At mealtimes, Milton pins his ears, chases Rodney, & is a complete pill. At non-mealtimes, Milton wants to be Rodney’s best buddy. He will follow Rodney about, bellow if left behind, and stress if asked to work alone.
Previous Horse was the same way. If food was involved, stay out of his way. Otherwise, Mathilda ran the field. She could tell the difference and acted accordingly.
Unfortunately Rodney can’t tell parse the difference between Milton at mealtimes and Milton the rest of the time. Rodney assumes the worst of Milton at all times. It’s too bad. I think they would both be happier if they could bond – just not during dinner.
Rodney’s groundtie is nearly perfect. I developed the habit of insisting my horses stand still to be brushed [Progress] because Previous Horse was that bad about respecting my space. We brush the horses in their run-in shed within the field. If they chose to run off, they aren’t going anywhere.
Rodney will move a hoof occasionally, and weakens in the face of carrots. Generally, he stays put. Even when I showed him the wormer last week, he didn’t move. He turned his head as far from me as he could, but kept his feet in place.
When we bring out the saddle [Equipment] to lunge Milton, Rodney leaves the barn.
Sigh. Anyone know of competitions available for bareback riders?
Jenny Wright lives in the Midwest and shows in the Saddlebred Western division. Last year, she finished Top 10 in the S&B Shatner ASB Western Pleasure 2015 World Championship at the St. Louis Charity Horse Show. You may now be impressed. The Shatner Finals is the most competitive class I have ever seen, at any show, in any discipline.
For more on Jenny’s adventures, see her horse’s Facebook fan page, Only’s Gnash Rambler. For an explanation of the unique nature of these jods, see BBC: The TARDIS.
Specific: 23 photos
14 horse-related
10 food-related, human or equine
4 miscellaneous
General: Started Instagram as a blog tie-in [Rodney’s Instagram]. Did this instead. A single object each day. Nothing to do with the blog. Occasionally to do with horses. Published here for archival purposes.
That’s not the good bit. Since I have maxed out the number on my OTC readers, I was not surprised to hear that I need a prescription.
I sadly say goodbye to cheap glasses.
The welcome news is that the doctor predicts new glasses will make me feel better. Apparently compensating for imperfect vision leaves one with feelings of tiredness and general malaise.
Exactly!
This would explain why I have been drinking my bodyweight in soda, but still slugging around the house. Why I have had to dig deep to achieve the slightest amount of exercise. And why I have felt compelled to hit myself over the head with the biggest hammer available [Inside My Head]. WHAM!
I have been blaming my tooth. That has been the answer often enough in the past [Today, 2nd paragraph]. My medical advisor said no. We hit it hard enough last fall that it should not be giving me problems. Since then, I have been blaming my tooth and my medical advisor. Mea culpa.
I did not mention any of this to the doctor. Why would I? She’s an eye doctor. To a GP, maybe, but why would you talk moods to your eye doc? So, the advice was unprompted. Unless my crows feet were wearing galoshes.
I feel better already. I feel better knowing there is a reason. I feel better knowing there is a reason that makes theoretical sense and fits the data. I feel better knowing that I am not – completely – a useless puddle of sloth (the deadly sin, not the cuddly critter [The Bloggess: The man deserves a damn medal]).
How does this affect you, Gentle Reader? By and large, y’all stop by for amusing horse shenanigans, not for my latest medical report. In my life, everything eventually ends up at the barn. Hope requires energy. I have not had a surplus of either lately. As my zest for life increases, my enthusiasm to work with Rodney & Milton will increase. If I am at least attempting progress at home, I predict more faith in myself with the Saddlebreds [Nerves Update]. Result, more adventures, less whinging, more entertaining posts. Win, win, win.
Finally, this fuels to my long-held belief that the mind-body duality is a myth.
Between car trouble and schedule conflicts, I haven’t had a lesson in several weeks. We have a show coming up. Therefore, I am fitting a month’s worth of lessons into a week.
Virtual Brush Box 