Coming Out

I'd rather stay in thank you..

In the saddle that is...

I'll admit... I'd gotten cocky.   I was pretty convinced I was just a few shades away from being John Wayne or some such thing..  I mean I was horse READY.. it'd been like THREE WHOLE MONTHS.. 

Okay perhaps a John Wayne that screamed like a girl whenever the horse took off across a field.. but my personal version of a girl John Wayne.... which involved a lot of.flopping around and clinging to the saddle horn like a random bit of toilet paper stuck to the bottom of a high end running shoe.  But in MY head.. VERY MUCH the Duke in one of his many great Horse-Riding scenes nevertheless.  

Discovering I wasn't quite there yet?  A bit of a shock :) 

ACTUALLY that's not completely accurate. I mean, if someone had come up to me and said 'uhm, Cindy?   you are NOT John Wayne..'  that wouldn't really have shocked me.. it was the Eating Dirt portion of the message delivery that caught me by surprise..

It all started out innocently enough.  The girls decided perhaps we'd do a bit of a ride one afternoon. Now just to be clear, I'm talking about Tammi and Lisa when referencing the girls.. not that OTHER set of girls, who to my knowledge, have never recommended a horseback ride..  If truth be told.. they've only commented on the sports gear associated with that activity.. not the activity itself.  But I digress...

Just a little ride the gals said.. just a mosey out from the barn, over and away across the field... THIS field shown in the pic to be exact. 

I really couldn't wait.. I was SO excited.  Hurry up Cindy.. get to grooming and saddling the gorgeous Patrone..  

And there he is - all saddled and breath-taking in his horsey-ness.  And he is ONE dead sexy boy, as most Palominos are... 

And I can barely contain my excitement.   We're going RIDING!!!  I just KNEW this was going to be an AWESOME experience. I could SEE it..

The movie reel in my head... the score music building as I pointed my faithful ride out across the plains as the sun set like a big ball of flame and the dust we kicked up swirled up behind us - signaling the exit of something/someone amazing!

YOU KNOW the scene.. 

Hooves pound against the hardpack dirt... tails swishing, eyes rolling, drums beating in the distance..  a loan wolf crying its song... a stage-coach rumbling down a parched dirt road... a harmonic wailing...oh, wait ...  

 

So you have him saddled Cindy... now what?

Realistically - I KNOW I should have taken Patrone into the arena to do a bit of 'burning off the excess'.. (or as Katie in Pullman called it - giving him the confidence I wasn't a complete Doob whom he could trust to lead him.. So thanks for that Katie).. but Lisa was in the arena working with LilMan, and Patrone had issues with LilMan...  SO I bypassed THAT step.   And for those curious - THAT business won't happen again!

Well.. it turns out Patrone has more issues than just those with LilMan.... Apparently ANOTHER biggy is the whole 'leaving the barn while his buddies remained behind' thing.. Yeah - there really should've been a warning sticker affixed to his hindquarters on that one..  

However, disclaimer aside - it became quickly apparent approximately 20 feet from the barn. 

Actually the clue-light popped on right out of the barn.. presenting quickly as I pointed him towards the paved road.  See, PATRONE thought the barn was a great idea.. lovely place to stay - filled with his chums..  CINDY thought the field was a FINE idea.. and because she is horse-stupid..  She just assumed we were going to cross, and confidently got him the full 10 feet across the road.   WOOT WOOT.. FIRST DOWN! 

Obviously I expected no troubles, so next we cross the ditch...  uhm... Riiiiigggggghhhhhtttttt..  not happening. 

So what DID happen Cindy?

Our 4-legged boy spent a great deal of the first five minutes in loud and persistent conversation with Duke and Cowboy back at the barn..   As it turns out, Patrone is one of those conversationalists that believes in the merits of LOOKING at the other half of the conversation, so HE wanted his head back towards the barn, and *I* wanted his head following Tammi and Lisa. 

There was a brief tussle.  We made some forward movement after FINALLY getting across the ditch.. and then a bit more of an awkward head/reins match... a few more steps...  Okay, if I'm kind to myself, we got about half way up the field.  He wanted to open up and swoop wide and left back down to the barn.  *I* wanted to continue North.   My guidance and insistence we were going THATAWAY wasn't well received, and before I realized what was happening, I felt my butt come up out of the saddle. 

