As Good As It Gets Today

 "A man's got to know his limitations."

— Clint Eastwood as "Dirty Harry" Callahan in "Magnum Force" (1973)

A woman, too.

I don't canter yet. Oh, I've taken a few strides here and there. Quaker was the first. We were playing, doing a fast trot in the pasture at Iron Ridge with Nita and Keeley. Quaker picked up speed for a few wonderful seconds until I barely hinted that he bring it back down, which he did immediately. I've also taken a few steps on Poco, and probably on Jaz, too.

Why I haven't kicked it up into 3rd gear is no secret: fear. I'm not talking about a deep, dark fear. Not at all. I am certain that I will do it at some point, but I haven't felt comfortable enough yet. The few times I thought I felt comfortable enough and actually asked Jaz or Heather's mare Ash for the canter, model lesson horses that they are, both refused. I trust them both.

For the longest time, whenever I trotted, I felt completely out of control. And I was. I could stay on, and we didn't crash into stuff mostly because the horses know you're supposed to turn when you get to the corner of the arena, and to avoid other riders. But if it came down to actually steering, navigating among obstacles, I felt like I was at the mercy of the horse. Now, if we're talking about Jaz, that's not a terrible thing, again, because he's a caretaker; he wouldn't take anyone into harm's way. However, when you pick up speed on a horse like, say, Poco, you can't count on him to look out for you or anyone else. In the right frame of mind, he'd plow into another horse or even into a fence in a New York minute.

I've been able to afford a couple lessons in the last few months. When Heather asked what I wanted to accomplish, I said I wanted to work on communicating with my horse with my legs and seat while learning to keep my hands quiet. In order for Jaz to pick up speed when I ask, I must feel completely comfortable and confident, or he won't do it. In order for that to happen, I need to be able to communicate with him without having to think about it — including what direction I want us to go — so I can concentrate on other important things, like maintaining proper balance and learning the new gait.

We're not there yet, but we're getting closer.

Hanging With All the Boys

Didn't work with Baby D today. Too lazy. I just hung out with the geldings, who were all being complete suck-ups. They shared an apple. Jaz and Poko begged for grape Gatorade, so I shared.

  Poko, Jaz, Boo (Jaz's brother), Daltrey.

I got to know Boo a little.

He was quite sweet, much like his brother.

I have never ridden him, and may ride him Sunday,

if Jaz is not rideable.

 Look how tall my baby is!
There's still nothing to eat.

They're pretending.

 Poor Jaz. Always a mess.

Healing sweet itch/rain rot.

 These two are sensitive to the touch,

or he may be being a drama queen.

He pissed somebody off.

 This doesn't look like anything, but see the darker area?
It's sweet itch/rain rot right before it gets ugly.

As soon as we treat it, it will be pink and hairless.

This one's for Lisa and Sylvia.

This is in Scorch, the Stonewall stallion's, pen.

She was just standing there, cooling her jets.

She might be the smartest critter at the farm.

It's 5:00 Somewhere

I found this cool old bronze clock at a resale shop in St. Marys, Pennsylvania almost 20 years ago. I had to replace the electric mechanism with a battery one, but the battery corroded the contacts about 6 months ago and it stopped at 1:05. I decided it wasn't worth doing anything about it, but I still like the clock.

Yesterday, I had this brilliant idea.

The next time someone says to you that it's 5:00 somewhere, you can tell them you know where, because it's always 5:00 at Casa Fry.