Sunday, December 16, 2012

Rider Confessions

I have only been riding once a week lately...

...and my horse has noticed.


It is not like I usually ride six or seven days a week, but I do like to ride more than once.  Four is a gift, two is tolerable, and three is ideal during the school year.  I definitely ride more during the summer, but that is only a few months out of the year.  I know that three times a week is not a lot by many people's standards, but it works for me and my horse and doesn't keep me away from home and other obligations.  Gone are the days when I could lollygag at the barn for hours on end.

Unfortunately, the combination of needing to get things done at work and the shortened days has seriously cut into my barn time.  The work has to get done sometime and usually now is a better option than later and I cannot control the sun.  I am not shy about riding under lights, which we do have at the barn, but once the sun goes down it gets pretty cold.  Also, and more significantly, my barn feeds much earlier when the daylight hours are short.  Sure, I could ride and then feed Harley myself.  He really doesn't make much of a fuss, although years ago he used to throw a bit of a fit.  After many, many repetitions of continuing to ride while the feed was being dumped and making the work more challenging if he continued to carry-on, he eventually resigned himself to the idea that I would decide when dinnertime would begin for him.  Once we crossed that Rubicon, he was quite tolerable of the fact that he may have to continue working even when the other horses were enjoying their food.  But even so, I do not like to work him hard just before he eats grain, so dinner does hamper our routine and nine times out ten, I will end my ride early out of convenience.  Standing around in the cold waiting for Harley to finish eating is even less fun (and much colder) than riding in the cold, so I prefer that he eats with the group.  I also do not want his paddock mate to get a head-start on the hay they share.

I do not usually get overwhelmed by guilt when I haven't seen my horse in several days.  I figure that as long as his bodily needs are in place (food, water, shelter, a friend and more food), he is okay, but I do miss him and he is one of my most reliable forms of stress management.  Working more tends to create more stress, so not seeing my horse as a result is more than an unfortunate side effect.  It is actually detrimental to the balance that I try to keep in my life.  Stress is very unhealthy and, for me, it accumulates just by being around people all the time.  I am definitely introverted and need time to recharge my batteries.  Being with my husband or my horse makes them recharge all that much faster.

So you can imagine the sudden rush of mixed emotions that I felt when my barn owner called and told me that Harley was not finishing his grain and had been leaving more and more each day.  Of course this was reason for alarm, but she did assure me that he seemed normal and not in the least sick.  He would just eat a certain amount of grain and then decide that he was done and ready to go outside.  I drove out to see him in the dark, ready to check his vitals and armed with allergy meds in case he was having an episode. 

I found Harley munching hay happily with his buddy in the shed.  He greeted me immediately by sniffing my hand and he touched my hand with his muzzle several times as I checked him from top to bottom.  Not wanting to find anything, but also not wanting to miss anything, I looked for some sign of distress.  His breathing was normal.  His attitude was normal.  His gut sounds were normal and audible just standing next to him, which is always the case with Harley.  I also found a fresh pile of manure in his stall before I walked out to the paddock.  His appetite, at least for hay, was clearly normal, as he continually stuffed his face the entire time that I was with him, only leaving his hay with a mouthful as he checked on me checking him out.  He didn't mind that I was there, but he definitely knew that it was not typical for me to visit him in the dark of night.  I left him, feeling better that he was most likely okay, but also realizing that I needed to make a point not to stay late at work tomorrow.  Harley needed to go back to the top of the priority list.

The very next day, I made it to the barn in time for a group trail ride.  We went for a nice walk in the woods, staying close to home, because the sun was setting.  Riding in the dusk is a neat experience.  The fresh air and the twilight atmosphere did wonders for my mind.  Harley led the way with pricked ears and a pep in his step.  It was a simple ride at no more than walk, but it was plain to me that he was happy.

Once back at the barn, I fed him, because I wanted to see him eating his grain.  The dentist is coming out next week, so our thoughts were that he was due for a float and this was making it uncomfortable to eat grain.  We gave him a little less than usual, so as not to waste his expensive food, and I stood with my barn friends outside his stall, talking and hanging out while my horse ate. 

Fifteen minutes later, I look in his trough and it is empty.  Harley is standing at his stall door bright-eyed and curious.  I put my hand up to his muzzle and he sniffs it in the way he always does when we hang together.  I start to wonder that maybe he just hasn't been expending enough energy lately to require as much of his high calorie food.  I never like that he has to eat so much of it to maintain his weight, which actually looks very good right now.  This makes total sense.

And then, one of my barn friends comments that she thinks he ate it all, because I am there.

Oh dear.  I think my horse missed me.

I promised him that we would go for a "real ride" the next day and we did.  He was wonderful, full of energy, but listening at every moment.  He ate a snack of hay cubes and was eager for his after ride treats.  Then I did feel guilty that I hadn't been forcing myself out to see him more often during the week.  I need our time together, too.  Even if it is just to groom or lunge, I am going to make a point to get out there more than once a week.

Message received, Harley, and thanks.