For a BRIEF moment I thought I could regain my seat.. but the moment my thigh hit the saddle horn, I knew it was all over but the screaming, I was coming OFF THAT HORSE!  And did I EVER.

The pesky little turd actually had the gall to run off all startled like....  as IF I'd done something to spook him!  HEY DUDE... whose butt is rolling all over the field trying to find her glasses and phone?  It sure as heck isn't YOURS!

Yeah..I ate some freshly plowed field.   

OMG Cindy.. were you OKAY?

The ladies turned around in time to witness the launch.   Tammi was awesome - quickly leaving Whisper with me while she walked slowly up to get a hand back on Patrone, who had the reins wrapped around his front leg like a jump rope.  Turns out I'd held on to them all the way down.  Just as the stirrup had held on to my foot until that last moment prior to landing - when it released it with a pop (I believe that was a small bone I heard).  

My cage was slightly rattled, but ultimately no true damage.  I DID get back up in the saddle, where I sat in shock as we discussed the next moves. 

Tammi was a trooper.. making certain to deliver just the right amount of sympathy and firmness.  She wanted to bring normalcy to the situation so I stayed cool.  Oh, Look.. he's scared!  He has diarrhea Cindy...   REALLY?  Well move over Patrone, because you SURE as heck aren't the ONLY one after THAT particular rodeo. 

It would've served him right if I'd 'nervous stomached' all over that stubborn horse.. but I refrained. 

I think he figured out that I was too freaked, he was freaked.  Neither of us could settle down.  Eventually I swapped horses with Tammi and we took me back to the edge of the road.   I got him back to the arena and ran him about 30 minutes before heading home to nurse my own pride.

So what did you take away from this experience Cindy?

You mean ASIDE from a sore foot in a lovely shade of green (and I DO like green?). 
I came away with a number of revelations actually!

• Cindy needs more lessons!
• My riding partners are amazing.
• Patrone needs more attention.
• And my group of online horse-loving girlfriends welcomed me into the dirt-eating, 1200lb stubborn baby, world of horse loving women..  who without fail will live to saddle up another day!

 

Watch out Patrone, our love-affair is FAR from over!

Back in the Saddle!

The Chariot

Round em up, Move em out.. Rawhide!

Yuppers, you heard me right, Cindy is going on a TRAIL RIDE! Isn't that a little soon Cindy? You've only been on a real horse a couple of times. I KNOW! But apparently I'm ready for the big show...

"Be here at 8!" And by gosh, I WAS! Not that I had a clue as to what I was doing, but I was there. Turns out what I was doing was cleaning stalls. Who knew a trail ride starts with poop scooping?  But I am a champion poop-scooper, (remind me to tell you a story about poop-scooping NOT horse related.. but for now, back to horses)  so I was ON IT!  I think it is important to show enthusiasm in everything.

Our group of 5 required 2 rigs... the trailer in the pic hauls three beasties... For a few moments, I thought 'that's all?' and then realized I'm an idiot, because that is MORE than enough.   Seems SOME horses get a bit nervous at loading up into a tuna can (even a very fine tuna can such as the one in the picture), so you want to limit the nervous poundage-on-the-hoof...  The stanchions? (is that a word?) are snug to say the least. But I spose if a horse is nervous, giving them lots of room to kick it up while mobile isn't the best approach to equine hauling. So... 3 horses it is!

Our stars for the day included Cowboy, Jewels, Patrone, Whisper and LilMan. Handlers included Mike. Those needing handled included Tammie, Lisa, Rabea and Me.

Heft that ghetto booty up on that thar horse!

Not Patrone, but plays him on the Internet

Actually before said hefting can began, I was tasked with saddling my magnificant ride for the day, Patrone! 

Patrone is a Palomino.  

I've provided a picture of a Palomino for your viewing pleasure.  This is NOT Patrone, but a pretty reasonable facsimile.   And like this guy, Patrone is BIG.   I felt a bit of apprehension about mounting up... primarily because we'd just met, and I thought that was kinda forward... but I digress.

