Saddles!

Awareness of the outside world. KUT News: See how Austin Community College turned Highland Mall into a campus, McInerny, 2022. ACC: Highland Campus. Hat tip to a Dec 2023 BlueSky post by Allison Berryman, @onwi.bsky.soc

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Saddles!

Were worn!

By horses!

Another first for the year. [Tack!]

Milton was a star.

Milton has consented to being ridden occasionally. Emphasis on occasionally. This qualified. Pretty day. Warm weather. He was good at the mounting block. He walked on a loose rein, with a pleasant, relaxed shimmy to his tail. Everything you could want in taking your horse for a stroll in the sunshine.

Rodney less so.

Rodney was astonished to find out that riding still applied to him. I told him that actual retired superstars often go for actual walks. Sometimes they even keep competing, dropping down a few levels to show the ropes to less experienced riders. [Imagining Rodney]

He wasn’t buying it.

Yes, he did what was asked. He stayed at a quiet walk the entire time. He had a few good moments. Mostly, he was tight and quick-strided. A come-apart was never off the table. He made astoundingly heavy weather of a simple task.

Afterward, Milton was smug about being number one horse for the day. Rodney, as always, wondered why the world doesn’t see things his way.

Onwards!
Katherine