You Bet, My Pet!!!!!!!!!!

I am relieved to say, that after 6 WEEKS of NO RIDING, I finally sat in the saddle today! I am so excited! I had just come back from picking up some hay with my boss, and he got on a cute Palimino that's here for training. One of our owners was riding his Arab mare, Daisy, and after about 10 minutes, he rode up to me and said, "Want to get on?"

I didn't even pause! I said, "Yes- let me get my helmet," and I DASHED back to my room for my beautiful riding helmet that hadn't been worn in WEEKS, and I hurried up and pulled on some boots, and I was READY TO RIDE in a heartbeat!

He asked me if I needed help getting on, and I said "No... Well, maybe. It HAS been a while," and I mounted and off I went! This mare is an older horse and she hadn't been ridden in 8 months, so I worked a lot of my almost-useless now leg muscles- ha ha! Wow. It was so wonderful. All I did was walk and trot, because she was a little nervous around the far end of the arena, so we did a lot of circles and stuff. I tried to use my legs as much as possible, but as I said, it HAS been a while. Many times I had to resort to the reins to steer her. I was having the time of my life! Although I haven't ridden, I don't have a vehicle here, so I just basically sit and watch a lot of riding lessons when I'm not working or sleeping, so I had a lot of those commands running through my head. I don't know if my shoulders were back, or my lower legs back where they belong, but I did the best I could!

Soon, my boss and Daisy's owner and his friend were gone, and I kept on riding. Were they going to have to pry me from the saddle? Time would tell... Finally, though, with the realization that this horse HADN'T been worked for some time, I slowed her to a cool-down walk. Ha! With an ARAB? I'm not picking on this breed, guys- I love Arabians- but... the end result was NOT cooling down, to say the least.

The men came back, I DID get off of Daisy, and we let her stand while we put her equipment in a spot where I can get to it... YES, WHENEVER I WANT TO RIDE HER. HOORAY!

My horse is coming this weekend, my horse is coming this weekend, my horse is coming this weekend... I MISS MISSY! I cannot wait until I am sitting on my beloved's back once again! I LOVE MISSY! I LOVE MISSY! I LOVE MISSY! I LOVE MISSY!

But in the meantime, GO DAISY! Well, it HAS been six weeks.... Wanna know my secret? Whenever I ride less than twice a week, I would be sore afterward, unless...I rub wintergreen alcohol on my legs! Yes, that's my cure for everything! It can't hurt your skin, and it's GREAT for the muscles! Just another great tidbit from a former Standardbred groom.

Yours truly, Laura