Horse thoughts (not for FT)
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 1:39 pm
So, we keep two horses on the property across the street from us, which is owned by people who have become friends. One of them has a degenerative suspensory condition that will probably mean his demise within two years. They don't charge us much for board over there, and we purchased a run-in shed to put out there for the horses in foul weather.
We also have a third horse that my wife Sandy competes (Eventing) with, so that's at a barn where she goes to ride and take lessons.
Recently someone at Sandy's barn asked to bring over her horse to join our two for a while, he is having some lameness issues that prevent him from competing. The cheap rent across the street is nothing compared to what it is at the Eventing barn. That is the brown Appaloosa in the photo.
I've always liked Appaloosas, the spotted rear ends just remind me of Cowboys and Injuns. Winchester '94s. Dust and leather and trails and campfires.
If/when something happens to our degenerating horse (the black one in the photo), we'd need a companion for the other one (not pictured), who is retired from competing but healthy enough to live for a long, long time.
So the other day, some words slipped out of my mouth. Those words, which I don't fully regret - yet - were, "I kinda want that Appaloosa across the street."
Sandy didn't say a word. To me. But she did do some talking. To the girl who owns the horse, to her trainer at the barn. Would the horse be sound enough to haul my fat "bleep" around at a walk? Yes. Is he calm enough for a beginner? Yes. If we liked him would the girl just let us take over the boarding fee across the street, literally just take him off her hands since he can't compete? Yes. Would she give us the month of December to get to know him on a trial basis, let Sandy ride him, make sure he's nice and bomb-proof and just look into it? Yup.
Let me be clear, and no clearer sentence has ever been written than this one: The Last Thing In The World I Need Is A Horse.
But with three horses, three dogs, three snakes and three lizards already, what's one more?
I have only ridden a couple of times, and I do not do it well. I would be starting from scratch. But all I want to do is go for walks, trail rides, nothing more. A big ol' comfortable western saddle with lots of padding and a cup holder. Sandy and I spend a lot of time apart doing our own hobbies, it'd be a neat way for us to share some time together doing an activity. We have a trailer, we could take the horses anywhere to just ride trails. An hour north of us you can take horseback tours of the battlefields at Gettysburg. I've always wanted to experience that history on horseback, seems the best possible way to do it.
And Sandy's silent-yet-enthusiastic research into the whole thing is a strong indication that she likes the idea very much.
So there you have it. How stupid am I? Time will tell. But whenever I leave this world I'd rather the 'Idiot' column on my ledger sheet be a little long, than my 'Why Didn't I?' column a little short.
The photo was taken from our driveway across the street, and was taken before I got this bright idea, that's why it's so distant.
We also have a third horse that my wife Sandy competes (Eventing) with, so that's at a barn where she goes to ride and take lessons.
Recently someone at Sandy's barn asked to bring over her horse to join our two for a while, he is having some lameness issues that prevent him from competing. The cheap rent across the street is nothing compared to what it is at the Eventing barn. That is the brown Appaloosa in the photo.
I've always liked Appaloosas, the spotted rear ends just remind me of Cowboys and Injuns. Winchester '94s. Dust and leather and trails and campfires.
If/when something happens to our degenerating horse (the black one in the photo), we'd need a companion for the other one (not pictured), who is retired from competing but healthy enough to live for a long, long time.
So the other day, some words slipped out of my mouth. Those words, which I don't fully regret - yet - were, "I kinda want that Appaloosa across the street."
Sandy didn't say a word. To me. But she did do some talking. To the girl who owns the horse, to her trainer at the barn. Would the horse be sound enough to haul my fat "bleep" around at a walk? Yes. Is he calm enough for a beginner? Yes. If we liked him would the girl just let us take over the boarding fee across the street, literally just take him off her hands since he can't compete? Yes. Would she give us the month of December to get to know him on a trial basis, let Sandy ride him, make sure he's nice and bomb-proof and just look into it? Yup.
Let me be clear, and no clearer sentence has ever been written than this one: The Last Thing In The World I Need Is A Horse.
But with three horses, three dogs, three snakes and three lizards already, what's one more?
I have only ridden a couple of times, and I do not do it well. I would be starting from scratch. But all I want to do is go for walks, trail rides, nothing more. A big ol' comfortable western saddle with lots of padding and a cup holder. Sandy and I spend a lot of time apart doing our own hobbies, it'd be a neat way for us to share some time together doing an activity. We have a trailer, we could take the horses anywhere to just ride trails. An hour north of us you can take horseback tours of the battlefields at Gettysburg. I've always wanted to experience that history on horseback, seems the best possible way to do it.
And Sandy's silent-yet-enthusiastic research into the whole thing is a strong indication that she likes the idea very much.
So there you have it. How stupid am I? Time will tell. But whenever I leave this world I'd rather the 'Idiot' column on my ledger sheet be a little long, than my 'Why Didn't I?' column a little short.
The photo was taken from our driveway across the street, and was taken before I got this bright idea, that's why it's so distant.