This has been the longest February that I have ever experienced. And it’s not even a leap year. I typed in today’s date and realized that I have another day to go before it’s March. I have no complaints about the weather – it’s been pretty good. It’s been overcast the past few days, but there were some warm, sunny days. March is in like a lion and out like a lamb – sometimes. It’s the month in which the weather changes the least.

A long day. I did go for a ride on Raudi this morning. It was a good ride. I thought today, hey, if I do the competitive trail ride, which will be in July, I will ride her. I do have three horses to choose from. If I wanted to be competitive, I’d ride Tyra since she’s younger and up for an adventure. Raudi is now older and wiser.

In the past, her temperature, pulse, and respiration, always high, have caused her to get marked down when on the trail, she’s examined. So this past year I did not ride her. This was also because I was then having hip problems.

Raudi on 2011 Colorado trip

But this is what I am thinking, for me it would not be a competitive trail ride, but simply a trail ride. This would be a non-sanctioned event, and as such, the horsemanship and the veterinary judges might be local. Last summer, Pete and Terri, on her Icelandic, placed last.

So I’d ride Raudi knowing that most likely, we’d be beat before we started. I no longer care about this.

There is another reason why I’d like to ride Raudi. Raudi has a reputation as a difficult horse. There are a lot of stories about her my way or the highway attitude. I want the judges and those who think they know her to see what an amazing horse that she’s matured into. She has become the horse of my dreams.

She will always be willful. I would not have her any other way. But she’s now an amazing riding horse and I’d like for everyone at the CTR see this.

In order to be fair to Raudi, I am going to need to get her into condition. And so as to get her into condition, I need to be riding her often. Today was a good day for this – I made the time.

Though I have a lot to do, I need to get me into condition too. Gosh, if the hotel had a pool and a hot tub, I’d be golden.

I did go swimming today – I did just a few laps and some of my exercises. And after, I felt good.

Having a horsey goal will better enable me to find the elusive balance that I’m seeking.

Next: 59. 2/28/25: I Have no Title for this Dispatch