One Tired Johnson

My first weekend on the back side gave me the kick in the pants I have needed. Tough to get to sleep early on Friday with the excited feelings surging through my body and flashes of a wheelbarrow and a 12 inch ramp on my mind. Smudgin decided to wake me some time around 3:00, not necessary when my alarm is set for 4:30, REALLY not cool. She pounced, prodded and stuffed toys in my face. She totally ignored my growling while Wy and Pix left the bed less this was directed at them. She finally grabbed a bone and I was able to grab a few more much needed winks.

I had gone to bed with a wet head, something I haven't done for as long as I can remember and the grisly site revealed at the flip of the light switch was ghastly to behold. I will avoid that in the future. Baseball cap required, the new fav "Fight like a Girl", brought the unruly curls to bay.

I arrive at 6:00 am, receive admittance at the Stable Gate and am put to work immediately. I learn to pick stalls, put horses on the walker and hot walk "worked" horses. The wheelbarrow and ramp go well as long as I do not fill the wb with much straw and horse apples. I was left to hot walk while CR handled her training responsibilities, ending up with someone's loose filly running through and around our walker. I yell, "Loose Horse!" and expect folks to come running, didn't happen. I kept her from our walker until she bored and went to bother someone else. Next a stallion is lose and attacking the mares on the walker. Everybody comes to help. What a beautiful sight.

I learn where and how to get a horse jogged. Next thing I know it is time to feed again and top off water buckets. My day is almost over. I decide to go to the new owners meeting and assist CR with getting straw and hay hauled and unloaded. I enjoy my first Kentucky Derby at the track. I am filthy and under dressed, surrounded by dresses and hats, but a beer in my hand, horses on the big screens, the satisfaction of exceeding CR's expectations on my mind and I am happy as a clam.

Taking my shoes off at the end of the day reveals a three inch blister along the outside of my right foot -youch!

Sunday is a repeat of Smudgee trying to get me to play-Grrrrrr. Today the wheelbarrow gets the best of me. I am a bit sore and slightly
weaker and thought I could do it only to slide slowly back, still trying to move it forward when I lose and have it come back at me and end
up a tangle of me and wheelbarrow. I tried so hard to keep it from falling and dumping out. I provided quite the show for the jockey and CR.

I am pretty sure CR is helping me make it through the day. This work is hard but very satisfying. I have five days to get better for the next weekend. I will be wearing thinner socks next time.

Smudgin is doing well in Performance Puppy. I totally forgot to practice two on two off. I was a bit uncoordinated during class. Our last class of obedience 1, we pass and take second in the heel off. If I would practice more we might have had a better chance of winning.

I have become in charge again. To Do list is added to and items are checked off, appointments made - get er done is getting done.