Yesterday, I again was faced with the prospect of having to exercise five horses. I always enjoy doing this. I now always take horses out in groups of two, although I now have to figure out what the order is going to be. Goals are to get all exercised, and make sure that all, including me, have a good time. Sometimes, this is a tough call.

I first took Tinni and Siggi out, thinking that they should be able to work together, but well knowing that this might be difficult. The two now spar whenever together, except for when they’re eating. When being ponied, they’ve done okay, with Siggi noodling some and Tinni being jiggery. I figured that they and I could deal. I saddled up Tinni, put a lead on Siggi, and off we went, me first walking the two down road. Then I got on Tinni. And then the fun began. Siggi fell back a ways and began biting on Tinni’s butt. Down went Siggi’s head. Up went

Tinni’s head. I got off Tinni, walked both horses a ways, and then resumed riding. Siggi, now even more animated, began nipping at Tinni’s neck. Tinni began crow hopping. I got off Tinni and walked the rest of the way home.

I remained deep in thought on the rest of the walk. It then occurred to me that sometimes taking the easy way out is the right thing to do. The phrase, taking the easy way out implies that this is actually sort of a cop out – as in, when all else fails, take stage right. It also counters the adage forcing the issue is better than permissible because it gets you what you want.

And so, I was left with the question, how might I make life easier for both Tinni and I? The answer was to figure out, and act upon a more equitable ponying combination. This, I thought, might be to ride Tinni and pony Signy. This way, too, she’d get a warm up jaunt. From the onset, this was good. I took the pair down to the base of the driveway, and got on Tinni, who immediately relaxed. It was as if he was saying “Thank you for putting the dude away. He’s a real jerk. I try hard to behave, but I just can’t deal.” The pair then moved happily around the loop, both walking amicably.

My plan was to next take Signy, Raudi, and Hrimmi out. After, as always, I’d feel a sense of accomplishment in getting all three out together. It’s a lot of work, requiring that I get all three down to the gate, and then down the road. This is because Hrimmi would much rather hang out at the hitching post and eat the left over hay.

This time, wiser me, decided to take the easier way out, and on the next go around, just take Signy and Raudi. This was far easier, since I was not initially dealing with three but rather two horses on leads. Signy and Raudi did well together, although Raudi is now not wanting to trot up hills.

Lastly, I took Hrimmi and Signy out. This of course, was an easy outing that both clearly enjoyed. The pair both got to move out some.

Yes, taking the easy way out was a lot easier. The trick is now going to be to find other easy combinations. The problem is that this may very well mean more work for Signy, who seems to be content, no matter who she’s with. I’m going to have to play around with all the options.

This concept, of taking the easy way out may also relate to non-horse activities. For example, it may be applied to writing. I might consider calling some things good rather than insisting that they all be great. This is applicable to dispatches. Each day I write at least one. Sometimes I write two or three, and then select the one that I see as being the best. The other two get tossed in my wooden garbage crate. The sum total equals one very bad book.

Rather than write two or three dispatches, I might instead write one dispatch, revise it, and then call it good. This is in fact what I’m going to do with this one, although I’m sorely tempted to toss it, and begin anew, maybe instead focusing on various ponying combinations, and instead write about my obsession with saving time.

A tough call. What’s here is what I finally decided to do.

Next: 69. 3/10/13: The Smell of Burning Toast