Autumn is in the air

After some two months of drought and desert-like temperatures, we've cooled off gloriously. Yesterday was mostly overcast, and except for the few times the sun peeped out, a flannel shirt felt pretty good.

All summer I've had to do any horseback riding at dawn; it's been too hot to ride during the day.

So it was a treat, yesterday, to be able to ride my horse after Cliff left for work at 2:30 P.M. When I went outside, the sun was out and I took off my flannel shirt. However, I did tie in onto the back of the saddle before I left. That turned out to be a wise move.

I rode south on one of our many country roads. I got Blue up on a bank out of the way when I saw a school bus headed our way on the narrow gravel road, and did the same when a huge grain truck met us; my horse does very well with traffic, but sometimes he'll get just a touch of panic if something really big gets too close, especially if there are steep banks on both sides making him feel he's trapped. Farmers are harvesting corn like crazy, which means there are lots of big grain trucks coming and going this time of year. Anyhow, we made it just fine with no incidents.

As I crossed 24 highway, I realized the clouds were getting heavier and darker, and I needed the shirt I'd brought along. A cool wind started whipping Blue's mane around and I considered what might be the best way to head home. I'd passed up one road home, wanting a longer ride than it allowed me.

Looking across a field, I could see my neighbor's house, far over to the north on the old highway. My quickest route home would be across some corn and soybean fields which, alas, have not been combined and harvested yet. Normally, I keep Blue out of the crops; I like to respect the farmers in this regard, although I doubt Blue would do that much damage walking through a soybean field.

It started sprinkling and I made my decision: Cut across the fields instead of riding another mile to a through road. If I stayed right at the edge where soybeans meet the corn, it should take me home.

That was one of the longest short-cuts I've ever taken: The soybeans grow so thick and tall, it was difficult for Blue to navigate through them. Forget about taking him through the corn; he has a bit of claustrophobia when ridden through anything taller than his head. At one point, he stepped in a huge hole that was hidden by weeds, and jolted both of us.

Believe me, when Blue came out of the fields onto a path he recognized, he quickened his pace and foxtrotted the rest of the way home!

I think from now on I'll stick to the roads, until all crops have been harvested.

I DO LOVE A MORNING RIDE!

For those of you who have never owned a horse, I want you to realize that you don't just decide to go for a ride, hop on the horse two minutes later, and go. Nope.

Before I leave the house, I have to remember some very important details.

1. Change to a sports bra. Now, this next may be too much information, but...

2. I deleted this step; my husband wasn't comfortable with it; it involved another item of underwear... (think "going Commando"). Those of you with bloglines will read it as originally written, I'm sure.

3. Make sure I'm wearing either sweats or Wrangler jeans. Anything else means misery within fifteen minutes of getting on the horse.

4. Put on my fanny-pack, making sure it contains my cell phone and the digital camera.


5. Use OFF insect repellent liberally, especially if I'm heading toward the river.

6. Time to head to the barn. If I haven't put Blue in the lot already, I could be in for a twenty-minute search around the pasture.

7. Lead Blue to the barn. If he's rolled in the mud, it'll be caked on his back like cement, and lots of curry-combing is in order. If he doesn't seem dirty, I still curry him, just in case there's something on him that could get trapped under the saddle and cause him discomfort.

8. Use the hoof-pick to clean his feet.


9. Spray Endure on the horse, to keep the flies and mosquitoes off.


10. Use Wipe on Blue's ears and face, because he goes ballistic if I spray those areas with Endure.

11. Saddle up and ride; it's been at least twenty-five minutes since I first decided to take a ride.

Most every morning ride I take starts off with a sunrise shot.


This is an area of the river bottom that hasn't been tilled since the flood. It looks dry, but it's still mucky, making it hard work for Blue to walk through it.

That's Blue's tracks.

Can you see the tiny soybeans peeking up?

There's one!
Farmer Steve's equipment is ready to go to work as soon as he gets up this morning.

Blue and I are heading toward home now. There's a train in the distance.

Ah, Farmer John caught a racoon!

Back home, I give Blue some sweet feed. He doesn't require grain, since he only works for an average of two hours, every other day. But he shows me such a good time, I like to let him have a treat.

My nine-year-old granddaughter riding Blue

Natalie is a natural when it comes to horses; she's ridden Blue from time to time for a couple of years. Last autumn, though, Blue found out if he wanted to turn around with Natalie riding, he could pull it off; this caused Natalie to lose confidence.

