My horses have become weekend warriors. They all are getting out just one day a week. This is awful. I first spent my morning filling in dates in my planner, and then my afternoon with them. The days in the planner are looking mighty full. I keep telling myself that change is a constant, and that in time, the weight of this project will also fall on other’s shoulders.

It was a good afternoon with the horses. I first got Hrimmi out. I decided to take her for a walk around the loop, then do our trails backwards, in this way taking a break from the same old same old.

Alys and Hrimmi

Walking all three horses is now fairly easy because they aren’t as distracted by the grass. I say “as distracted” because the snow is not that deep – the dead now brown grass, at least in their minds, is worth checking out. As they all agree, “Never give up hope.”

In a few week’s time, there will be more snow on the ground. And after a good dumping or two, I will be able to let them run around the loop, off lead. As it is now, they run up driveways, then look over their shoulders, then because they know I will reward them, return.

I took Shadow with me when I walked Hrimmi, and Shadow and Ryder with me when I walked Raudi.

The walk with Hrimmi – we came to Jim’s Trail and I decided to walk her up it because, I thought, the footing at the base of the road would be slippery. I was right. She slipped on the ice and fell down. And because she was on ice, she could not get a purchase and get up. So I pulled on her halter, and got her near the less icy, softer ground, and she got up.

I gave her two treats, so as to put the incident behind her. Then I went to mount up. I went to put my foot in the stirrup and saw that in falling on it, Hrimmi had smushed it. I feared that riding with no stirrup would be bad for my back and hips, so I doubled back. We came to the spot where Hrimmi fell, and she was reluctant to go by it. Yes, Hrimmi is a very smart horse.

We got back to the road and of course walked home. I decided to next take Raudi and then Tyra for a walk. I first ate lunch with Pete who, though he has no spare time, said he’d fix the stirrup, which he did. He fixed it as I was walking Raudi – by the time I got back it was starting to get dark, so I also walked Tyra.

Today was the end of Daylight Savings Time, you know spring ahead and fall behind. Pete and I did get an extra hour’s sleep, but it was overshadowed by the impinging darkness. This year, I’m going to try and remain busy in the evenings, do indoor things, so as to not be as bothered by this.

Walking the horses was calming and made me realize how much I really do love them. Must find a balance between the town and the home life. Must find this balance really, really soon.

Next: 300. 11/4/24: Making a Difference