The Next Step

Awareness of the outside world. What is time even? Listening to Around the World in 80 Days With Michael Palin. It came out 35 years ago. There was a point in my life when 35 years ago was ancient history. Now it is yesterday.

~~~

With the end of Winter Tournament, I find myself examining my equestrian options.

Home Team

Milton and I have drifted so far apart that husband Greg stays home to hold Milton for the blacksmith.

Rodney. Sigh.

Stepping Stone Farm

I promised myself that after Winter Tournament I would stop riding Optimus. He is a busy beginner horse who doesn’t need his schedule clogged by someone who ought to be able to ride other horses.

Had two rides last year on non-Optimus horses. Neither lesson went well. I am so braced for a melt-down that I am riding tight. Horses find this upsetting. [The Lesson That Wasn’t, lesson with Bubba was not as bad, but not brilliant]

Barns change over time, particularly those with a high concentration of kids. Riders grow up, they move off into their adult lives. When I started, there were amazing academy horses. The current crop has more riders in performance, which means their horses are not available for academy.

I miss Sam.

Other Barns, School Horses

No one wants my money. I can kinda see their point. Their programs are full. Why should they make room for me? All they see is an old lady freaking out over cross-rails. They figure, this will be not fun, this will not increase my revenue. They’re wrong about my ability. They can’t see the pieces in the rubble. [Freddie Reintroduces Me To The Concept Of A Course]

Other Barns, Lessons

Those barns with full programs aren’t interested in dealing with the logistics of an off-property AOT. [What I Want From A Hunter Barn At A Show]

Friends Horses

I have had amazing rides on horses owned by friends. Not so much here. [Other People’s Horses]

Tertium Quid

The new horse. More sigh.

Coda

This was gonna be a drama llama post about how my riding career is over. I have no idea where my next ride will come from. See above. Horse shows have receded over the horizon. Whine.

No one wants to hear that. I don’t want to hear that.

Instead, this is me trying to figure out my next step. What I want. What is available. What to do when A not= B.

I think I will be taking March off to ponder. See what happens without riding or horse shows for a month.

Coda Coda

Which leads to the problem of what to blog about. I’ve milked our morning hand-walks for as much as narratively possible. Virtual Tevis does not start until April.

Expect cat pictures and stories from the before times.

Onwards!
Katherine