Now that we have the round pen, I intend to let the girls have more chances to ride Blue; I'm sure Natalie will get her confidence back and be able to give orders to Blue. I never worry about form or proper leads; I just want the girls to be able to safely enjoy a horse. I was cutting the girls' heads off today in videos, for some reason. Oh, you'll hear Monica chattering away in the background telling me how to keep a horse from running away.

I love my horse

Although I didn't know it until several years later, one of the best days of my life was May 15, 1994. Because that's when Boogey Midnight Rhythm Blues was born. That's the fancy-schmancy registered name of my bay Missouri Foxtrotter, Blue.

I've had other horses. I even had another foxtrotter, years ago, who would probably have been as good as Blue if he'd had a little more maturity on him. But I didn't give him time to develop.

My horse, Blue, at age twelve-going-on-thirteen, is, I suppose, middle-aged. Some horses live well into their thirties, and if he could do so comfortably, I'd love for him to live that long. I'd be in my 80's then, so he might even outlive me. I'm not sure I want that for him, because who knows what would become of him.

I've owned him for over three years: It's the best $1,000 I ever spent.

Blue doesn't come when I call, but he does stand and wait for me when he sees me approaching with halter in hand. Many horses don't. They find a perverse pleasure in making a game of catch-me-if-you-can.

Blue has gotten used to my picture-taking from his back, and no longer grows impatient with me as I take shots of different views from his back. If I dismount to get closeups or pictures at new angles, he stands patiently waiting... probably glad for the break.
You can see him in the background of this picture, during my exploration of a very old graveyard yesterday. And below, when I was getting to mount up and head home.


Down the highway to the west, about a mile from here, there's a mobile home where a family with several children lives. The first time I rode by and heard their exclamations of "A horse, a horse!" I crossed the road and told them they could pet Blue. That day about eight kids came running toward us full-speed, and Blue jumped back with a start, not knowing what to make of such an onslaught. So I told the kids, "Back up, and come close one at a time to pet him."


That worked, and now any time I ride past when kids are playing outside, I cross over the road and they line up like school-children getting ready to go to recess; I don't have to tell them what to do. Each one pats Blue's nose or his neck and then runs excitedly away.


Yesterday there were only three kids in evidence. Getting so close to a horse seems to make their day; their dad appreciates that I take the time to put a smile on his kids' faces, and always thanks me. Yesterday he also wished me "Happy Easter". You can see him in the background at the barbecue grill. Blue wasn't concerned with the children; he had his eye on a couple of penned-up dogs.

Next to my husband, Blue is my best friend.

(Click on pictures to see them larger.)

Guess what I did today?

Finally, I rode Blue! Yesterday I didn't get it done because we went for another motorcycle ride.


You can't tell it here, but it was pretty wet in the bottoms, and Blue sank a couple of inches with each step. It gave him a good workout.


He made a friend...

....or two.

If the weather-guessers are right, it won't be good riding weather again for a few days.

plans

The weather forecast for today: sunny with a high of 53. Since we got a motorcycle ride in yesterday, I'd say today's plan calls for a horseback ride.

Both our state and federal income tax refunds are now being processed (you can check online, you know). That means bill catch-up time, and money for our summer vacation, which consists of plans for...

Going to Colorado with Cliff's sister and her husband in late July. We're going to take the motorcycles out on a trailer and ride them around those beautiful mountains, once we get there.

My daughter has plans for her mother-in-law watch the girls for a few days in late March, which allows me to plan for....

A possible weekend getaway, perhaps to Branson. Weather permitting, we could go on the motorcycle. Although any Missourian knows you don't count on March weather to be kind. But it could happen.

I have plans for the Jersey heifer calf I've spoken for, which may get to come home this Sunday. We have a place prepared for her in the barn.

There are plans to get a few bantam chicks. I have a cage to keep them in until they are old enough to roost; then I plan to teach them to roost on a pole somewhere in the barn to keep them safe from predators by night, and they can roam free during the daytime. This worked well for me in the past.

All these things will come to pass, of course, only if the good Lord is willing (and the creeks don't rise, as Tennessee Earnie Ford used to say). Since Cliff's sudden hospitalization last April, and the subsequent quadruple heart bypass, I've learned that plans can change.

One day at a time is sufficient.

Wordless Wednesday, on horseback

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