A hitch in our get-along

Well this past weekend was a total bust for me! I managed to not only ruin my own riding, but everyone else's too. First of all, we went somewhere new. We drove up Big French Creek to what Lynn thought would lead to Cherry Flat. We got to the corrals she remembered on a pretty good, if dirt and a little rocky, road. It wasn't bad, but Shirley was a nervous wreck and a little hard on Lynn.

Nevertheless, we got there and took off on the road headed north. Lynn was looking for a loop that would take us out and around. Well, we never got there. Jupiter got a cramp in his right flank. We rubbed it, but it didn't come out. So, once again, these boots are made for walking! We walked back to the trailer and took them home. I ran up and got the salt block and brought it down from the hill and I saw he went straight for it.

He was good, he let us rub it and put Absorbine Jr. on it. But he was still had a hitch and was too stiff to take on Sunday, so Shirley said I could ride Buster. Buster, the horse everybody rides. Buster the boring horse.

The second I got on he started humping and jumping and acting stupid. I thought it was because I grabbed his mane. Finally we got out of the parking area and headed up the hill. He still didn't seem right to me. My saddle slipped back on him going up the first little hill, so we put Ziggy's breast collar on him.

Going up the second, steep hill he balked. I know it's because I am so used to Jupiter. I always lean forward and grab his mane as we run uphill. I didn't grab Buster's mane, but I put my hand on his neck. He blew up and turned away from the trail. I tried to circle him back up, but he fell and off I went.

So now I too have a hitch. Dang it all.

However, I did get to ride Ziggy back to the trailer. I was a quitter. I said, "Can we cut this ride short? Can we just ride the road back?" And that's what we did.