Palominos are known by their coloring... a gorgeous rich chestnut topped with the beautiful cream colored mane and tail you see in the pics.  I'm sure they are also know for many other characteristics, but remember I know nothing.  Oh look! Pretty horse.. pretty pretty!  

Yeah, that's about it for Cindy.   Patrone is simply stunning.  

and big.. did I mention big?

Mike handed me all the equipment I was going to need... a bridle, a blanket, a saddle... a saddle that had more buckles and bands and random straps than I've EVER seen.  However, since I'm not an idiot, I actually managed to convince Patrone to take the bit in his mouth, so bridle went on without too much embarrassment for either of us.  

The saddle was slightly more idiot inducing, what with the chest strap, front AND back understraps.   Then for sheer torment, they handed me saddle bags to tie on..  that was fun because I was tying them on above eye-level, but made it work.

Okay Cindy, NOW SADDLE UP! 

So I did :)

 My view 

I've posted yet another lovely picture of the view I had as we left the rigs..  This is Cowboy's ass.  And no, I'm not talking about Mike's - although kudos for that view too -  I'm talking about the horse's. 

  

Patrone and Cowboy are buds...  as close as Patrone WANTED to follow, I think someone should probably TALK to Patrone about bad touching, but he's not my baby, so I'll have to refrain from the all-out lecture and instead simply state that I was probably keeping him on a shorter rein than he wanted.   Cowboy remained stoic so I have no idea whether my efforts were appreciated, or I was simply harshin on his gig.  

Ultimately I suppose it mattered not.

He went thataway!

Where'd ya head Cindy?

Mike hauled us East, to a gravel road up out of Troy.   He'd indicated we were going to be traversing some blow-downs and meandering off-trail, because the lessons were continuing.   So essentially we started out across a field.  I felt confident... primarily because Patrone was following Cowboy I believe I mentioned that, so this was the view that made me dig out the camera and keep it around my neck for the duration of the ride.

 

Either we had fabulous horses, or trail rides consist of one dude deciding where we are going, and every other horse just says 'oh.. got it' and follows.   Whatever the case, our mosey across the fields had a few moments of excitement.  

You want us to do what?

Mike wanted to cross a little wash-out.   It was maybe 2-3 ft drop and 4-5 ft across.   To be gracious (OR because he had Idiot Cindy along) he back-tracked about 15-20 and found an easier crossing.   That said, Patrone got all bent about being separated from Cowboy, so Cindy and Patrone crossed a bit prematurely at a less idiot-proof approach.   

However, Cindy stayed in the saddle and those amazing words I've come to love were uttered "Good Cindy, Good Girl!" ... yeah... it helps!

Ultimately we crossed some large clear-cut areas... Mike wanted us to practice walking the horses through lots of hazards, over stumps and brush and generally learn to trust the horse.   

Smiles all around

There WAS that horse-eating stump that rolled at Patrone.. I learned a 1200lb beast CAN hop sideways, but better yet, I learned I can 'hang' when it happens.   I also learned that Patrone has issue with Lil'Man, so poor Lisa had to bring up the tail-end of the line... because every time she moved up closer, Patrone would bust into a trot.    

I learned Patrone likes to run up hills,  versus plod slowly.  Patrone learned running up hills only works until you run into the ass of the horse directly in front of you in the trail.   However, Patrone doesn't seem to retain those lessons, because I think we goosed Whisper any number of times.  

What did you learn Cindy?

How amazing it is to be in the saddle, in the sunshine, listening to the groan of leather, and echos of laughter coming from the people you are sharing this experience with.  

just a moseying

 I also learned that barbed wire can hide REALLY well in the brush... I learned that a horse can trust someone to get them safely out of it.. Thanks to Tammie for spotting the wire, and helping Patrone free up his front hoof.    I learned that rocking forward in the saddle when trying to encourage a 1200lb beastie to cross a creek, actually has ZERO impact on the beastie.   But it seems that tenacity and force of will DID work... we went across the creek afterall.   Personally I think he just got sick of my flailing around on his back, and went across to visit with Cowboy, but we won't talk about that right now.

