My mid-week weekend

I have to work all weekend (in Detroit...in the snow/rain 30's) while my family kicks back in the 70's sunshine.  That stinks.  Since my employer won't pay OT right now, I had to take a day off this week, and today was the day.  Fortunately, Mom was off work today, too, so I asked if she wanted to ride the horses.  The sun popped out and the wind died down, and it was quite nice, so shortly after 1:00, we headed to the pasture.

Brat/Buddy was at the far end of the pasture, grazing.  When I started walking out there calling him, he started walking toward me.  "Cool," thought I, "he's gonna come to me!"  Fat chance.  When I stopped walking, he stopped walking.  I called out to him, he grazed.  I started walking again, he started walking again.  I stopped.  He stopped.  Sheesh.  I guess there's nothing wrong with him wanting to meet in the middle, right? LOL

We got them groomed and ready, and took off.  We rode on the neighbor's place a bit, then down the road toward home.  When we got there, we went out into the pasture, toward "the point."  Anyone who has read mom's journal for any length of time has heard of "the point."  At the back of the 43 acres, the land drops sharply toward the river bottoms, and that point is the most gorgeous place I've ever seen.  You can see the valley forever back there.  It drops off like a cliff to the railroad tracks, which lie just a few feet North of the fence/property line.  Beyond that are fields, then levee, then the Mighty Muddy Missouri River.

Buddy was being pretty darn good.  The only times that he really acted up, it was due to trying to play.  If the dogs ran past, he wanted to chase them (that's what they do in the field!)  If the cows ran, he wanted to run.  If we were going up hill, he wanted to run FAST!  I let him lope up the hills, but not full-out run.  I'm a chicken in my old age.  When we reached the point, mom said, "wanna go down to the bottom?"  What I thought was, "Holy crap!  NO!"  But what I really said was, "hmmm, I'm not sure..."

Dad made a "road", (wide path) with the blade on the tractor, which allows access to the "bottoms."  It's very steep, and very long, but safe if you're on a safe horse.  Although Buddy is a trail horse at heart, he can be ornery if you're not prepared.  Mom said, "watch me and Blue go down, then decide."  Oh, sure...we'll watch.  Heck no!  Once Buddy saw them heading down, he would NOT be denied this opportunity.  I decided to give in and let him go down.  It was nerve wracking to go down a slope that steep, and I had my hand firmly on the brake.  Sure, it's just a saddle horn, and wouldn't stop anything, but somehow it makes you feel safer.

Buddy is such a good trail horse, he never slipped or stumbled...just walked right down that hill!  When we reached the bottom, I breathed a sigh of relief, and we explored the bottoms a bit.  He was full of energy, and insisted on being in front.  He pranced, trotted, and loped everywhere we went down there.  It was new and exciting to him.  When we headed back toward the steep hill (the only logical way out,) I forced him to walk behind Blue.  This was unacceptable in his mind, and he tried to bite Blue on the butt more than once.  Blue is a doll-baby, and never flinched.

At the wide valley that leads to the hill, I let him get in front again.  Blue reached over and nipped at Buddy, as if to say, "take THAT you little punk!" but it was all in good spirits.  He didn't bite him, just let him know that HE was the boss.  As we approached the hill, Mom said, "he won't be able to run ALL the way up this hill.  I usually let Blue stop and rest half-way up.  If he DOES run all the way up, it'll calm him down."  Guess what?

Yup, he ran ALL the way up that hill.  OK, it wasn't a fast run, but it was a lope that didn't let up.  As soon as he reached the top, he stopped and was blowing hard for air.  We waited for angel-boy (Blue) to calmly bring mom to the top, and I was laughing about how tired Buddy was.  At that point, he decided we'd run the rest of the way to the point (a gradual slope, not steep, but a hill nonetheless.)  He ran two full strides before stopping and panting again.  An easy walk was all he did, until the barn was in sight, then he pranced a bit again, but no more running.  He was tired, but his energy was not gone.  Just enough to make a perfect ride.

He was sweaty enough that I locked him in the stall to cool off.  When I let him out, he rolled in the dirt, then checked the stall one last time (for any feed that might be lingering there) then they both headed out to graze.  He is so cool!  I had a great day off, and I love my horse.  He is better behaved each time I ride, and we're learning each other.  I'm no longer wondering how he'll dump me, I'm enjoying life through his eyes...new and amazing.  Memories of this great day will get me through a weekend of crappy weather in Detroit!