Posted by Jo Fanelli on 6/27/2007 on Jo Fanelli's blogI let my horsemanship skills down and received a poll to my hip.
That’s right, a poll to the hip.
I was feeding my mares, Sprite and Tessa, when I startled 20-year-old Sprite by rushing by her on my way to a cocktail party.
You see, I was in a hurry to accomplish very task of equine-care I could in the shortest amount of time, so I could make it to a ‘meet and greet’ cocktail party at a convention for work. Lucky for me, it was in my hometown, and I could attend.
So, while my equine-owning peers were vesting themselves in dresses and ties and enjoying having their horses fed by people at home, I was not talking to Sprite and petting her like I usually do. Instead, I was dashing past her munching head. She didn’t know I was jumping her ears.
I should have known my leap would spook her into whipping her head up to flee the menace scooting above her head. And, she smacked me with a crack to the hip with her poll. I now have a purple bruise the size of a horse head on my hip.
Where is the balance of horse keeping and careers and kids and everything else coursing through our lives? It is so hard, when you’re an equestrian with a day job.
Is there an easier way?
I guess if I had separate stalls for the two mares it would be less of an issue, but like most horse owners I have more horses than I need. Also, Tessa is a very nervous mare and when stabled alone she paces relentlessly. I wish I could harness that action and lease her out as a trench digger.
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Beissin says:
I used to work with Standardbreds for a living, and people who loved horses thought I was lucky while my family and everyone who didn't love horses thought I was nuts. Unlike many people on the track, I still had a desire for "normal" human things, like church, the library, internet, and visiting historical and natural landmarks around the area where I was living at the time. While a lot of other grooms might sit outside of the dorm and drink, I would be donning a cute top and too-short skirt for a casual dinner with a friend or two. Whenever the chaplain had chapel service or an activity, such as fishing or a Yankees game planned, I was there.
Now I have traded that exciting life for a small town juggling two jobs, but I finally have my own horse (about a month and a half for the horse now), and the extra hectic schedule is worth it. I guess I will never fit in totally, except that one of my new bosses grew up on horses, so I can tell her about my challenges and accomplishments with Missy and she understands, but that's okay. I have so far had a great life (even though I have suffered a lot of heartache- thanks to the horses), and I've got a lot to go. I'd like one day to be able to quit both jobs and to live, breathe, and sleep horses, but even then, I will be active in my church and other social events.
I'm really sorry about your hip. I can just picture that agony you're going through. I guess my only advice is: Tie a rope to the rafter so that you can jump higher next time... No, I'm just kidding. Remember that when you go to the barn, if you have any plans other than spending the whole evening there, everything will go wrong. The horses will get out, a feed manger will suddenly be knocked off the wall, exposing your precious horses to potential encounters with nails and so on, or maybe your horse will get scared and unintentionally make you lame. I'm not saying that you should spend EVERY evening in the barn- even city people will be missing out on your thoughts and friendship, but don't let other plans affect your presence at the barn. I know it's a little late for that, but I really did like your story. That's what makes us horse people! -Praise The Lord!
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