29 comments:

  1. I do make it to the barn every day, but there are times when I have an appointment or other obligation that prevents me from showing up. Almost every time that happens, my barn owner will call or text me that Speedy is acting anxious. He knows what time I should be showing up and he gets very worried when he doesn't see my car pulling into the drive.

    Most assuredly Harley was missing you and wondering where you have been. I am sure he was relieved to see his world rebalanced and put right. A horse and his girl ... I think they need us as much as we need them!

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    1. I remember a story which you posted about Speedy being upset that you were not there and not wanting to eat his dinner. It is nice to be needed and to be reminded not to neglect barn time because it definitely is important for horse and girl!

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  2. Harley is a clever little monkey!

    The lack of daylight is imposing on barn-time here too, and I live at the farm!

    Extra pressure from the holidays + work + chores... I need to spend a whole day just cleaning up the tack room - and then have a date night with my tack. ;D

    Only five more days til the solstice!

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    1. And that means chores in the dark. I wish we didn't employ daylights savings.

      The solstice is also the beginning of my winter break, so I looking forward to enjoying some more daylight hours with Harley. And then the days will get longer again!

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  3. awwww i like how he found a way to tell you that he was missing you xxx

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  4. I have only been riding once a week too. Rain, late nights at work, and short days make it impossible to ride more. I want to improve and progress, of course, but I think some down time is good too. Hanging out is enough on cold wet days.

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    1. I agree. I need to make time to hang out even if I do not have time to ride. Today it was raining here, so I trimmed Harley's feet and he seemed pleased with this arrangement. Attention is always good in his book. :)

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  5. Harley is a smart horse. He knew just the right thing to get you out there. :)

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    1. Horses can really surprise us by how smart they are. Of course, I am still keeping an eye on his eating. Can't help myself.

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  6. That first photo is great. It looks like he's saying "where the heck is my girl??" Soon we will be crawling out of the darkness and into spring, it can't happen soon enough for me.
    Did they manage to get rid of the skunk?

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    1. That's how I felt about that photo, too.

      I think the skunk is AWOL. As far as I know, he was not successfully captured. I haven't seen his presents so that makes me happy. ;)

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  7. They sure have their ways to tell us how they feel! At my old barn, Shy would know about the time when I would get there. She would make her way to the very back of the pasture (if she was out). If I got there earlier, she was always up front. . .but now that she is out 24/7, she has no problem with me catching her.

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    1. They are the masters of pattern recognition. I guess Shy must like being outside.

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  8. I didn't manage to ride this weekend and I really missed it, and missed my horse. I keep them at home and feed twice a day too! I'm not looking forward to putting them back on agistment.

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    1. I can understand that. Although I would have a tough time getting all the barn chores done, I fantasize about having my horse in my backyard. It would be so easy to walk out and see him. Of course, then I would see all the stuff outside that I needed to do. That part would not be as nice. ;)

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  9. I too am introverted and get my solace from time spent with my wonderful husband or animals. I think it is very interesting that Harley found a way to pull your focus back to you. Clearly being with you is the atmosphere HE needs.

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    1. Believe me, I understand. Thank goodness for those special people and animals who can make us feel ready for a new day.

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    1. Welcome!
      Do I spy a lovely palomino quarter horse on your blog?

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    2. Yes, that was Woody, my partner for 22 awesome years. He was an Appendix QH and was up for anything. Thanks for stopping by!

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  11. Well good news that him missing his time with you was the only thing wrong! ;-) This time of year + work makes things tough. I'm feeling it too.

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    1. Yes, definitely. I am still keeping an eye on him, but he truly seems fine. His feed is calorie dense, so I am okay with him eating less. Hopefully, his weight stays up!

      This time of year is not my favorite. ;)

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  12. It seems with the holidays and everything else I've only been riding once a week too. Now, I'm sure Dusty hasn't missed me but I like to think that she does just a little. There's no stopping her appetite though she'd eat anything anywhere anytime. Harley is so cute I'm sure he missed you and just wanted to let you know he was a little lonely and figured out a way to get you to visit. Glad you had a good ride.

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    1. I seem to remember that Dusty gave you a great ride recently. That must have been her way of showing that she was glad you were spending time together. :)

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  13. I think we all ride less in the winter--I know I do. And often, due to weather, its once a week. I live with my horses and feed them three meals a day, so I do spend time with them..but its not time ON them so much. I agree that the hanging out time can be good enough this time of year, and for me, it just seems natural. Spring will be here soon and we'll all be riding more.

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    1. Oh, I can't wait for spring!

      I guess an off season is good, too. Just not quite as much fun. ;)

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  14. He's so sweet :)

    It's the time of year when I don't ride, even if I wasn't pregnant. By the time I get out of work it's already dark, such a bummer.

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  15. What a cutie pie! Yes, our riding has gotten sliced by bad weather (no indoor, or true outdoor for that matter) doesn't help. I do get out every other day to hug, kiss, love, check on him which helps me get through winter but riding is soooooo much better!

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