Horses have been on man's mind since the existence of both of them. I like this FireFly quote about horses: "...Horses have ignited the imagination of men throughout time... They still do... The flame of horses has been etched in cave walls by those who felt their touch, their beauty... And were overwhelmed by their Magic... I too am captured in their dance, I too am touched..."
Not only do I spend time worrying about Amiga, I also dream about all the trail rides I would like to do with her. However, I am frustrated with, concerned by, and in a quandary about Amiga's lameness issues. Maybe I need to retire her and get a younger, stronger horse that takes me on the kind of rides I am still really wanting to do. But, I can't afford two horses, so would be looking to probably replace Amiga, not keep her. And I'm not sure I can do that.
I know in my heart I should never part with Amiga. I really love her and it would be hard to find such a good replacement (except for the lameness issues). She should have a forever home with me because you can't always count on the 'good home' you find, being that good.
Amiga has given me so much, and I owe her for that. But I am not ready to retire from riding. I have more I'd like to see and do on horseback. And I definitely have so much more to learn. Not being able to afford two horses is less about the money and more about the time, effort, worries, and work a horse is... which would be doubled if I got a second horse. Jan, Patty, Karen and I talked about it and were brainstorming for ideas. If I could find someone who's interested in a type of lease where they would come do one day of chores and brush and love on Amiga whenever they wanted and be able to ride her lightly when she isn't lame... that would be ideal. So of course, I have been giving my horse and/or getting another horse, a lot of thought.
Saturday 4/20 - I was at the ranch at 7:30 to let horses out. Then up at the house I made the master bed, tidied up where needed, and disinfected all hard surfaces. I went down and mucked the paddock, chatted with Bonnie, and then left for town. 
While shopping, I kept running into people I knew and talking with them, so it took longer than expected. At Walmart, an older lady (I didn't know) 'trapped' me in the garden section, talking to me about flowers, and several other less related topics. She actually followed me around for a bit. Ugh, I didn't want to be rude, but I was trying to think through what flowers I needed for which spots. 
By the time I got home and un-loaded everything, it was
2:30 and I was hungry (for lunch). It was getting too late to make it to
the gym (which closes at 4pm on Saturdays) so I sat in spotty sunlight
on the deck and snacked (on mostly healthy food) while reading. 
Feeling a tad cold and like I had been too lazy, I decided to take Maggie for a walk, with my weighted vest on. We were out on two trails for over an hour, and I, like Maggie, got plenty warm during our invigorating hike.
King of the mountain. Well, she was first up to the top of the boulder anyway.
Maggie always enjoys walks and especially being loose to run as she pleases. And she is such a good girl with this freedom (video).
Joe was feeling well enough to go play poker for a bit, but came home earlier than usual.
Sunday 4/21 - I spent the bulk of the morning getting this blog post started. Joe and I talked and worked through various ideas about the ranch; selling his truck for an older, cheaper ranch truck; and the possibility of me getting a second horse.
I went to the Ranch right after lunch and walked down our new trail towards a newly discovered 4-wheeler trail that connects two cul-de-sacs. I noticed that leaves beside our trail had been over turned and dug through. And then I came across this scat. I wondered what had made both messes.
The 4-wheeler trail was not easily passable on horseback, so I got it all trimmed up and did a little more work on our trail while walking back to the barn.
Patty and Karen were at the barn when I walked in from the trail and we got our horses and saddled up for a ride. I was anxious to show the newest trail to Patty and Karen.
Once out the back gate, we took the roads to the cul-de-sac and went down the newest trail I had just cleared better. After riding back our trail along the back pasture to behind our barn, we made another loop out and back on Marmaduke. 
Amiga struggled on the steeper hills, showing pain or stiffness (or both) in her front left leg. However, when walking on the flat, she really felt pretty good. It seemed like as she walked, she got less stiff.
I can't wait for the chiropractor to evaluate and adjust Amiga, and give me recommendations on going forward with her care and riding.
I hadn't taken many photos, and then couldn't decide which one of these with Patty and Zorro I liked best.
I finished preparing the ranch house for the over-nighters and came home and took care of daily and weekly chores here. Joe was playing poker until the 'guests' arrived, which ended up being just after midnight instead of after 6pm.
Monday 4/22 - The late arrival of the over-nighters, meant a late departure and I was worried about our horses needing food since they were taken off the pasture at 5pm. So I got to the ranch at 6am and gave them hay.
It was a frosty morning at 32° and steam was coming up off the pond as the sun rose, warming the day.
The over-nighters had changed their plans and made hotel reservations, so only their horse and pony were at the ranch.
I had to get a closer look at this little one. They both had shipping wraps on their legs and the horse had a tail bag (to cover and keep it clean). This made me wonder were they were going or returning from. 
Once I returned from the ranch, I started in on my daily routine - two cups of tea, peanut butter on toast, and then cookies.
My gym workout was decent and I was home by 12:30. It had only warmed to 55° but felt pretty hot out on the back deck, where I ate lunch and rested for a bit. Maggie and Rose got too warm and sought shade.
I was at the ranch from 2:30 till 6pm, weeding, dead heading, and planting flowers. I did two large potted plants (one by the house and one at the front gate) and these two window boxes. I chose red, white and blue for the theme here by the house.
Joe came to drop off the truck (which we'll leave at the ranch for trailer pulling) and I gave him a ride home.
A small salad for dinner, followed by popcorn during two episodes of Suits, finished off the day.
