Back in the Saddle Again.

NO... not really.

But, I was at my barn, with my horse and my friends.  The only people that I really knew were those who were there from the beginning.  Elaine and Ted, Sue, Donna, Mike and Tammy, our trainer.  There were many newcomers in and out with horses that I would pass every week and say... who’s horse is that?  I didn’t spend much time at the barn.  When I did, it was mostly bath and grooming time.  Richard and his checkbook bought me a gorgeous Tucker saddle that came with everything but a seatbelt… padded seat, fancy Conchos adorned with leather  fringe and tooling that was handcrafted by some artesian.  Great saddle… great horse…. Awful rider.

Dakota was a challenge.  She was gorgeous and she knew it. She was just a trail horse with not-so-good training.  The Petite barn lady I purchased her from never rode her.  Dakota belonged to her husband who took her on long trail rides in the woods waltzing through trees using her mouth as the steering wheel. Regardless of that, she did have a good STOP to her (when she wanted to).

She was gentle and kind but wouldn’t lunge for anything and spent most of the time up on her back legs in protest.  AHHH…. She rears? At least it was on the ground and not under saddle… at least… sort of… yea…

I rode her.  She was unpredictable and not very happy under saddle.  I know, there are no bad horses, only bad riders… yup. Me. I know she felt my fear but I tried all the time not to let anything get to me.  She was patient.  She stood by the mounting block while I hauled my butt over the top… always whacking her on the rump with my out of shape stumps for legs….

She walked.  Gently and quietly.  Don’t ask for a lope….just trot…she was fine.  BUT.. yea well, every so often some ungodly creature would jump out of the fencing and attack her very being… but, I stayed on… each and every time.

Why am I doing this?  I love my barn; I love having friends and just being here… I really don’t have to ride… Dear sweet Elaine… so often she would ask me... “Why do you have a horse... it would be so much better if you just got a Great Dane... easier to handle and you don’t have to ride”  I love her… so blunt and so true… so, I got a Great Dane, two actually…. But I still had a horse... and I was still petrified EVERY time I got on.

Nonetheless... I still tried.  Days, weeks and seasons went by and Dakota and I no better than our first day, but she was my beautiful Paint mare and I was home in a barn with people I loved.