A Crossroads

It has been quite some time since I have posted . . . lots going on in my life right now, though that is poor excuse. It is a valuable thing for me to write down on paper the steps Walker and I are taking together. It helps me sort out all of the voices that are influencing me and guiding me on this path I am on. I have now had a glimpse into the world of showing horses, and I am sure now that is not the path I want to go down. I love the challenge of learning Dressage, but the I don't want to do it on some artificial timetable that doesn't fit with my life away from the barn. 

Walker and I entered a show this weekend and I really realized for the first time that I am not 21! My body just cannot handle that kind of intensity and keep up with the rest of my life at the same time. And even if the rest of my life was not so stressful, I also realized that this is not the way for me. I contrasted this weekend that exhausted me with the weekend at Kerri's place that invigorated me (and Walker), and the choice readily revealed itself. 

Last night, Walker and I spent an hour out on the levy. He had clover breath tinged with horse treats, and I listened to the sounds of horses in their stalls, lessons being given in the arenas, frogs croaking and crickets chirping. After grazing more than 25 yards away, Walker would check back in with me when I called softly to him. Cookies again. I realized that time did more good for me, and probably Walker, then the hours we spent together at the show. We followed that up with some Liberty in a dark arena (someone had inconsiderately turned the lights off too soon and it takes them 20 minutes to recycle once they have been shut off). My annoyance was tempered by the fact that we had the arena to ourselves. We did very soft traveling circles, at Liberty. We played with touch it from zones 3, 4 and 5 followed by cookies, again, at Liberty. I rubbed him all over, but Walker being Walker, he preferred the cookies!

I can't wait to go back to Kerri's place again in March!