Tuesday 4/23 - I didn't accomplish a whole lot today. I spent extra time here at my computer 'shopping' for a well gaited, experienced trail horse (preferably a Fox Trotter or a Rocky Mountain) that will hold up well on long trail rides but that beginners (like Ava) can ride. I did have a good two hour workout, ate lunch on the deck and read for an hour, before getting to work in the bed out front.
I did more weeding and mulched as I went, but still have a lot more to do. We just have too many beds. Mowing grass is so much quicker and easier.
After more on-line shopping (for a horse of course) I hit the hay relieved to know Britney had completed her long day of travel (three flights) and made it to her hotel in Lynchburg, VA where she will be working through Friday.
Wednesday 4/24 - I planned a day off from the gym and after games and blogging on my computer, I sorted and filed papers that have been accumulating on my desk. Then I did a little more horse shopping. I tried to get all four cats in this photo, but Mama Styx was on the move and I cut Babes head out of the photo. So here are two separate shots showing all four of them. They often hangout near by when I'm here at my desk.
The dogwood that blew over last year during a wind storm, actually looks more alive than the other two in the chicken yard. And because the hens love roosting in it and it is good cover from air-born attacks (hawks primarily) I want to try to keep it alive. Half the root ball has been exposed and there was a big hole in the ground where it was, so I had Joe bring a load of dirt from an old manure pile. I raked it into the hole and we trimmed dead branches off all three trees.
The chickens went nuts digging through this fresh, loose dirt, full of grubs and bugs. So I had to re-rake the area before watering it, and then try to deter them.
Joe did some other work that didn't need my supervision or help and I went down to the barn to plant the rest of the flowers. It was barely warm enough for a short sleeve shirt, so Maggie and Wanda were enjoying the sun.
I took Amiga for a short ride and she felt the same as she has for almost two weeks now. We went to see the condition of the big pine tree over the road we like to ride, and it has lowered even more, to the point I'd have to get off to walk Amiga under it. Ugh. And I think it is just too big to ask Joe to try to remove it. My next thought is to make a 'walk around' to get past it.
On the way back to the barn, we went down the new trail to Jem's back gate. We turned around there and then headed home. Amiga rushed a little and then felt a little more 'off.' I have only been letting her walk. 
I couldn't decided which of these two photos I liked best, so have included both of them.
Once back to the barn, I started on feeding chores. It was past Maggie's supper time, so I fed her while the horses ate. When the horses come in off the pasture, we take their fly masks off. Wanda often likes to lay on them (when I throw them over the fence while wrangling all the horses). 
I love this silly girl. 
Once finished at the barn, I went up to feed chickens (they love their oat meal) and shut the big outside door. The little automatic door shuts at dusk.
Poker Joe was gone so after my late dinner, I did more horse shopping, and actually made a few inquiries. So many seem like the perfect horse of course, but I can only imagine how trumped up many of the ads are. There is no perfect horse. And many people will not divulge the whole truth (down falls) of the horse they are selling. And then when I think of incorporating a new (fifth) horse in at the ranch, many more issues need to be considered. It's all enough to make me want to chicken out.
Thursday 4/25 - I was up for almost four hours in the middle of the night, unable to get back to sleep. I've been worrying about everything involved with buying a second horse... so much to consider and do.
Waking up after a pre-dawn nap on the couch, I felt tired, restless, and cranky. 😒
Seen in this photo - three deer in the front yard.
I did not get anything done on my to-do list; no gym, house cleaning, or grocery shopping. The horse shopping I did online only raised more questions; age, gender, price range, distance to go to look at it; and how was I to decide on all of this?
In addition to being tired, I was also cold, so laid in the sun reading. But then I got too hot to really nap.
Joe met me at the ranch to help move hay and pour a 50lb bag of barn lime into the container we use, so we can dispense it easier. Joe left for Virginia and I went back to work on our new trail. I raked to clear some of the newer parts of the trail behind Jem's back pasture better. There is a lot of new growth, with ticks and poison ivy becoming problematic. In this photo, you can see the lighter green, five leaf Virginia Creeper. Below it is poison ivy; three leaf, shiny and darker green, and new growth (baby leaves) are a purplish/red color.
I went back to the barn for Amiga's chiropractic evaluation and adjustment with Katie. Amiga's back right stifle was way off and she also needed some adjusting on her spine between her hips. Amiga's front leg issue could be from early signs of laminitis. 😢
I took Maggie for a long walk after dinner. Can you see by the tennis courts, what we saw?
This pretty fox was as curious about us as Maggie was about it.
And the funny thing was, if we faced it, it would retreat, but when we turned around to continue our walk, it would trot up closer to us, until we turned back around and looked at it. Silly fox. 
This is the new putting green at Druid, which isn't open yet because the grass still needs to grow.
I researched laminitis and did more horse shopping before bed, and then had troubles falling asleep with so much on my mind.
Friday 4/26 - I woke several times and did a lot of tossing and turning, unable to stop worrying about Amiga. I finally read for over an hour to get my mind off it.
These three yahoos spend a lot of time on the bed at night, but do leave for part of the time. Well once I had the light on at 3am, they came to see what was happening and re-positioned themselves.
.png)
This was in our community club newsletter, that several people commented on. I can't believe it has been ten years. Actually 4½ of those years were at the Conference Center working year round. I much prefer working seasonally at the pool.
Stevie, get off the kitchen counter and you are too big for that box.
I didn't get to the gym until almost 3pm because I had been busy cleaning house and doing some packing. I was surprised at how energized I felt during my workout.
I did a big grocery run at Food City on the way home, and Joe had arrived with Britney, from Virgina, two hours earlier than I expected.
We had a late dinner and then watched Survivor.
