Yes, I am back from the family vacation. And of course, the first thing I did when dropped off at my house was to drop the suitcase on the floor, feed the cats, then leap in the truck and hightail it to the farm. Where Solo consequently got hugged to within an inch of his life and stuffed with treats in my effort to reverse my advanced case of Equine Withdrawal Syndrome.
I'm sure many of you are familiar with EWS. It strikes down the horse owner during any extended period of separation from equine company. Symptoms include headache, nausea, irritability, fatigue, loss of appetite, excessive sighing, rampant daydreaming, and moon blindness. Or at least most of those. The only treatment is deep breaths of horse ambiance.
Last night was my first ride back in the game. Also my first ride post-hock-injections, which Dr. Bob brought out to us on the 17th.
Damn, that horse felt good. I always question whether I am doing the right thing pre-injections, but then, when I feel the change, I KNOW I did the right thing and it becomes worth every penny.
And you know what? He was so excited that I was back playing with him. It was pretty darn cute. As soon as I asked for trot, he pushed off with his back end into a forward, swinging trot, came down onto the bit with his little ears working like mad, and I could just feel glee (no, he did not sing any Top 40 hits). I laughed out loud when I asked for a bigger trot and he popped into a big, rolling canter. I let him grab a nice rhythm and rode it while we both giggled.
I have never before felt him just enjoy a dressage school so much. He was nearly bursting at the seams with try and energy and it was quite simply joyous.
What a lovely homecoming gift from my most beloved friend.
Do you have any Thanksgiving horsey adventure tales to tell?
Awwwww! I can just feel the warm fuzzies!
ReplyDeleteAwww!! Sounds like a great ride :)
ReplyDeleteNo Thanksgiving-y horsey stories, but my first post-Thanksgiving lesson last night was really good! We working on re-teaching me AND the schoolie I normally ride how to do turns-on-the-forehand, and it was WAY more exciting than I expected :) So yay!!
I miss my horse. Somehow I don't think he will be as gleeful.
ReplyDeleteExcellent lesson, Jenn -- always a great exercise to get those back legs moving!
ReplyDeleteI am running over with empathy, lh. If I thought he would fit, I would bribe him into the truck bed with cookies and drop him off in your yard.
Uuuggghh, EWS is the WORST!! When I had Mac, I was an absolute nutcase (well, maybe just more of a nutcase than I normally am). If I could have skipped going to Chicago for my bro's wedding without major family mutiny, I would have -- I didn't want to leave my pooooonnyyyy!!
ReplyDeleteWell, over Thanksgiving weekend, I did my first "off-property" ride in the looongest time -- I arrived at the barn and there were three people there all tacked up and waiting for me to go on a trail ride with them (!!!). We just took the horses out into the grove behind the barn for a little while; unfortunately, two of the other horses started freaking out when they saw the horses turned out at the farm next-door, so we cut it a bit short. It was SO great to finally get out out of the arena for a little while!
Ahahahah, Frizz, you always make me laugh! Congrats on the off-property ride though, a change of riding scenery is always welcome for us, bummer on the early cut off, but what can you do?
ReplyDeleteWell, glad I can provide some amusement! (I should post some of my mid-seizure pics, THAT would get a few laughs!)
ReplyDeleteWell, two of the peeps who came on the trail ride were...well, let's just say it -- total pussies! They got off their horses and walked back! And I stayed out with Certs and played in the grove for a while, and they reported back to Certs' owner that he was being "very bad." Uuummm, a few side-steps, a couple of bouncing rubber ball impersonations, and one half-rear (actually, more like a quarter-rear) because of galloping/whinnying ponies next door is NOT at all bad in my book!
Hopefully, I can either take Certs out by myself or find a semi-sane riding buddy with a semi-sane pony to come along with me! I really need to get out of the arena once in a while, it is SO much more fun!
Agreed -- getting out of the arena is a NECESSITY. If I don't, Solo gives me the finger with his ears.
ReplyDelete