Horses & Other Interests
My mad dash to the AEC winner’s circle has been detoured. Again. Therefore, I am returning to pre-Milton blog features. In this case, Saturday admin.
“Behind The Scenes: Allyn Mann, Luitpold Pharmaceuticals”
September 2014
USDF Connection
United States Dressage Federation
A short interview with the Director of Global Sales for the makers of Adequan.
Note: I wrote this on Tuesday as a companion piece to Wednesday’s post [Universe]. In real time, I’m starting to get a handle on the monkeys. However, I have no doubt they will start screaming again. Therefore, I’m letting this post stand.
After everything that has happened with Rodney, being bucked off Milton first move out of the gate has done nothing to ease the howling vortex that is the inside of my head.
Common wisdom says get right back on the horse.
Screw common wisdom.
The only chance of success is if I go at my own speed. Whatever that is. If that means seven months of lunging and horse petting, so be it. If that means riding next weekend, so be it. If that means I develop an unreasonable fixation against Milton requiring that he be rehomed, so be it.
Mostly I’m trying convince myself.
Everyone has been wonderfully encouraging and supportive. Doesn’t help. No matter who from. No matter how well the person knows me. No matter how much I respect that person’s opinion. No amount of external noise will drown out the internal voice that says You Suck.
I need to make peace with that voice before I can make progress.
~~~
Gratuitous Cat Photo
Blue amid books in my office.
Six bags of shavings in a Fiat 500.
Readers may have noted a lack of Miltonicity in the recent posts. There’s a reason. I rode last weekend. It did not go well.
One …
Two …
Three …
Immediately after the third photo, Milton kicked the barrel, had a complete cow, and dumped me. I held on long enough to have a nice crashing fall as a result. I was able to try a bit of course correction, but he was having none of it.
My ever-patient groundperson blames the saddle. We are two for two on horses having passionate fits while wearing it [Square One]. Causation or coincidence? Although it served me well for years with Previous Horse, the saddle is older than the flood. It’s possible that something has gone wrong internally that is only evident when a rider’s weight is added. He points out that I did not see Milton galloping around the field trying to buck it off.
I, of course, blame myself and am threatening to take up Tiddlywinks.
Practical details:
I’m fine. Stiff for a few days but fine.
Helmet has been replaced. A required feature of today’s helmets.
Saddle has been permanently retired.
This was not how this was supposed to go.
Later note: as I post these photos, I see that a) I should have had shorter reins but b) this does not look like a horse a heartbeat away from flipping his pancakes.
It’s that time. Again. Rodney did not show last year. Again. Therefore I have a chance to chose a new show name. Again. Rodney needs an updated Coggins & Milton needs one that says he lives here.
Same rules: Help Me Name My Horse, Prize Offered
Same prize: $25 gift certificate the Internet book vendor of your choice.
Same caveat: void where a PIA.
I have an idea that I kinda like. So there is room for a winner, but it will have to sparkle.
Previous iterations:
Contest in Final Days
Contest Winner
New Year, New Contest
Rodney started it.
Milton won it.
They have had a week to compare notes thru the bars. Today was the meet&greet. We tried to arrange so this would occur in open, neutral ground. Only moderate success. First contact came amid a small stand of trees. Squealing and front leg curling. We shooed them out to a clear area of the pasture. Milton trooped after Rodney. As far was we can tell, Milton went over to say hi. Rodney dealt Milton a meaty thunk to the chest. Whereupon, Milton spun around. There was a brief intermeshing of hind legs. When they separated, Rodney sported a hoof-shaped scrape on his gaskin. (The upper fleshy part of the hind leg. A nice, squishy spot. Not a fragile, bony spot.)
Apparently the big bully has a glass hindquarter and can’t take a punch. Milton was not aggressive. He just wasn’t taking any shit. Rodney spent the rest of the morning avoiding Milton’s overtures, friendly or otherwise. By afternoon, there was mutual backscratching. Also squeals and thumps.
We have closed off the pen for the nonce. That way no one (Rodney) will get trapped. Therefore, during the brief rainstorm they had to shelter under the trees. Sometimes it sucks to be a horse.
~~~
Outtakes
Virtual Brush Box 