Pretty close to current

That last post was from about a month ago . . . except for the last part about plentyoffish!

So, since then, I've had lots of horsey experiences and lots of dancing. One day, in the jumping arena, I sat on Katrina for fifteen minutes without being able to get her to move! I guess I still don't have the sitting thing right. I wasn't allowed to kick her. I forgot about clucking. But, it was a frustrating fifteen minutes, I'll tell ya that!

On my way home from Durango after the first Cadence Therapeutic Riding day . . . I remember that because I had my camera with me . . . I saw a very unique nature picture . . . a coyote pooping! I stopped the car to try to get a picture, but I was going fast and by the time I stopped, I was about a block ahead of him. I didn't think backing up on the highway would be prudent, and I didn't think the coyote would wait for me in his own kodak moment! Ah, well. There goes my future as a nature photographer!

I had to go to a western-type general store in Cortez to get a new saddle rack for Cadence. I'm the closest, so I got the job. I'm not a talker, but I did manage to ask the manager if I could have a discount since I was buying for a non-profit organization. First he said that it was going on sale in a couple weeks, but when he looked it up, it wasn't. Then, he told me that if I came back on Tuesday, I could get the senior discount of ten per cent . . . for sixty-two years old and up. I told him I wasn't sixty-two. I think that embarrassed him! So, he looked up what it was on sale for the last time, and gave it to me at that price! Score!

On another day at the ranch, I had to walk Linda, a green mare (green essentially being barely tame, in this case . . . although she's gotten into being brushed), into the arena. She had taken off on somebody a day or two before, so it made me kind of nervous. Alicia opened the gate for me and told me to do a half-halt (which is kind of a slowing down) before we entered into the arena. I did it and I was nervous, but kept control of Linda the whole time. And I wasn't scared! At least, I think this was the time I wasn't scared! And it's been better ever since.

Later, we went on a short trail ride and managed to get Katrina to trot without clucking. When we got back, I lunged Alicia on Jeeter . . . Jeeter is a green stallion. Now that was scary. But having completed it, it gave me a lot more confidence. It also made me feel good that Jennifer AND Alicia trusted me to do that in the field. In the arena is one thing - - it's contained, but the field is this huge open area. So, that was a great experience.

And yet another day, a high school girl named Alli was there. She and I caught and saddled (English no-tree saddles) PJ and Painted Lady. I've ridden PJ before, so I thought she was the one I would ride today and Alli would ride Painted Lady. But, as it turned out, Alicia rode Painted Lady and I lunged Alli on PJ. I didn't feel like Alli had control, so whenever PJ looked distracted, I pulled a little on the lunge line . . . I probably shouldn't have . . . but, I did it for my own benefit. If PJ got away from Alli . . . then I would have to handle the situation and I wasn't sure if I could at that point. So . . . whatever. Then, Alicia took PJ and I was to get on Painted Lady. I was a little leery because I thought she was more horse than I was ready to handle in the field, but Alli said that she and PJ were like the same horse and that she preferred riding Painted Lady anyway. So, up I went and Alli had the lunge line. But, she was more like leading me around than lunging me, and Jennifer didn't say anything, so I guess that's what she wanted her to do. But, I didn't feel like Alli really had control of the situation and I didn't trust her, so I was pretty distracted and not able to do what Jennifer wanted me to do. Plus the wind was blowing, so with my A.D.D. (attention deficit disorder), I could barely understand what Jennifer was saying, anyway. (And I just had my hearing checked and it's perfect . . . so, this is definitely a case of ADD and not hearing loss!)

In the meantime, PJ, the horse that I wanted to ride and the horse that Alli had just gotten off of, BUCKED while Alicia was riding her! So much for that!

One morning as Moki and I approached the house after our morning walk, I saw a big coyote in the field across from the house. He was pouncing on something and wagging his tail! It was the coolest thing! I ran home to get my camera and upon my return he was still there. He looked and wandered off, but I did get some footage.