she’s been dancing around – then took off at a brisk pace. I’d decided that today the three of us would work on walk and whoa. I dropped the lead when Raudi jumped, bumping into Signy, and then again when Signy hit a rut and stumbled, falling to her knees. Both times, Raudi stood still and waited for me, on Signy, to retrieve her.
This half-hour trek attests to the importance of getting out and riding. I could easily have blown off taking the two horses out, using the weather as a legitimate excuse. But I was motivated by what I am seeing to be true – that consistency pays off. How else are the two going to learn? If I want reliable trail horses, I have to continue to work with them.
I brushed, and dried all the horses off with towels – so as to remove the rain from their coats and also to fluff them up a bit. Doing this made me wish that I had a heated barn and a hair drier. They’d all like this, especially Queen Raudi. But we do with what we have.
I cleaned the goat pen after the ride. My taking care of the animals raised my spirits a notch by further instilling a sense of purpose. It’s important that all the animals have clean, dry shelters, access to food and water, no matter what the weather. Today, mission accomplished, in spite of crappy conditions.
I’m pleased with having done well by all our critters, but still a tad bit down. Writing this dispatch was even ridiculously difficult – it came, one-word-at-a-time. It’s just hard to remain upbeat when slop and glop prevails. But I did it.
Tomorrow is supposed to be more of the same. And the same is supposed to be true of the day after that. If this continues, my focus will be on indoor projects.
Next: 13. 1/13/13: Nasty Weather Part II, The Story Continues |