Mountain Climbing

I wrote this a couple of weeks ago and forgot to post it. Thought I'd post it anyway.

We finally managed to go riding yesterday for the first time in 2 months. The weather has not been cooperating at all, with ice, snow, high winds, bitter cold, all conspiring to keep us out of the saddle. And then Touche managed to get a stone bruise which effectively kept him out of commission for another couple of weeks. The horses have been bored, hanging around looking over the gate, kicking at each other and chasing around. But yesterday, it was not too numbingly cold and we had a free couple of hours, so we scraped some of the great clouds of winter coat off the horses- they have started to loose their thick fur; even though it still feels like winter I guess their biological clocks are telling them otherwise. We saddled them up, Louise having her usual battle with the grumpy old mare, who spends the whole time she is being saddled looking threateningly at Louise, waiting for her chance to show that person that she will not be dominated. Louise, with the aid of a riding crop, or talking stick as she calls it, always wins. She doesn't have to use the crop. She just has to show it to Miz in order to win the battle.

My saddle is a great big ancient thing- my only inheritance from my father (except for my large nose). It weighs a good 50 lb. Luckily Touche is a big fellow and can take the weight. I have a lighter saddle, but he is not comfortable with it so even though I find my father's saddle a little uncomfortable myself and way too heavy to carry, the horse must come first. Touche has not grown any smaller over the winter. In fact, looking up at the height I had to scale when I finally came to mount him, I figure he has grown an inch or 2. He is a good horse, very patient, so he stood absolutely still while I hauled my own not inconsiderable bulk up on to the saddle. It was like mountain climbing! I had become quite good at scaling his height over the summer, but appear to have lost my agility in the long dark months of winter. I have come to realize that I will have to keep in shape for mounting over the winter, set up a dummy horse to keep my legs limber, even when I can't ride. Another option is to teach him to stand by a mounting block, which is fine until I either voluntarily or involuntarily dismount and have to get back on out in the field somewhere.

It was lovely getting out to ride. The horses were feeling pretty good, it being nearly spring and having had no real exercise. I had to hold Touche back, something I never have to do normally as he is content to plod along looking at the scenery. Mizeri was nearly exploding with the need to run, so we gave up on the idea of a trail ride and worked them in the arena for a while. They haven't really forgotten any of their training and Touche still does an awesome stop, but even he was thinking naughty thoughts and had to be kept busy. We have all missed riding and are looking forward to more good weather.