Saturday was a hang-out-with-other-friends-day for me, Shirley and Lynn rode without me. It gave them a chance to talk and be together like before I started riding every weekend with them. It was a hard week last week and I know it was good for Lynn to be ahorseback.
It is an ironic truth that as much as I love getting older (and getting closer to retirement), I hate that everyone else is aging, too. I want to have my cake and eat it, too. I have always been like that. Shirley did not have a good week. Her pills are off again. I do not understand the pharmaceutical industry. She was doing well, then the generic brand that she is forced to use because of insurance, changed its medicine and thus, sent her into a decline. We forget that she is in her 80s. She is so spry and does everything she has always done--she is timeless. But then, she isn't. I want her to stay where she is and just let us catch up.
And then there's Brady. He's still running up the hill and keeping everyone back behind him, but he's running much slower. He cannot turn quickly. His hips are awfully bony. He is starting to show his age more and more. We have had a mild winter. He might not have been able to take a harsher one. We had wind last week. Big wind. What if he can't move quick enough to miss being hit by branches or trees? She is worried he will get down and not be able to get back up. Lynn has already made the call to Dr. Branch.
Sunday was a glorious day--definitely not March weather. Lynn and Shirley waited and waited and for me to get out of church. I am so grateful. It was warm and comforting to be with them as we start a new week. Jupes was on his best behavior and everything went well. We did see two kids on motorcycles, but they went one way and we went another. People were out shooting and only Happy was upset and she was fine once we got over the crest of Hennessey and down the other side. Days like this balance out the heaviness of my heart with the blessings of being with people that I love. I am sure it is the same for all people fortunate enough ride horses. Being able to love deeply comes with being surrounded by beauty and love returned.

Monday, March 30, 2015
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Rodeo-ing, helicopters, and rain
3-7-2015
Finally got to ride again--three new pairs of shoes--three rides. Sheesh. That makes them pretty expensive shoes! As you know, Jupiter needs lots of wet blanket time. We rode up the Hennessey and he was pretty good. He had to stop and huff and puff a little, too, since he's a fatty. We were in back quite a bit and he hates to follow Buster. I have said it before, but I think Buster slows down and walks incredibly slow just to annoy Jupes. Anyway, he started twitching his tail and laying his ears back. I could feel him humping up and getting ready to explode, so I laced his behind with my reins. One it took him by surprise, two it made him madder. I spurred him, too. He behaved a for bit, then started in again. I think he wanted some green grass or something because we were in the front. Anyway, I laid into him again and turned him in circles both ways. He behaved for the rest of the day. But dang it--I want him to behave and act like that!
I think this is the same day that I was a sissy girl and did not want to get my boots wet. The pond where we go all the time is the fullest I have ever seen it. I had jumped off to do something and Jupiter decided to walk out into the pond. I was pulling on his reins and yelling, "No!" But he kept going. When he got to the end of my reins, I lost him. I was trying to keep from going in and getting my boots wet. Or sinking into the muck! He went out a good ten feet. Lynn had to ride out and get him. She thought he might roll in the water!! Good grief.
3-15-2015
When we got back from riding, we all got shaken to the core when Lee walked up to meet us and said that Gordy called because Alisa fell off Keota and was being airlifted to Reno with a broken back. We knew she had been at a class in the arena that day.
Her story came out later: Keota was loping along the arena. They had just gotten new sand. The instructor said something to Alisa, so she was turned back looking at her. Keota went into the deep sand and sunk to his knee. He stumbled forward and sort of jumped, trying to free his feet without falling. Somehow Alisa lost her balance and landed on the ground. Keota carefully and determinedly did not step on her; however, when her friends and the instructor ran over to see if she was okay, her legs started shaking. They knew instantly that her back had been injured and sent for the ambulance. The ambulance took her to the hospital where the doctor said he was afraid there was a chip of bone floating around in her spinal area. So off she went to Reno on her first helicopter ride. Unfortunately, strapped to a back board with duct tape, she did not get to enjoy the view.
Thankfully, everything was better than they first thought. She has a fractured vertebrae, but did not require surgery and she will be able to ride again--although with a support brace to begin with. It was scary nevertheless.
3-26-2015
Last weekend, Lynn and I rode by ourselves up Hennessey. The pharmacist changed Shirley's heart medicine to another generic brand and she was not feeling good. We had an easy ride; however, Jupes has lost a shoe. He wore an EZ Boot with no issues. I guess he remembers it from a long time ago. His hoof is broken and Lynn said he probably won't be able to hold a shoe for a bit. He is definitely a boy who needs wet blankets--he was good and did not act up at all.
The weather today is incredible. It's supposed to almost 80 degrees for Pete's sake! I wish we were riding.
Finally got to ride again--three new pairs of shoes--three rides. Sheesh. That makes them pretty expensive shoes! As you know, Jupiter needs lots of wet blanket time. We rode up the Hennessey and he was pretty good. He had to stop and huff and puff a little, too, since he's a fatty. We were in back quite a bit and he hates to follow Buster. I have said it before, but I think Buster slows down and walks incredibly slow just to annoy Jupes. Anyway, he started twitching his tail and laying his ears back. I could feel him humping up and getting ready to explode, so I laced his behind with my reins. One it took him by surprise, two it made him madder. I spurred him, too. He behaved a for bit, then started in again. I think he wanted some green grass or something because we were in the front. Anyway, I laid into him again and turned him in circles both ways. He behaved for the rest of the day. But dang it--I want him to behave and act like that!
I think this is the same day that I was a sissy girl and did not want to get my boots wet. The pond where we go all the time is the fullest I have ever seen it. I had jumped off to do something and Jupiter decided to walk out into the pond. I was pulling on his reins and yelling, "No!" But he kept going. When he got to the end of my reins, I lost him. I was trying to keep from going in and getting my boots wet. Or sinking into the muck! He went out a good ten feet. Lynn had to ride out and get him. She thought he might roll in the water!! Good grief.
3-15-2015
When we got back from riding, we all got shaken to the core when Lee walked up to meet us and said that Gordy called because Alisa fell off Keota and was being airlifted to Reno with a broken back. We knew she had been at a class in the arena that day.
Her story came out later: Keota was loping along the arena. They had just gotten new sand. The instructor said something to Alisa, so she was turned back looking at her. Keota went into the deep sand and sunk to his knee. He stumbled forward and sort of jumped, trying to free his feet without falling. Somehow Alisa lost her balance and landed on the ground. Keota carefully and determinedly did not step on her; however, when her friends and the instructor ran over to see if she was okay, her legs started shaking. They knew instantly that her back had been injured and sent for the ambulance. The ambulance took her to the hospital where the doctor said he was afraid there was a chip of bone floating around in her spinal area. So off she went to Reno on her first helicopter ride. Unfortunately, strapped to a back board with duct tape, she did not get to enjoy the view.
Thankfully, everything was better than they first thought. She has a fractured vertebrae, but did not require surgery and she will be able to ride again--although with a support brace to begin with. It was scary nevertheless.
3-26-2015
Last weekend, Lynn and I rode by ourselves up Hennessey. The pharmacist changed Shirley's heart medicine to another generic brand and she was not feeling good. We had an easy ride; however, Jupes has lost a shoe. He wore an EZ Boot with no issues. I guess he remembers it from a long time ago. His hoof is broken and Lynn said he probably won't be able to hold a shoe for a bit. He is definitely a boy who needs wet blankets--he was good and did not act up at all.
The weather today is incredible. It's supposed to almost 80 degrees for Pete's sake! I wish we were riding.
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