Just one of the gorgeous views

I learned that the scenery we have in our neck of the woods (something I've always considered beautiful) takes on a whole different level of Wow from the back of a horse..

I saw some territory I've not enjoyed before, and very much loved sharing it with people I didn't even know 2 months ago...

I learned you have to bring a bottle of hootch along for the ride...

And I learned I actually like the cinnamon flavored liquor called FireBall, and I learned that FireBall is a cure for just about everything.. but again, I digress.

I learned Lisa needs reminded to bring her sunscreen, and Tammie has a cool hat which reminded ME to go find my beater green cowboy hat before the next ride.  I learned Rabea looks elegant no matter how hot it is, and I learned I want more of this kinda happiness.

What else did you learn Cindy?

I learned just exactly where in the hell Nunya is.. Not that I could find it again, but I can say I've BEEN there now!

Mike overseeing the watering of the beasties

Ultimately we moseyed around a corner and came to our destination.   A beautiful body of water in some old claypits.    Which MIGHT be why it's called the Claypits by some... I have no idea why it's called Nunya by others... unless it's 'nunya bizness how to get there again'...   Booo, hiss...

We were told it's a fabulous place to swim.  Nobody SAID there would be SWIMMING!! I didn't bring a suit.

Normally that wouldn't have stopped me  - especially on such a gorgeously HOT day.. However,  I noted nobody bailing in, so I remained in-saddle.

If truth be told, I remained in-saddle because I forgot underwear that day, and there would be TOO much of Cindy exposed to these poor folks if I bailed as I wanted to :)

And if deeper truth be told.. I didn't FORGET underwear.. I just was too lazy to go downstairs to the laundryroom.. so I bypassed em for no other reason than sheer sloth.

Cindy  -- that was inappropriate sharing!

Not really.. inappropriate sharing would've been 1) to strip off the jeans and go in anyway... or 2)  completely inappropriate would have been if someone captured THAT on my camera, and I posted pics...

So ya'll chill.   Nothing inappropriate here.. just move on and go about yer bizness...

Hobble yerself Cindy..

Alrighty then... since the horrors of Inappropriate Cindy were dodged... we all clambered down from our glorious mounts, dug out our lunches and sat in the shade while the beasties grazed.  

I learned how to hobble Patrone (how handy, there is a hobble strap attached to the saddle)... I learned Rabea thought hanging out with us women was like chilling with her brothers (bodily function humor DID come up in conversation) and I learned once again, there is nothing comparable to sitting in the sunshine, listening to laughter while inundated with the smells of warm leather and warmer horses.

Mostly I learned I want to do this again!  SOON!

What a fabulous experience...  Thanks much to Mike and the ladies for giving me such an incredible day.

simply lovely

Good Girl Cindy! Good Girl!

L.M. is getting some strokes from his momma

Don't forget the Praise!

When we are dealing with children, and dogs... and men, we've learned that praising a job well done, often leads to less struggle with future jobs.   Okay, that works with children and dogs...  not nearly as well with men.  But my POINT is, horses react equally well when they're told they are doing a good job.

L.M. is no different.   Last night I was out ahead of Lisa, and started the chores before her arrival.   One constant around the stable, is the "Good boy, SUCH a good boy" snippets of conversation floating over the fences and through the stable walls.  

What you DON'T expect as a Greenhorn do they even USE that term anymore?  or am I stuck in some John Wayne movie dialog? is the fact the horses DO want to hear it.   Every time Lisa asked the boy to do something, and he did it.. he'd move forward for the loves and praise.   That is pretty frick'n awesome!  You know what would be cooler yet?   If when YOU need praise, it was simply a matter of walking over to your 'praise'er' and bump em with your nose..  yeah, if THAT worked.. that'd be awesome.

Good Job for stopping Mister!

Gearing UP!

Last night we moved towards saddling L.M. up.  We did this for a variety of reasons, the first and foremost, so I understand the equipment and how to use it.  

I'm pretty full of questions about saddles (western, versus aussie, versus roping), and sizes (15 or 17?  who knows).  Why we have a bit?  Why we don't.   Lisa is amazing.   Just as an FYI, Lisa bought an Aussie 16, and L.M. doesn't like a bit.

