March is a very unusual month because there is so much change from beginning to end. It began here, this year, fairly cold and we got a lot of snow. Now, at mid-month, the snow is starting to melt and the temperatures are going upward. I am hoping that when I now take off my gloves, that my fingers will no longer grow uncomfortably cold. I need to take off my gloves to do many things, like fasten halter straps. After about five months of this, I grow impatient.

Today was a beautiful, sunny day with temps in the low 40s. I got as far as I could get in writing up my interview with Suzy Crosby, entertainer and events coordinator at the Alaska State Fair. Next

week I’ll meet with her and get the additional details. Then I have one more interview and that will be with Becky the gardener. Interviewing people is not my forte – but I realized that this book would be seriously lacking without the inclusion of other voices.

I did my body awareness work. It now includes using the hula hoop and juggling and ball tossing. I sure feel good after doing this kind of movement.

And I spent the late afternoon/evening with the horses. And as I did so, I got to thinking about how far I have come. It is hard to see because day in, day out, I don’t see where I am making any progress. But, when I look back and compare now to 12 years ago, I guess I am.

Raudi was my first Icelandic horse and from the beginning she has been opinioned and willful. She is still this way although somehow, we have figured out how to co-exist. I could not even take her for walks when I got her. And she frequently got away from me.

Today I rode Tinni – worked on my own alignment and then worked on the ground, in the road, on having him take the initiative to walk in front of me. He’s still tentative, but catching on. I learned the importance of doing this in working with Raudi, who taught me that doing this puts the weight on the horses’ hindquarters and consequently makes them more forward.

And I rode Tyra. Pete, riding Hrimmi, accompanied us. My seat was good and I encouraged rather than discouraged her to go faster. At one point she did a buck, squeal, and the broke into a canter. I remained seated and when she slowed down, I did not consider getting off. I can thank Raudi for this – early on she took me places I wasn’t ready to go.

On the final stretch home, I walked and trotted in between Tyra and Hrimmi. I was on the ground. What fun, they kept pace with me.

My sense, at the end of a day like today, is that I didn’t just ride. Rather, I homeschooled our four horses. At the end of such days I feel a sense of satisfaction doing this. I would be remiss if I failed to say that I have Raudi to thank for this.

Next: 77. 3/18/18: Maintenance Day