Friday



In the morning, we played another kind of game. Ropes were put on the ground to shape a "canyon" that we had to ride down. First, a narrow passage, and then a place at the end just big enough for a horse. Using what we learned about turning on the forehand and turning on the haunches, we had to turn around without touching the ropes. It was hard! I think almost everybody "died" (went off the side of the fake canyon) at least once except for Frank and Jim.

Then, we had to do synchronized riding with all of us in kind of a pinwheel formation. It was also difficult . . . sometimes going slower, sometimes going faster. It was a blast, though!

After lunch, we watched Frank and Jim calm down a "killer horse," so that he could be shod on one foot where he threw a shoe. Apparently, he put the last farrier (horse shoer) in the hospital! I gave the horse reiki the whole time, and Jim thought it helped!

At one point, when we were waiting for something or other to begin, I wanted to practice throwing a lasso again. Jim D (a different Jim) taught me how one day during the week. And I couldn't get it at all. But, it must have sunk in somehow because I roped the plastic steer three times in a row!

Then, four of us in the group participated in the team penning. That's when one person from the group "cuts" out three steers from a group, and then the "cutter" and the other three members of the group use teamwork to get the three steers into a pen. I have a picture of me and the steers, but I have to get it scanned.

The evening entertainment was a great magician with a great sense of humor. Afterwards, I stayed with several other people to talk to him. He talked about how magic used to be in the shaman's realm. The guy was incredibly interesting.