I also learned how critical it is to have the saddle fit not just the rider, but the horse.  A too-tight saddle can do muscle damage to a horse, and improperly geared probably feels a whole helluva lot worse with a rider on it, than us flopping the girls into a misfitted underwire bra which we ALL know we can never quit tugging at.   Point taken!  If I ever get a horse, someone very knowledgeable will be helping me outfit it.

Climb aboard Cindy!

One of the amazing things about Lisa, is she won't allow me to simply sit back and watch.   Although it's HER horse and HER time.. she insisted on getting me in the saddle.   And just like LM.. when Lisa tells me to do something, I DO it.

First, I attempted to get in the saddle from the ground.  Although I'm certain it wasn't pretty, the attempt WAS successful.   Thank you 30" inseam.

LM and I did our walk-abouts.  We meandered into corners and back out again.  We bumped the ball around the arena for awhile.   By this time, he was MUCH less concerned with the mower contraption he'd been leery of earlier with Lisa..  We even took a stroll over the mini-bridge a couple of times.   All good.

But after watching her trot with him, I too wanted to know what that felt like. 

Cindy gets the trots!

So I try the noise.. you know, the noise that tells a horse 'giddyup, let's trot'?  Yeah, that noise.   I can't make it.  Or I'm speaking Sharpei and not Arabian.. whatever the case.   Nothing happens. 
Well, that's not true.  Lisa looked at me funny.   As does LM when I try to make her kissing/encouraging noise and she says 'are you TRYING to get him to trot? 

Ah HELL.  If I can't get a 35 year old human that speaks English to understand me, how the heck can the 4-legged companion figure it out?   Yes Lisa, I want him to TROT!! 

LM doing his community service

ALRIGHTY THEN.  Lisa immediately put us on the lead, made me lay down the reins, and and began the process of taking me around in circles.   LM was less than amused.    Lisa gave me a brief breakdown on which muscles I'm supposed to be using to stay in the saddle.  I feel like a relatively large paddle ball, minus the string, but by gosh, we TROTTED!  HOLY HORSESHOES!  WE TROTTED!

Lisa was full of encouragement.  I was doing well, my posture was good.. i wasn't slapping around near as much as I felt like I was.    

We determined the saddle was a bit large for me... I was almost up on tiptoes trying to lock my thighs under the things flanking the saddle horn.   Apparently heels are supposed to point down.   I was supposed to clamp my thighs to the horse...  These thighs are more drawn to each other.. but at the end of it, I knew I was doing okay when we finally got off the lead and began to work together, without Lisa having to call out ALL the directions to LM.

And Mike came out and said something about needing to learn to Post next.... and as we wound up our ride.. Lisa shouted out "GOOD GIRL Cindy, GOOD GIRL!"   

See?  that praise works on all of us :)  She just didn't have to pat me on the head!  We saved those for LM :)

All we need is love

Buying his affections. 

Within a short period of time I have learned even a well-trained horse needs a knowledgeable rider in order to better provide what the rider is asking him to do.   If the rider doesn't know?  Or doesn't know how to get the message across, there are difficulties.  However, if the horse doesn't trust the rider?   Epic Fail!

Somewhere quickly into this journey, I discovered how much I want this horse to love me.  Second to that is of course is the hope he responds to me.   But truth be told.. I want ALL the horses to love me.   I'm not opposed to sweetening the odds on that, so stopping just short of rubbing carrots all over my body, I DID make certain to take treats out last Saturday evening when it was just me at the stables.

This is Lil' Man

Lisa was gone for the weekend and I got granted permission to go out and do the daily routine of cleaning the stable, grooming Lil' Man, and yes - taking him into the arena to see if he will listen to me.  

I arrived at dinner time...  let's just say the listening was limited until he caught whiff of my carrot scent.  Yes, suddenly I had his attention!   But like any good momma (surrogate or otherwise), he had to wait for dessert.  

You know what momma wants...

