Sybil Ludington Rides Again

Politics, Freedom and Farm Life

Tag: Horses

Sabertooth Snowflakes

So today was Captain’s and my first day back in school this year. They had predicted snow around noon. My lesson started at noon. I thought, well Lord, if it’s going to snow, let it be before that. It didn’t. So on we went. We warmed up, he held a lovely canter circle both directions without breaking gait or losing the proper lead. My instructor talked about some riding theory, thing we were going to work on today. I tightened up the girth (Captain and I are both at our “bear weight” hibernation weight gain that comes in winter, or with menopause) and stepped on. We started working on precision by riding a box using barrels for the box corners. That was going well, ride to the corner, pivot using the hindquarters, then go the new direction. While we were working on that, a blizzard started. Well, maybe not a grand blizzard, but a LOT of little snowflakes, BLOWING snowflakes! LOTS of them! And Captain didn’t appreciate it at ALL! Those sabretooth snowflakes attacked his delicate paint horse nose. He put his head down, rubbed it on his sports medicine boots, shook his head, got really agitated and antsy. He really didn’t want to think about working anymore, he wanted to think about fonching and acting a fool. But our teacher was very patient, and I kept working Captain, our precision went down the tubes, we were doing good to make a square, let alone precise turns. But eventually his brain came back. Our turns got nicer, I figured something out and our lines got straighter and it still kept snowing! The end of our lesson we trotted a nice square around the barrels. He DID break gait on that a few times, and kicked out once when I got after him with the whip, but we kept on working. He ended up doing great. Is he thrilled about working in snow? No, but he can and did. I had been telling him, “someday buddy, we will ride in the snow”. I meant after it was already on the ground. But, hey, I guess we did ride in the snow today. While the flakes were little, there were a LOT of them! Was it good to be back in school? GRACIOUS YES!!!!! Am I sorry it snowed during class, no! We gained life experience, we’ll have it for next time!

Captain contemplates the sabretooth snowflakes

Captain contemplates the sabertooth snowflakes

A Human Being, or Human Doing?

I’ve felt so many times to be so hip deep in alligators I should just name them and get them vaccinated. I can vaguely remember a life where I used to keep the house fairly (for me) clean, I sewed a lot, knitted, crocheted had a sense of humor, you know, was a real person! I worked with my horse almost every day.

For a long time it’s felt like I just run from one responsibility to the next. My fence rows need to be cleaned, my house needs to be cleaned, though it is better. I need to fix a fence, clean out the chicken house and their play area and make sure it’s safe for them. I’d like to read a book, see if I remember how to knit and crochet. Goodness knows Captain could use the work, though probably less than I need to work him. It’s good for me.

Today I did some of the things I needed to do, but I also read a real book, just for a little bit and then I took advantage of the beautiful day God gave us. I went out and fixed the downed panels in the little round corral and got Captain. We just worked some on line, then I had the bareback pad on him and got on. First time this year. It’s been a brutal winter. Seems either the footing was good and it was -20, which is probably why the footing was good, it was frozen. Or the weather was 30 degrees and the footing was too sloppy. Or I had 14 other things demanding my attention. But today, I was a human, I rode my horse. We weren’t spectacular, he is still coming off the rail, but he did very well for not having been ridden for at least 3 months.  I was really hoping we wouldn’t rodeo, and we didn’t. He was really a good boy. He knows he was, he’s gets cookies when he gets it right. Hey, I don’t work for free, I don’t expect him to, and for him, it makes it more of a game and he likes to win that cookie.

We watched a movie tonight, Ring The Bell it is a Christian movie about a big city sports agent that runs from contract to contract with no need for God or really even other people in his life. He is a human doing, trying to accomplish all the goals the world says make him a successful man.

I think we can all fall into this trap, I know I have. Not because I want to achieve the world’s idea of “success” but because of the responsibilities that pull at me from many directions. The old, so focused on the journey, we forget to pay attention to the ride sort of thing.

As I search to find the direction God is pointing me, I need to remember I am a human being, there are times I need to just, well, be. And I firmly believe that blingy browbands can help me remember that I’ve been given many blessings by God. I should take time to appreciate them!

Blingy Browbands- They enhance your life!

Blingy Browbands- They enhance your life!

Mustang Sally

Naw, I don’t really have a Mustang….I have something way cooler, a Saturn SC2. Which the nicest old man backed into back in January. I finally took it in to Raymore Collision Plus the week to get it fixed. They were on the list of shops American Family (the hit-ers) insurance works with. The hit-ee (that would be me) can choose off the list and not have to get second estimates or anything. I admit, I had a lot of concern that it would look like an “appaloosa” car. That the spot would show, but it doesn’t. It looks perfect, and I mean perfect! They even cleaned the car out. They should get a medal for bravery for that!

I returned the rental car, and picked up my car. YEAH!

As soon as I got home I jumped in my truck to take it in to my regular mechanic to get the wheel bearings fixed/replaced whatever he’s going to have to do so I can haul the illustrious Captain (my version of the original Sybil’s Star) to where ever we need to go, safely.

I hope that’s it on the automobile shuffle game for a while. But boy Raymore Collision Plus sure did do a GREAT job. And they were all really, really nice!

The first part of the day was the Mustang part. I made good on my Valentines gift to hubby and had his horses teeth floated. For those that don’t know, that means filing the sharp edges off their teeth. This horse is old and only has about 4 teeth left. While it might seem like with 4 teeth it doesn’t matter, it matters even more then. Dr. Aaron did just a great job, and he says hubby’s horse is looking great for his age and for me to keep feeding the same way I have been. Almost like giving him two gifts!

Saturn SC2

Saturn SC2