Awareness of the horse world. Show conflict. Two local shows this weekend, one ASB, one H/J, both of which I have attended in the past. Neither of which I am at this year. I expect to be a joy and delight all day.
Awareness of the horse world, for people who are not me, nor have to be around me. TODAY. Tevis Cup: Ride Day Links.
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A while back I was sick. Ridiculously, down-for-the-count, crawl-under-the-covers sick.
I was coughing, so of course I thought I had Covid.
My innards were objecting, so of course I thought I was having another diverticulitis attack.
No other symptoms. Nothing gross spewing out of my body. The cough was dry. The innards were registering a complaint but not ejecting ballast.
No aches.
No blood, no bruising, no other odd changes of color.
No fever.
With those symptoms, or lack thereof, the ER was not interested in seeing me.
So, I slept all of Saturday. Felt somewhat more human on Sunday. Better by Monday. The weekend was a write-off.
A few weeks later, same thing, but milder.
Which was when I figured out what it was.
On the Friday before the first bout, I got roped into leading beginner lessons at Stepping Stone Farm. Around and around in the covered ring. Three sets.
On the Friday before the second bout, I got talked into it again, but only one set.
The culprit?
Dust.
Years and years of dry dust and pulverized horse poop. Atomized by generations of hooves.
I was coughing, because I had inhaled so much dust.
My innards were annoyed because I had swallowed so much dust.
The second bout was not as bad because less dust.
As soon as I had an explanation, I felt better. I also drank large amounts of Gatorade and took a solemn vow never to do THAT again.
I have ridden in that ring for years. However, when one is on a horse, one is up in the air, above the half wall. When one is leading, one is down below the wall, trapped in the bowl with the dust, mired in dust, surrounded by dust being kicked up fore and aft.
Does this mean I am a ridiculously delicate cupcake princess with the resilience of a daffodil? No argument from me. I’m still not doing that again. Not a weekend I want to repeat.
Onwards!
Katherine
Virtual Brush Box 
Congratulations on solving the problem.!
Jane
It always amazes me how much better I feel once I have a reason.
It’s so easy to ignore dust. Make me cough. A friend was very, very ill after shoveling bark dust—was on meds for weeks!
Ick. That sounds terrible. Glad all I needed was time & Gatorade.
Dust + poop? We’re around it all day, but your assessment is excellent. I wonder if instructors, judges and ringmasters get sick from it?
‘Got a chuckle out of “ridiculously delicate cupcake princess with the resilience of a daffodil”. MM
I think it was both the dust & the inability to avoid it in such a small space. Judges et al. don’t get as close. But I bet it affects all of us more than we realize.
Don’t they say, Know Thyself?