 

The standard routine with Lil' Man (from now on referred to as L.M.) includes the following... we go in and halter him up, and lead him out to the grooming area.   There he is brushed out, hooves picked and general touching and loving.   Then he's released into the arena and we move to stable cleaning because nobody likes standing in their own business.   Then again, nobody likes standing in anyone else's business either, but ya'll probably know that already.

Following the stable cleaning, Lisa harnesses him back up and begins with a few walking circles, then on to trotting circles.   Eventually she gets him to run the arena, with direction changes and pace changes through hand-signals and sometimes charging at him to remind him who is calling the shots.

L.M. charging past me

It's always fun to watch him kick it up in protest before getting back to it...   1170lbs of  'But I don't WANT to run circles anymore'...

Sometimes he starts a random figure-8 just because he can.   When I'm out in the middle and Lisa is directing him.. I've noticed he often cuts closer and closer to me as he charges by.  

I trust him not to run into me..  so far that trust hasn't been misplaced.

Last Saturday, because I knew he'd be stalled for the weekend, I got L.M. out into the arena and we did just a little of those exercises.   In true fashion, he balked a few times, charged towards me in protest and for the most part?   Had a playful good time.    We didn't stay out too long before I let him get back to his dinner.

Bribes?  I prefer the word Encouragement!

 

Are you SURE we can't go back to those carrots yet?

After I got him back inside and all the equipment stored.  I simply sat in his enclosure with him..  We talked.. Mostly me.. not so much him.   I yammered with his neighbor Risky...   I walked up and down the fenceline saying howdy to all the residents...  and THEN I broke out the carrots.

Yes I did.  Want a carrot?   Show me some love!   I had the whole crew standing at attention.  Risky got a bit snotty towards L.M... who reminded him that *I* was *HIS* person...  surrogate or not..  therefore those carrots and that one apple probably defaulted to his property.   We fixed the kicking, snorting situation by some firm talk and some more love..   

And eventually I noticed my heart, which had come out heavy.. was smiling, and I knew I could go home and be thankful for my evening.  So I said goodnight to all the babies and drove home..   

My cousin Lorrie said something today that really struck a chord with me..

"What is on the outside of a horse, is good for the inside of a woman."  

 

 They don't make a bandaid big enough to handle my hurt... but they sure do make horses that can.

Let em know who's boss!

Because it seemed appropriate.

There is NO question I have a reputation for being a force to be reckoned with.. Too often I've heard that being direct, or speaking up for oneself makes a woman a qualifier in the Bitch Olympics.  Of course, I've also heard that's a lesbian indicator too - but I digress.

Heaven knows I've been told I'm scary.  "Gee Cindy, *I* wouldn't want you angry at me" and other equally wussy statements.
For the love of God.. name ONE PERSON aside from Myles and Ashley.. oh.. and Preston I have EVER put a hand on to discipline!
SHEESH  SO quick to LABEL you people are!

Even my boss told me recently that I appear afraid of nothing.   Boy HE couldn't be more wrong!   VAMPIRES.  Little does he know I still won't enter a room without flicking the light on first...Vampires!  I tell you -  damned scary things.

This is Penny.  Barb and Joy Kinzer's girl.

ANYWAY... I think we can safely say - based on the feedback alone - I have no problems assuming an authoritarian role.  And DO from what I hear..  So I'm comfortable with giving directions.  I'm comfortable in the driver's seat.. I'm comfortable steering my own boat.  

What I am NOT comfortable doing, is holding the reins.   OR squaring off with a 1200# thinking, feeling being.  

Cindy?  You HAVE to show them who is in charge!  You HAVE to be the Alpha in this relationship.    

Are you freak'n kidding me?

Trust me, THIS girl knows a 'you are an idiot' look when she gets one.

 

 

Back at the Stables!

Lisa called me Tuesday.. told me to come on back out the next day for more horse learn'n... so of course I went. 

This time, I cared slightly less what I was wearing, back went on the old boots -  this time accompanied by a Goodwill pair of $3.99 wranglers I'd picked up.   It's been awhile since I've worn wranglers.   The first thing I noticed when I decided to shop?  The COST!  HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!  When did Wranglers start becoming 80.00 fashion pants?  wowzer.   Oh yeah, back to the pair *I* bought..  IN reality, it's been awhile AND a few pounds.   I think the last pairs I had were size 7s and 9s.... These were 12s.   Lil' Man didn't care.   I cared.... I cared mostly because apparently size 12s are too big, and I had quite the random 'crotch pouch' of fabric pooling in the general vicinity.   

