It’s been a tough week.
On Monday I had a 3.5 hour dentist appointment. I’m still achy. Don’t ask.
Then I got a sore throat and sniffles.
And had more snow to shovel.
Today my landscape crew is here to remove the trees that came down this winter. I don’t mind seeing the big branches chopped up, but they’re chipping up this tree. It is (or was) a gorgeous bronze-barked cherry tree which I planted when we built the house. The bark curled like a paper birch, but shone metallic. It became more beautiful each year. It’s hard to see it go.
Despite the snow and the dentist, I did manage to drive out to ride Tonka. One day all we did was walk. First long and loose, then on contact, then slow, then with more energy. It was enough to keep him thinking and moving, and it gave me much-needed horse time. We’re currently constrained to riding indoors, and having an all walk day mixes up the routine while still giving us both exercise.
Yesterday I felt up to a schooling session. Tonka was mentally and physically up to it, too. The barns’s resident instructor (and UDSF dressage judge) happened to be lunging a horse at the same time. She knows how tough this year has been for Tonka. She said, It’s good to see him going so well, sound, forward and happy.
Having an outside opinion was great. That she chose the word happy made me happy. Happy is not necessarily a word that dressage instructors focus on. That she noticed that my horse is happy in his work means everything to me.
This is what Tonka looked like after the ride. Slow blinks of contentment.
It was dinner time at his barn, but he was fine just standing outside with me, companionably.
Happy.
Last night I looked at this season’s show schedule. As long as this is Tonka’s attitude there just might be some braiding happening this summer.
Fellow traumatized dental patient here, so I understand better than I wish I did! That WAS a super comment to receive from the instructor/judge; I hope you and Tonka can compete some this year.
At the least we’ll be starting lessons with Kim again in April!
Happy horse equals a happy owner and a judge even noticing a happy horse, makes it all worthwhile. Hope you are feeling better now.
I too was going to say “happy horse happy you” apart from the dentist of course.
I’ve always thought the happiest dogs, the happiest horses (and I suspect, the happiest kids) are ones who are active enough to become ‘gently tired’ on a daily basis. Activity is just good for our brains, as well as good for our health. Dogs aren’t meant to live in crates, horses aren’t meant to live in stalls, and kids aren’t meant to live their whole lives sitting in a chair in a classroom. Good for you for ensuring Tonka’s body and mind get stretched and exercised. Despite miserable dental work, icy paths, endless winters and colds and flu!
And even us middle-aged women do best when we get up and move with purpose! 🙂
I love to hear about your experiences with Tonka! It makes me feel peaceful.
Good to hear! When I share via my writing, it extends the good feeling for me, too.