Yesterday, I was super excited to ride my horse. It had been a few days. I set up a couple of lessons for later in the week. etc. On Sunday, May had been ridden on a trail ride by a friend of mine, so she had been out. But I hadn’t! I had a whole plan. A solid Dressage school to check some buttons and see where some stuff was at.
I was even going to meet up with some friends to ride, so I was stoked. Plans were made, and I just had to wait until 2pm PST to turn off my laptop, throw on some breeches and go! Then, my friends had to cancel because of high winds. That’s fine. I will go anyway and ride, who cares! If it’s too bad, I will just give May a carrot and go home.
As I was leaving, I grabbed my new saddle soap and carrots for May. Then I went to refill my water bottle… and left both the saddle soap and carrots on the counter. UGH. Didn’t realize I forget them until I was at the barn. NO WORRIES. I have other cookies for Ms. May.
Clearly, May is in a state of distress. I will say, the combination of fly stuff and a blanket is a weird necessity in Southern California. While it wasn’t super cold yet, the gusts of wind were pretty strong. But I was there! I would ride! I just parked away from any trees.
I pulled May up to the grooming area and spent a ridiculous time grooming, as I attempted to figure out how to groom my horse without static. Ultimately, that was a fail and I added dryer sheets on the list of things I need to bring to the barn. But it was FINE. I was going to RIDE. (May doesn’t really seem to care about the static, but it makes me feel wildly guilty.)
I tacked up! May seemed a touch unhappy about her short hair and the girth, so I took extra time getting everything smoothed out to the princess’s liking. (That or she just wanted another cookie… it’s tough to tell.) I also lamented over the fact that, without her winter hair, May kind of looked more fat than she did when she was fluffy. UGH.
I pulled on my boots (WHY ARE THEY SO DUSTY) and tight. Ugh, apparently, I am also a bit fluffy during the holidays… and my avoidance of the gym thanks to the pandemic. But then I was ready! Just the helmet…. Oh no… the helmet. I had brought my helmet liner home to wash. At first, I did what any self-respecting eventer would do. I attempted to use my hair to mimic my helmet liner. If I just tuck this piece up here, and bunch up those pieces… I got it to somewhat work. I grabbed my bridle.
And then I was like… what on EARTH am I thinking? Talk about unnecessary risks during a pandemic… or like… at any time. Was I likely going to fall off? No. Did that really matter? Also no.
So I untacked May, fed her another cookie, groomed her some more. Cleaned all my tack super well… and went home. I still have two lessons this week… including one tonight. so I am making a list. And checking it twice. 😉
hahahahha I am so afraid I am going to leave my helmet or boots home. I have a lesson today so now you have reminded me to make sure my boots get out of the dining room and in the truck 🙂 AND you are a mess 🙂 But I enjoyed the whole saga of will she or wont she ride! 🙂
Hahaha I usually have all my stuff at the barn! So I don’t have to remember everything… and this is why.
Forgetting things at home is my GO TO! It’s SO ANNOYING. Yesterday I forgot running shoes AFTER I changed at work to go running….
Hahahah! Yes! When I was taking clothes into the office it was like Russian roulette
Somehow I don’t think May was disappointed. “I stands and I get tacked up and then untacked and I gets cookies yay”
Basically lol. It’s her ideal day.
I have definitely had days like this haha
Oh man! Yeah, been there… Glad you made the safe choice and all ended well (albeit a bit frustrating I’m sure)!
Good for you for making the right decision. That’s one thing good about having the barn in my back yard….
Hah, leaving things at home that i specifically left by the front door so I wouldn’t forget is particularly infuriating for me. I learned my lesson and bought a second helmet liner so I always have a clean one at the barn.
I have two! I think that’s the worst part. I haven’t totally finished setting up my tack locker since the move so it’s sitting in my trunk. Shame on me for sure!