Good thing Lil Man also doesn't care that I look like I've filled my britches... 

But did I mention they were only $3.99?  Remember how I told you I wanted to get back to simple?  yeah - that's what I thought!

The cleaning of horse and stalls!

Turns out Lisa had some of the same ideas about this friendship that I did.  Before I could present my ideas of learning how to work with horses from the ground up, she handed me a rake, and a wheelbarrow semi-full of 'horse apples'..   Off to the stables we went, where I learned about the auto-watering trough.. I learned the art of shoveling up brown biscuits and I learned where to dump the wheelbarrow.   (already I was eyeballing things, thinking 'Bogar, bring a bag next time and your garden will benefit').

I learned how to lift the hooves and use the picks.. I was instructed on halter application and daisy-chaining the lead.  We talked of brushing out the baby, while keeping an eye open for new bumps and scrapes.   And I listened VERY carefully to the 6" versus 6' rule when moving around a horse.   It seems, if a horse is prone to kicking at people behind it, at 6" they can't do much damage, and at 6' they can't reach you.  Anywhere in between?  ya'll are gonna be hurtin.   VERY good information to have!

Bonding time!

Actually, I'm learning that any/all time with a horse is bonding time.  Feeding, grooming and touching when NOT working him is a time the horse gets to know you, and know you aren't going to hurt him.   A lesson and connection which will pay off when it is time to go into the arena to work on communication.    With a little direction, Lisa set about showing me how to tell Lil' Man which direction I want him to go, whether fast or slow.  When it's time to turn and where I want him to do it.  It was amazing, and after some time, when she put me front/center, he listened (for the most part) and graced me with compliance :)   THAT was pretty awesome.

Get up on that Cowboy!

FINALLY!   The REAL reason I'm out here!   Yeah, people..  Cowboy is another horse.   Damn ya'll are nasty!
 
Once again Cindy was in the saddle.   Not just in the saddle, but in the saddle and holding the reins.   And no - Willie Nelson was not present, nor was I channeling this guy.

Cowboy had just come in from a fabulous run with his Daddy as well as Tammy and her baby (I love the people I'm meeting).   They'd run free across the fields, sounds of Tammy's giggling distracting Lil' Man from listening.  (a great sound by the way).   Cowboy was less than enthused about Special Needs Cindy getting thrown up on his back, and very quickly taught Cindy the vast magnitude of what she does NOT know about horses.   When his Daddy said 'take em around', Cowboy took that literally and began to move into a trot... 

And didn't seem all that interested in coming out of it initially.. but we managed.

Cowboy and I did turns, and looped the arena, and walked many many times over the wooden bridge.. a lot of OFF the bridge, less ON it.  But we did okay.  Ultimately Cowboy taught Cindy that there is a lot to where her body weight is resting in the saddle.. and there is reasons for where her hands hold the reins, and how it takes the rider first and foremost being in sync with themselves before the horse can join the party.  

Cowboy spent a LOT of time rolling his eyes over towards his Daddy, with a VERY clear horsey expression which said 'Are you KIDDING ME?  What does it WANT and why is it on my back?'  

I think it'll be awhile before Cindy is ready to ride that cowboy again :)

GiddyUp

Once again...

this girl finds herself at the wrong end of a relationship. As an FYI, I really prefer the new start/excitement and crazy love part.  Rather than dwell on THAT, I'm focusing on what this relationship brought new into my world.

And what IS new Cindy?

As is the case with everyone, I think, introducing someone new into ones life brings with it exposure to things previously unknown.   In my case with this man, maybe it was less 'new' than a reminder of things I've met in earlier chapters of my book. 

Cindy, what ARE you babbling about?  What reminder, What things?   GiMME a second Fer Cryin in the bucket!  So pushy you are...

