Back in the saddle

I woke yesterday to the sound of rain on the roof after a run of beautiful sunny days. It was hard not to feel disappointed as I had planned a pony day. My horses live an hour away from me. I hadn’t been down to see them in almost six weeks, with one thing and another – one thing being that I was away for three weeks, another being that I had Covid. I hasten to add that my horses weren’t neglected during this time; they live in a paddock at my friend Helen’s place and she takes care of them in my absence. But yesterday was the day I had set aside for some horsey time.

My windscreen wipers swished constantly as I drove in slow traffic down the gloomy freeway. It was still raining from a grey sky as I got out of the car. I stood by the fire in the house catching up with Helen, drinking tea and watching the horses in the rain. It eased slightly so we headed out to the paddock. Floss seemed almost pleased to see me. She’s not known for affection, so I was happy with almost pleased. I brushed and saddled her. She was full of beans as we rode out the gate with Helen on her mare Tango. ‘No Flossie, we’re just having a quiet ride. Neither of us has done this for a while.’ She walked on briskly. We trotted a little way along the puddled trail, but mostly we just walked. Floss seemed pleased to be out. She didn’t even mind walking through the huge, deep puddle that she usually baulks at. The rain pattered against my raincoat and helmet. My hands on the reins were wet and cold.

My post-Covid dizziness kicked in after about half an hour, so we took it really easy on the way back. We unsaddled and left Floss and Tango to graze. Fortified by another cup of tea and some lunch, I decided I was up to riding a second horse. We got Anakin and Dante out of the paddock. Strictly speaking, Dante is mine and Anakin is not. But we decided I’d ride Anakin and Helen would ride Dante. Helen is a better and braver rider than me. And Dante and I have a difficult relationship. (It’s a long story. I’ll tell you some other time.)

While the boys were tied at the hitching rail, Dante lost the plot over something; exactly what was unclear. He pulled back and broke the bale-twine his rope was tied to. (We tie up to baling twine for exactly this reason – to give a weak point that will break under pressure if a horse panics.) Once loose, Dante had a minor bucking and rearing fit in the paddock, terrified of the lead rope and baling twine pursuing him. When he had calmed a little and he was safe to approach, Helen walked across and retrieved him, settled him down and reminded him that he has long since been trained to deal with ropes and the like. Meanwhile, Anakin had stood sedately as Dante performed. I was glad it was him I was about to mount and not my own slightly crazy horse. Helen assured me she was fine to do so.

We rode out again, a slightly shorter circuit this time. Anakin was perfect; Dante almost so, but he didn’t like one of the vehicles that passed us and felt the need to express his displeasure about it. Helen calmly told him to get over it and carry on. Again, I was glad to be on calm old Anakin. Back at the paddock, I detangled and brushed a dreadlock from Dante’s mane. I swear there must be paddock pixies that come in the night and tie knots in his mane. It’s hard to believe they are down to natural curl, wind and head-tossing.

Light rain was still falling as I drove home. I was damp but content. My raincoat had kept me mostly dry and it was good, so very good, to be back in the saddle.

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Jill