WHAT IT IS LIKE In an effort to streamline my journey to the stable, I left work early, cut through Trinity, and made directly for the LUAS... which is an acronym for something I can't be bothered to Google right now. It's the tram, and it takes me out to a place where I can …
I Love Rebel—Again!
HERE'S WHY I approached Rebel's stable with intent— in the main, to see how the haircut was coming along. His head was in his feeder, and he was munching away, and I said, 'Hey, Reb! How's the—' and was shocked to see his head come flying up. I didn't think I was that loud. Hmm. …
Open Disorder
Another indication we're being kicked up a notch. Lately, instead of the group warming up en masse, we've been instructed to limber up in open order. I should like it: it's very freeing to move your horse on your own, trot on your own [we cantered even, on Saturday], turn your own circle when you …
Short Back and Sides
Rebel got his wintertime haircut and was tormented by itches the entire lesson. Which made things interesting. He was particularly skittish pre-mounting; I thought he was trying to push me around. Well, I had decided to do what I ought to do, on the ground, and I asserted my authority with him... which I came …
Takin’ Care of Business
Up to my neck in freelance design work— yay. Working way too many hours— boo. It's not forever and ever, and I expect it to end next Monday [famous last words...], but it does give me pause to think about boundaries. I am aware that my cynicism is wilting under the heat of an equine sun, a …
Confidence Building
'You want Rebel...?' Nikki asked, her voice drifting off into a questioning tone that gave me the out I needed. 'CanIhaveDelilah?' I blurted; she nodded, and I danced to the mare's stable. My confidence was getting knocked about: after a fall off Tango and two rough rides on Rebel, and I wanted some comfort. Going …
Let’s Sing a Song of Three
HOW MANY IS THREE? Three of us in the car on the way to the yard. Lainie had pony camp this past week, and I fired questions at her, left, right, and centre. She had brought her rosette, awarded from their end-of-pony-camp show. I squeal and examine it closely. We are both delighted. Loraine, who …
Misty Water-coloured Memmmmm’ries
I was leading Rebel out of the indoor and back to his stable a couple of weeks ago. As I passed David, who I think is the head groom— and I know teaches polocrosse— he called out, 'So, you broke up with Argo?' I did. I did break up with him. It was time, you …
A Little to the Left
Delilah was in a mood last night— a good one, it seemed to me. I had gotten to the yard really early, a full hour and quarter before the start of my lesson. It's mid-term break here, and without all the mums ferrying the kids to and from school and activities, there was little traffic, and …
The Eve of The Eve of All Hallows
I remember last year that one of the girls who used to ride on Tuesdays mentioned how awful it had been, riding on Hallowe'en. This was on a night in November, when the winds rattling the corrugated steel roof of the indoor arena had the horses going completely mental; at one stage, Argo was going …
MANY BRAVE FOOLS 