I'm talking mostly about all things 'back to basics'. Livestock, hay, 4-wheelers, guns, tractors and horses.   In the last 18 months, I've driven a grain truck (a small one, and it was empty.... and not really very far... but I DROVE it!) for the first time.  I rode in a combine (who KNEW those birds of prey think of combines like a rodent buffet serving mechanism?)  I held hands and listened to grace being said at all shared meals.  I split wood on a splitter, I learned how to use hay hooks, I was trusted with a chainsaw.    I bought a quilting frame, I ran a long-arm quilter.. I BUILT two quilts (completely out of square and whonky, but I DID it).  I designed my own aprons on a 1940s industrial pfaff that was purchased as a gift for me.   I fell in love with photographing farm equipment.  I stepped in more cowpies than a smart girl should.  I've sprayed thistles taller than myself and I've walked the rolling hills of the Palouse in sun-baked heat.  Recently, I reached under a very annoyed chicken and pulled out still-warm fresh eggs.  I've plucked fresh peppers from a bush and picked up true Idaho potatoes still covered in dirt.   I've found myself staring at a traveling chicken coop with envy and yearning.. and find myself muttering about raised gardens in my postage stamp yard..

Mostly I've forged some friendships that have tripled the size of my heart.   Something changed in me because of his presence in my life...   And frankly I am damned thankful for all those things I've just mentioned.

I've always been outdoorsey..  so maybe better said, I was reintroduced to farm life.  He made me yearn for things like rolling fields, chickens, gardens, horses and the like...

Well, the reality is he made me believe in and yearn for a lot of things.

But for now.. we're going to focus on horses.

My recent love spoke often of the one relationship that most touched his heart -  his horse.   Our time together put me around others who also love horses, and the common theme repeated by all is the amazing heart connection a person can form with their equine brother or sister.  

I need one of those, because it turns out I SUCK at the man/woman partner kind.

So Cindy, what are you going to do about it?

I decided to take riding lessons.. Obviously!  

I can't tell you what I think this will mean to my life..  or what I hope to gain for having pursued it... but I think it is about being involved in something that is clean and open and simple.  Something honest.  Something real.    And mostly something bigger than myself, that shares my heart.. something that isn't concerned about appearances, or gossip or being judged.  Something that shines when we're together and lets me know I matter.  

Maybe something where the only crapping on things that will come of this.. is just the stuff on my boots, and not my heart.

But enough of that...

It turns out many stables will train you, and on their own 4-legged babies.   I've also learned, although I don't have a prayer in hell of ever being able to afford my own horse, there are plenty of horses out there that their people would happily 'rent' out for exercising.   I want to become whatever is the equivalent to a dog walker.. I want to be a horse walker.

So I called a friend who trains horses and breaks people (or is that trains people and breaks horses?  Probably a bit of both) and I said 'okay, here I am.. what do you charge and will you take me on?'  Luckily he said yes :)

I wanna be a cowgirl?

Last week, My first time at the stables started with a simple invite to come out and watch a lesson.   So I did.   I felt like a complete goob, worrying about what to wear, how ridiculous I was going to feel, and how out of place I would appear.  But I 'cowgirled up', dug out my old boots, threw on a pair of jeans (any jeans will do) and went.

Lisa and Lil' Man were working inside the arena, listening carefully to directions such as '2-point left turn' and 'chin up'..  A lot of terminologies were tossed out that meant nothing to me and plenty of threats of 'ground work' whispered my general direction.  But at the end of the evening, I was tossed up in Lil' Man's saddle and carried around as he followed his momma as she walked the fence line.  

That..   I want THAT!

It is amazing to watch these huge babies bond so closely with their person that they will stroll next to them.  But it is more than that...  It is seeing the strength, size and sheer magnificence of their beauty and grace.  It is watching them get feisty and sprint forward straight at the gate, only to spin and kick before tearing off the other direction.  It is watching them toss their heads high, throwing their manes back and looking at you with such regal eyes one moment..  and dropping it the next so they can lean into you and let you rub their ears.  

It took my breath away..  they took my breath away.  I felt I was so unworthy of their grace... 

And at the same time, I SO wanted to be. 

And I can't wait to go back.