new toy

I now have a wireless laptop, so I can take the Internet with me wherever I go. I know, what took me so long? Have never really felt the need before. We are going to Kentucky for two weeks to see the World Equestrian Games, and I want to use it there to check e-mail, facebook, etc. No, my phone does not have those capabilities!
Bonus-I can now use a computer while Howie is hogging the home computer to play his endless Bridge games. Yay!

sunday

An ambivalent day. On the one hand, a day to take your time and enjoy whatever comes. On the other, one must get ready to go back to work the next day. Two sides of the same coin. That was my day.
I was able to get to the barn early enough to beat the worst part of the heat. Rode outdoors and enjoyed it. I made sure to incorporate bending and some shoulder in in my warm up, and it paid off. Pixie was soft and responsive. Ten minutes of nice trot. I was the only one in the arena; a good day to practise galloping in two point. It took two laps for her to work up to a good speed. Then two laps going as fast as we could in the confines of the arena. Turn, and do it again the other way. It only took 4 minutes, but I was winded. Pixie seemed to enjoy it. After a walk break, I went back to trot and did some serpentines so Pixie would have to think and didn't have time to get pissy about obeying again after the fun. It worked, she only fussed a little. Then a few minutes of long and low trot on the buckle. What a rewarding ride!
Some barn chores, turned PT out for a few minutes, and I was done just after noon. More chores at home, but also time to sew and make some killer lemonade. As the day winds down, I am sorry to see another weekend go. You never know what the week will bring; I like to start out thinking it will be productive and go smoothly.

the reason why

Wednesday evening I had the kind of ride that is the reason why horsepeople live and breathe. It was a pleasant evening, no one else around, and even after working all day I was ready to ride.
We didn't do anything special, just rode in the outdoor arena, but everything came together to make an ordinary day into one that will keep me going through the rough days for a long time. I was relaxed and easy on Pixie, she was relaxed and easy carrying me. We communicated without effort, like we were reading each other's minds. Our bodies flowed together in a calm, harmonious dance. I had thought to ride only for a short while, but I was having so much fun that time was irrelevant. Pixie and I were just in the moment, together.
I wish I could capture that feeling more often, but maybe one thing that makes it so special is that it is fleeting and rare. All I know for sure is that all the sweat, tears, vet bills, and hard knocks are nothing compared to this one superlative ride. This is my reason why.

anniversary

Today is my (and Howie's) anniversary. I have known him for 20 years, and we've been married for 19. Love changes, but he is still my friend, advisor, and the rock that I depend on. One reason I married him is he was always there when I needed him. Oh, he can exasperate and frustrate the hell out of me with his habits and attitudes. But at the core, he is dependable and he does care, even if his way of showing it sometimes is to treat me like a child. For better or for worse, we are and have been in it for the long haul. I try to appreciate him while I have him, because odds are that someday I will go on without him. I am an independent, stubborn creature; but I have to admit that marriage is what has shaped me for the past two decades. I am able to take my flights of fancy partly (or mostly) because I have solid backup. I am grateful for that. So, Happy Anniversary Howie! And many more!

falling

My chiropractor says that rolling is what saved me. When you fall, you are supposed to tuck and roll. As if a normal person can think of that in the split second before the earth hits you. And there is no way I am going to practice falling off my horse. Surprisingly, the top riders do control their falls by rolling. But mine was simply momentum. My head hit, and I did a somersault from the force of my forward motion. BTW, if your helmet hits the ground, you need to replace it. My new one is on the way.

weekend

This weekend, back to normal. Rode Pixie on Friday, good ride. Tried to go without pain med that night, but ended up hurting all over. So I took Tylenol at 4am. Saturday, I felt fine. Pixie is doing fine, too. I rode a little with Priscilla; a nice day to ride outside. Sunday was nothing spectacular, just an everyday type ride of walk, trot, canter, stop, circle. I didn't hurt afterwards. So back to my boring life, which I appreciate now more than ever.

feeling much better

I love my chiropractor. Saw him yesterday morning, and as expected, I was a mess. He worked wonders and now I have much better range of motion and less pain in my neck. He understands sports injuries; his wife is an equestrian and he rides cycles. He didn't think I was crazy for going to the event after my fall. Somebody understands! That made me feel better, too. I get tired easily, and don't have much energy. Taking a nap helps. Guess I just have to give myself more time. But I want my mo-jo back. I think it's laying around in the indoor arena somewhere. If anyone finds it, let me know. My friend Cheryl wants to do Reiki on me, maybe she can put it back where it belongs.