Horses.

Yesterday I got the nerve to call my old trainer up. We had been relaying emails back and forth for quite some time and I just called because it was a gorgeous day and I wanted to see if she was heading out. Turns out she was and had two riders that day. I asked if I could straggle along to which she sounded gratefull for some help.

I think we worked really well together. It was like an unwritten system and we got it done. She handed me a horse and I groomed, then she grabbed another and she groomed. We saddled and put them back in their stalls and grabbed another two. Saddled and then got the truck and trailor ready. I led the horses to the trailor while she loaded them in.

Once at the barn while she got them unloaded I was putting them away. Once they were all in she checked the cinches on two horses and I checked the other two. She bridled two and I bridled two. Once the girls who were going to ride showed up I got the two horses that were to be used for them standing next to the mounting block while my trainer showed them how to get up and how to steer. We both adjusted stirrups.

Once I got up on my horse I fell quietly in behind the two girls while my trainer went to the front of them. It was like clockwork the entire time. I didn't say much other than to tell the girl infront of me to kick every now and again and to pull hard on the reins when the horse balked at moving.

My horse I had never rode before and we quickly had a temper tantrum the second we started walking away from the barn. He wanted to go back, I wanted to go forward. We sat for about five minutes with him doing that sideways fast step trying to go back up the hill, me kicking him hard in the right for forward movement, and him pulling his head left while I was pulling right. I think I terrified the girl in front of me. Her eyes were saucers watching me work.

Five minutes later my horse was like "fine" and went forward. We didn't have a single issue the rest of the ride. In fact, I really liked him. By the end of it he was starting to respond to the neck rein and leg I was giving him the entire ride. (my trainer doesn't ride him at all, she got really frustrated with him and wants to sell him)

After the ride I helped with tying horses, unbridling, getting horses hosed off, back ont he trailor, and then once they were home doing all the unsaddleing. It was all in all and awesome day. I really enjoyed it. It was almost theraputic to me. I think my trainer enjoyed having me there to help as well, she told me to come back whenever I wanted to just help out with anything. I need that right now. Not another horse, just to be around them.