A Step Backwards

If anyone would have told me I would be dancing with cows, I would have a new horse and actually ride again or that I would give up mani-pedi’s, shopping and an occasional restaurant dinner, I would have laughed in their face.   Tom and Courtney Riley knew I would.

I was known as the miracle child of RHO, as Sue named me, and Tom, Courtney and Chill were the reasons.

Linda told me! http://lindalauren.com/ How foolish I feel and how embarrassed I am not to have believed her! My psychic and friend told me long ago that I didn't find Satin yet...
Who would have thought my manicures and pedicures would be given up for weekly penning and sorting? That my favorite place to shop is Tractor Supply and my favorite place to eat is The Mediterranean Grill http://themediterraneandiner.com/? Go figure.

But, enough of that.  I’m doing it. We’re all doing it. Each weekend brought a new adventure.

As the days rolled by, Chill and I continued to Sort and Penn.  Something was changing, though.  I could feel it in both of us.  Chill is such a good horse.  She is sweet, talented and responsive.  But she is moody and when she decides she is done with whatever we’re doing, she’s done.  I’ve improved my riding, but   not my fear.  It didn't take Chill long to figure that out.  She started acting up in the arena, not standing still and not wanting to go out on our field rides.  If the barn was within eyesight (or not) she was going back.  She isn’t barn-sour, nasty or vindictive.  She just decides to shake me to the core when she’s had enough and she knew I would concede to her.  She snorts, rears (well, pops up enough to scare me) and fights every step of the way.  Sue, Donna and Sharon always encouraged and helped me but to no avail…“Get after that mare, don’t let her get away with that “You have to win this” Yea, but I didn't want to win.  I didn't want the battle and I was scared to start a war.

I use the mounting block to get on her. Still, it takes me at least 10 minutes to get the courage up to swing my leg around. I was doing good for a while.  
One day, in the indoor...here I go..
climbing onto the mounting block, 
foot in the stirrup.. 
foot slipped off the stirrup and down I went, flat on my back…yup... in front of everyone… yup.. Sorting.  Instant pain hit and breathless, all I could do was lay there and moan like a damn fool.  Tom Riley, of course, was the first one at my side… After seeing I was OK, his laughter and comments didn’t stop.  I knew this was not going to be something I would forget for a very long time.  I did something that I never got to do after a fall… get back on.  I am still proud of that… I did a sorting run... with pain down my legs and in my back.  All I could think of was the injury I sustained with my crazy-ass Boston Mac quarter horse…it felt the same. It kept me from riding for a year and a half.  Not this time… not again.  I gave Tom the high sign that I was done... and… slumped across my paint mare; I trudged back to the barn.

Little did I know that this not only hurt my back, but my confidence to get on my mare.  This was a huge step backwards.  Each time I got hurt, it was getting on a horse... I didn’t need this...… not with this mare. 

Yea, again.  Time after time I spent countless minutes trying to get on.  Up the mounting block I went...If she’d move a step... I got down, adjusted the mounting block and stepped up again.  I would pound the steps… the second Chill heard me, she swayed her butt away.  Can you imagine the horror of doing this in front of the whole barn?  Tom especially.  "Get the hell on that mare, dammit.  She ain’t gonna stand there all day.  Go on, one...two... three'.  Sharon hysterical each and every time… EVERY time. Between her and Courtney, I didn't stand a chance!!!  Laughter ensued, but still I didn’t care.  I couldn’t get on.  Donna in front, Sue behind and Sharon on the side, it became a ritual… a horrific ritual to get me on that damn horse.  Once I did get on... each time in tears… I was fine until Chill wasn’t.  It was becoming a fight and I was getting frustrated.  This was entirely all my fault. My horse was still awesome but really sick of me!

However, the rest of the barn was moving forward, except my husband. His new mare, Tangles, was an awesome mover and a beautiful mare.  She was young and had far to go.  Richard already spent quite a bit of money and time waiting for her.  We did realize, unfortunately, that this wasn’t going to be a good match for him.
Courtney...

It was Courtney this time, who changed our lives. Courtney had a natural talent for riding. To this day, she is one of the best riders I have EVER seen. Ever. Courtney always got the first and the best horses to ride.  Every time she found a horse she liked, Tom sold it from under her!

This time, it was her choice.  Courtney rode a big brown mare, “Show Biz Lady”. She was awesome on cows.  Bred to the withers, she could cut and sort and do it all.  We watched, week after week, as they performed.  It was Courtney’s telephone call that changed us forever. “Michele, we know Tangles isn’t good for Ritchie.  Sometimes, it takes a while to really see a horse develop.  She’s a great horse, but not a great fit for him.  I want him to ride the Show Biz mare. You should think about getting her” I was floored.  I literally thought she had lost her mind… one, for giving up her mare and two, this was a cutting machine.  She insisted that he ride her. She reassured me that this was the only horse in the barn she would trust her five-year old on and Tom agreed. “Bizzy” as we called her, was an extremely talented powerhouse.  Reluctantly, I said, "sure".

The next weekend, Ritchie climbed aboard.  He sorted with the crew and rode her around the field (alone).  I was a wreck, but Courtney just kept on insisting that this mare was fine. 

By the end of the day, the deal was made on the back of Tom Riley's truck. Tangles was gone and Ritchie was the proud owner of a new mare that he could ride…right now… and finally, his dream of owning and riding a cutting horse came true!

....Not so fast!!!