Back in the Saddle

My ankle has almost completely healed. We think it was sprained instead of twisted since it took so long, but that doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that I finally got to go ride Indy today. It’s only been…a week and a few days, but it’s felt like a year.

As I set out, I had stars in my eyes. I knew in the back of my mind that Indy would be rusty, but all the same, I was not thinking reality. And it doesn’t have to be just horses, but whenever you have starry eyes about something, something else is sure to happen that will make all your stars fall.

First, I couldn’t find my halter ANYWHERE. I decided to chance it with just a leadrope around his neck.

It didn’t work. Indy stepped on my foot. I’ve been stepped on before, but this was the worst. :S It hurt and I whacked him. By this time, I had hit reality, but then something else happened.

I went to get my spare halter from my locker and then tied Indy to the gate so I could brush him. I hadn’t even started before he launched into a bucking fit. This is where quick release knots come in handy. I loosed him and he ran across his pen to the other side. I was mad until I saw that there had been a big horse fly buzzing around his hind legs. No wonder he bucked! All the same, I was a little nervous while I tacked up and led him through the barn.

After that, things began to look up. (not literally.) When I got on his back, I think he tried to buck, but I kept his head up and then got off to shoo any flies away. I didn’t do any cantering, but I walked and trotted and I think I got him into an extended walk. I’m not sure, but I gave the proper signals and his stride seemed to lengthen. Overall, it was a good ride.

But incidentally…does anyone know of a state that doesn’t have mosquitos or horse flies??

June 1, 2010