Spring, really I think

[altivo]

It got up to 65F today, and was sunny all day. We still have mud in places, but standing water is pretty much gone here (there's still plenty in lower parts of the county though.)

Tess was overly excited this afternoon when a put a lead rope on her and took her out to the pasture. I almost got a rope burn from all the frolicking and prancing on the way. I kept making her slow down, which she hates, but walking politely on a lead is one of my insistent demands from a horse. After a few trips out, she'll get over this, I know from past years.

She only gets 30 minutes right now because the new grass is coming in and I'm not about to risk foundering her. She's had a couple of near calls with that in the past. She spent the first ten minutes kicking and squealing and racing around like a foal, then rolling in the wet, squashy ground. She made enough racket to distract the neighbors' (the Brit side) horses, who were having a lesson of some sort. They used to have just one, a tall black gelding who was very good looking and mostly left to his own devices day and night. Then he disappeared over the winter and we thought they'd sold him. But he seems to be back, along with a smaller black mare and a black foal. (Daughter was riding the gelding a bit, while wearing very stylish English riding gear of course, and mum was walking the mare on a lead while the foal would get distracted for a minute or two then realize that mom was on the other side of the pasture and run full tilt and a-squealing toward her. Dad was standing at one side shouting advice at everyone, though frankly I think he has as much sense for animals as one of his geese. Son, as usual, was ignoring everyone and thrashing tree trunks with loose branches. When his branch would break, he'd pull down another one. The two year old kid and both of their dogs were racing around under everyone's feet, including the horses'.

All of this going on just two fences away kept drawing Tess' attention away from the business at hand: eating grass. Which is good, since she shouldn't eat a lot of it right away. I left her alone after ten minutes while I fixed up her stall for the night. When I came back she was waiting right by the gate for me and did not complain about having to "go home" too early.

Purple crocus and snowdrops are blooming now. Some trees are budding. The creek is flowing hard, but well below its banks. Things seem to be mostly in order for the moment.

Comments

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

Dear Rider.

About the time I think I don't have much horse sense, I watch someone else with horses and realize how much I do.

Rissa's biggest complaint about Bear was his stupidity with horses and yet he is one of the best, natural horsemen and animal guys I have ever known so... I often wonder what and why about people's attitude toward animals.

She would do all these weird things and Tonka, for example, was always distressed around her but he would run right up to Bear or me rather than try to deal with her strangeness.

Oh yea, the English Riding Outfit. Of course I find that very SEXY but that is not just me. (grinwink)

I always prefer nobody around watching while dealing with my horses or dogs. Just to have someone standing there watching even if they say nothing at all... dunno why but it makes me think too much about what I am doing rather than just doing it naturally.

Tonka is my favorite. Such a big sweetie he is genuine and kinda scared but also very loving and honorable. Horses... why I love them so much.

You caught me with your heart O' Gold and I am your Golden Palomino Flap Pony. Grin.

Imperator

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Like Mark Rashid says, "Horses never lie." I agree about Tonka, he's a real sweetheart and I'm probably glad I don't know what gave him his frights in the past. It's good he's with you and Bear now.

Tess is sorta the opposite. I don't think she's ever been abused in any way, lucky girl. Typical headstrong female, and not showing much age at 12 now, she gets full of whatever and wants to run. She's fast, too, and scares me a bit. I've never ridden her in the open because of that, even though she hasn't ever misbehaved with me on her back.

As for English riding kit, just no. I think it's some of the silliest looking stuff ever invented. I suppose someone thought it was practical but I don't, just as I don't think those bright colored bicycle suits are all that sensible. In yesterday's context it was silly. This was a practice session, not a show. ;p

[hrrunka]

You get spring, we get spring snow. It's white (and rather soggy) out there. I don't expect it'll stay that way for long though. :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

It snowed here Thursday night, and may snow more before it's finally done. But at the moment, it's spring.

[songcoyote.livejournal.com]

Lovely Spring, that takes us from the dark and cold, and reminds us why we work so hard to survive in Winter's snow. Delight in life and springing forth with bursting joy and regrowth, the promise of fullness and the scent of light dancing in our eyes and hearts.

Welcome back, oh sleeping world, and rejoice! For thou art loved.

Light and laughter,
SongCoyote

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Light, of course, is a big factor, just as you point out. I actually enjoy the gloom of winter too, but when spring comes I'm always more than ready for it. Waiting for the leaves to green up once the sun returns is harder for me than the wait through the snow and ice. I want it all now. ;p

[songcoyote.livejournal.com]

Heh... greedy pony, wanting it all ;)

I know what you mean, though. In this area we can get it all with some effort around this time; staying around my home town gets us lovely spring weather, and if we want we can drive out to the snow (a bizarre concept to anyone who lives with it every winter ;) The one thing we can't get on demand is rain, but that's okay in my book as it's my least favorite weather (except in Hawaii, where the rain is generally warm).

I like it all but would prefer not to have it all at once!

Light and laughter,
SongCoyote

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

She has spring fever? :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yup. Even the oldest horses seem to get spring fever. The symptoms include squealing and dashing around like silly foals, kicking up the heels in the air for no reason, rolling in the grass like a beached whale, racing from nowhere to nowhere at full tilt while kicking up bits of turf into the air and farting, and an excess of snorting and whinnying.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

And they seem so demure for the other seasons ;)