful ride and I loved being with Jupiter after a month's layoff. Shirley got to run some cows with Buster and on the way back to meet up with us, got a little speed up and Buster showed off a little sliding stop. She was grinning from ear to ear and said, "That was fun!" I think it all brought Buster up a little more in her esteem.

It's supposed to rain this week, but hopefully next Sunday (after Church) we can do it again. Fall is in the air and we need to get in as much riding as we can before it's winter.