Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Happy Saint Patrick's Day to you and yours!

Work was the same old, same old. With the change in the economy, I have noticed internally here at work there have been less and less new hires and folks are staying put. Happy or not - staying put. I am thankful I have a job.

I was speaking with my cowboy friend Warren on the way home from work, sitting at the light to turn left onto Cty Rd 47 (probably not even two miles from home) when BAM! I get rear ended. I tell W I gotta go! I just got rear ended. I get out to check out my vehicle and the gal says to take the light and pull over. I make a mental note of her license plate. She is already suspect for not being able to properly operate a vehicle. I pull out my license and insurance information. Turning the slip over to get the "What to do if you are in an accident" information. This is something out of the ordinary so instructions are nice. The gal is saying, "I don't see any damage". Then she says, get this, "I don't know what happened, I was digging in my purse and my foot must have come off the brake". IDIOT!! I notice a big dent in the drivers side of her bumper and think hmmmm not the best driver here. I call 911 (the slips says so). Idiot says I don't think that is necessary. I say I want to do this right and it is what my insurance wants.

I write down her information. I didn't write her address or get her telephone - mental note to self maybe want to do that next time (Gee! I hope there isn't a next time). I had her license plate and a description of her vehicle though.

I call W back to let him know I am okay and waiting for the cops. As I am speaking with him, the gal takes off! Would you leave if you knew the cops were coming? From her driver's license I know she lives very close by. Might have to do a walk by with the pups.

The cop shows up - rather handsome tall drink of water - mmmmm. I say to him, "The suspect has fled the scene." I give him my information, what I wrote down about her and he pulls her up on the computer. He added her address to my sheet. He says if the damage is under $1,000 they don't need to do anything. I felt like I wasted his time and said so.

Everything seems to be fine with the rig. It was a very stiff jolt and I am lucky that the rig has a high bumper otherwise I wouldn't be using the back hatch for a while. Body wise I am sore from my massage and can't tell any difference post accident. I think I will live.

Keeping the pups home again so Pix can heal. I, slightly paranoidally, drive to the barn. It is really nice out. Anything above freezing is awesome, you know. I help J a bit with the chores. It is 6:45 before I know it. Josie look not so dirty from the road but while up at the arena barn I see her other side - not so clean. This is while she is taking a drink from the run off - GROSS! Too lazy to walk to the water trough I guess.

The river runs through it (RRTI) has started up already. It isn't very big yet and easy enough to ford. Walking in mud takes practice. You develop your eye for firmer mud. It is a ritual of trial and error. Error can mean up to your knee and loss of boot so quickly developing the eye is crucial. Josie hadn't even lifted her head up when I called her so I mud hop the rest of the way. She comes to me with about 10 feet between us. Thanks Josie. I have been tempted to just get on bareback but haven't had the guts yet. It sure would be easier than slogging through the mud and crossing RRTI. Heading back to the gate with the horse is a bit more difficult. You both are concerned about getting stuck in the mud. The horse wants to go the way it wants to go (they are pretty smart about identifying really deep mud and want to avoid it). I have learned the hard way (sorry Tilly) to listen to the horse when it comes to mud. I let her pick her way and try to keep her from being behind me. Don't need her running me over trying to get through the sucking mud quickly. We get to the RRTI. I give her plenty of lead and make it through. I thought she might jump but apparently that is too much work so she just lifts a foot very high and steps really big over it.

I am sad to put my every so bright white pad on dirty, dusty, muddy Josie but it has to be done. The pad fits wonderfully! Yea! For the home team. I leave her legs to dry and will maybe try to clean them off after the ride, maybe. I do have to pick her feet. They are so muddy that I am not sure if we have two front shoes on or not. Oh, good they are intact.

We warm up are usual way. I am feel much more comfortable riding her without stirrups. I am a centaur (okay maybe not that good). Today, after warm up I ask for contact and get it. She is nicely in both reins and just cruising along. I ask for the canter from the trot - breaking things up. She gets a little fuzzy but it is okay. We didn't get the left lead until the third attempt. Progress in one area and steps backward in others - ahhh training horses.

She isn't getting the turn on the forehand off the left leg. I need to work on this but get a few steps correct and praise and leave it at that. We did a few bending circles. I did a better job of keeping my head up today - look where you want to go (this way you don't run into things) and your horse will go there. With the higher temperature and not shed out she is getting sweaty easy and a little puffing. We take lots of walk breaks today. I practiced just a little bit of two point. More next time when it isn't so late.

All in all, a very good ride. Soon we will be able to go outside. It is 9:30 and I have two very wound up dogs to make amends to for not bringing them with to the barn.