The horses are easy to catch. Of course, as the sun sinks towards the horizon, they never are far from the gate. Nor do they forget that pockets can contain carrots and often do.
It seems that I catch other things easily. The latest is responsibility for night-time surveys along a section of railway. I don't have to go out on site, however the phone rings at 4am some mornings to report that work has safely been completed. Usually this happens at weekends. I should like to report that I then go and clean the stables and ride, however I do need my sleep.
It still is a pleasure to visit the horses each weekday evening, when I clean their boxes, groom them, prepare their feeds, and occasionally ride in the indoor school.
For D and I, riding indoors is rather an alien experience. However we are grateful for a dry, well lit place to ride when all is dark and dismal outside. Every ride out of doors is, to some degree, a training ride. However some schooling in the arena is a good thing, sharpening up both he and I. It allows concentration on precision (rather than, I suppose, simply lurching through the countryside!)
Riding indoors is not as nice as taking a nature ride out in the countryside. Still it's better than nothing when it's cold and dark.
Posted by: greyhorsematters | January 15, 2009 at 09:13 PM
Someday, I'll have an indoor arena! Well, a girl can dream!
Posted by: Callie | January 16, 2009 at 12:51 AM
For me, the number one motivating factor for riding my horses is having someone to ride with.
Posted by: Nick | January 16, 2009 at 03:53 AM
Oh what I'd give right now for an indoor arena - you're a lucky guy!
Posted by: Victoria Cummings | January 18, 2009 at 02:51 PM
GHM: fortunately the weather was nice enough outside this weekend - cold admittedly but sunny.
Callie & Victoria: it's a shared arena that all the boarders can use, in fact an old converted farm buiding hence it isn't 40x20m but more like about 30m square with several pillars in the centre. The pillars make for a bit of care riding, however no-one seems to have ridden into one lately!
Nick: it is nice to have someone to ride with. Round here it's difficult to find riding companions, however I do have an occasional fellow rider when she isn't on duty at the airport.
Posted by: White Horse Pilgrim | January 18, 2009 at 05:40 PM