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-One of my best summer experiences was summer of 2005. I worked for a horse training stable, boarded my horse there and was training him, and also volunteered at Exceptional Equestrians, a therapeutic riding center.
-That summer I learned how much fun I could work in 100* heat with horses (I am being sarcastic with that info). But I enjoyed life. I enjoyed the rain, to help wash away dirt, to cool me and the horses down. The downside of rain thou, is mud. The baby that I turned out took off and flew mud at me. Some got in my hair, face shirt and pants, and of course my boots/pants were already covered with mud because I’m such a graceful walker like that.
-One of my fondest and most hateful memories was when Willy, my gelding, saw me coming to bring him in, with my mom along with me. He Knew I was going to ride him. SO… what did he do? He went to a mud puddle, laid down in and rolled. I don’t know if you have ever seen a horse roll before, but think of a dog, rolling in the back yard, just enjoying it and making sure he gets his back really, really good. Well, that is what Willy did. He rolled and rolled and rolled, for about 5 minutes. He then got up, came right up to the gate and let me put his halter on with out trying anything, thinking, “hay I’m muddy, she is not gonna work me today!”, well, he was wrong.
- I lunged, long lead (line) connected to the halter and person holds it, makes them go in a circle around you, him. I made him trot, canter, and walk, along with standing still while I curry brushed some of the mud off him and his tail and mane. I also played a game with him, walking around, then randomly stopping, (it makes the horse pay more attention to you than other things) a few times. I did that for at least a good hour, after I wore him down. He never again ran over to the mud puddle while I was near him, nor got that muddy ever again.
- While I volunteered, I learned that money wasn’t everything, helping people out is worth spending gas money. I still like to volunteer at the Therapeutic Riding place. They make you appreciate life of how you have it now. Because, anyone of them could have been placed in your family or could have happened to you.
- That summer, I realized I would always have to have horses in my life somehow or another. Cleaning the stalls is a great stress reliever for me, along with just riding the horses. Leading the horse for others is great exercise for my self along with the rider, doing their own exercises. I hope to always be around horses no matter what happens in my life here on earth.
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