The (Crazy) Horse

Our next door neighbors have a horse and a daughter who is about my age. We decided to be riding buddies. My horses aren't yet at our house, but they are being boarded only about one mile down the road, so yesterday I drove to the barn, tacked up Hank, and met my neighbor for a little trail ride. (Ok, not really a trail ride, since you'd have to trailer your horse to any trails, but we rode through a neighborhood or two to a little park with a big patch of grass and no "no horses" signs. It started out well. Hank seemed really happy to get out. He was walking very briskly with his ears forward the whole way to the park. Once we got there I asked him to canter a little, and he TOOK OFF! Boy, was he feeling his oats!

I spent the next 30 minutes fighting with him to keep him from taking off with me. A mom and three little kids came from a house across the street to say "hi" to the horses, but I couldn't let Hank get close to them--he couldn't stop moving for even a second. Good thing Cody is a good horse and appreciated a little scratch from a toddler who couldn't stop smiling and saying, "horsey!"

The ride back was just as bad. I'm impressed that I still have that kind of strength to my arms since this was only my third time riding since The Kid was born in November. Hank was taken out of lessons at that time, too (he used to be a lesson horse for kids with disabilities, believe it or not). He was very happy to get out. And to not be in an arena.

Now I have blisters on my hands and I was too tired and sore to get up with The Kid early this morning. Good thing The Boy is such a good sport. What would I do without him?

Now I want to see a chiropractor. My back hurts.

Not bad for a 21-year-old horse, huh?

Some pictures of us competing in our younger years.
Can you imagine this horse giving lessons to kids with disabilities? Pretty incredible.

Western Pleasure at the MN State 4-H Horse Show
English Equitation at the same show--versatile horse, huh?
Just a little backyard practice.
Our much younger years.
Yeah, he's still got it. We may have to get us some blue ribbons at some shows this summer.