If Wishes Were Horses

The old Scottish proverb, "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride" was a phrase I heard from my Mama all too often.  I had a tendency to ask (maybe even whine and beg) for various things I wanted, one of which was a horse.  When expressing my wishes I often got the 'wishes' proverbial reply from Mama.

The saying means that wishing alone is not enough to achieve something; you have to take action to make it happen.  Instead of just hoping for things, you must work to get them.

Being proactive is one thing, but rushing into things is another.  It can be problematic to not think everything through, especially when making big decisions.  It is better to wait on God's timing or voice for direction.
Also, while the proverb insists that a beggar will ride, it makes no allowance for the  beggar’s riding skills or the horse’s compliance.  
With Betty leaving, trailering Rico (by himself and myself) to horse trails is going to be much more difficult to say the least.  I really need to gain Rico’s trust and confidence so he doesn't get so anxious when away from his buddy (Dorado at the moment).  Also I need to learn how to drive the truck while pulling the trailer.  Ideally, if I could find another boarder who really wants to ride the trails, and also wants to trailer their horse, that would be fantastic.  But I am not going to rush into that, with this other proverb in mind - "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."

Saturday 10/18 - My sleep was restless and agitated, not agitated in an angry way, but with frustration, anxiety and sadness.  I was ruminating over what to do next with our boarding/co-op and with how to continue getting out and hitting the trails with Rico as much as I have been.  

After getting gas and groceries, I went to the gym and then straight to Robin Hood park at noon for a pool peeps pot-luck party.  

We had a great turnout, in a beautiful setting, with lots of good food.  I only took two photos, seen here Marie, Melissa, and Dave.  

The temperature had soared up into the low 80's and was actually kind of hot, especially in the sun.  I was at the park for four hours; eating, drinking, chatting, and discovering that I am really, really bad at corn hole. 

Joe had been at the ranch preparing for an overnighters, but was informed they were running much later than expected.  So on his way home, he decided to pick up the two rubber mats that have been in the woods for over a year now.  I have kept an eye on them when riding with Betty.  Well, he should have waited for me to go with him because I knew right where the mats were and that the sides of the dirt road were precarious.  By the time the tow truck got there and got him out, he needed to go back to the ranch to meet the overnighters.

Sunday 10/19 - We had strong gusty winds overnight, followed by rain.  It was heavy at first but was toned down to just a sprinkle or misting the remainder of the day.  There was actually about a 90 minute window of partial sunlight in which I scurried to the ranch to do mucking and get beds ready for tomorrow's overnighters.  





At noon I left for Karen's and we went to lunch and then met Shirley and Judy at the Playhouse.  We saw the murder mystery musical comedy 'Curtains.'  It was entertaining and fun, although a little long and drug in a few parts.  Joe and I watched Survivor once I got my Sunday household chores done, including finishing the laundry and making the bed.

Monday 10/20 - I waited to do morning chores until a little later because I am slowly moving Amiga and Zorro's feeding time from morning to evening.  First these three boys got their fly masks on, then A&Z got fed at 10am.  

Jan arrived with her folding saddle rack and Joe and I got it installed.  This is to help her with the tacking process.  Joe (with my direction) also put up four more hooks in the tack room for additional hanging of things like helmets, fly masks, etc.  




I had a quick lunch up at the ranch house, brushed my teeth, and headed to the dentist.  After almost two hours in the chair, I had a new, double cap temporary for the two molars that had gotten decayed in the tight space between them.  One had already been capped and the other was so far gone, it needed to be capped.  I also ended up with an aching jaw and big sore inside my cheek where I had bit down on it unknowingly while it was numb.

Tuesday 10/21 - I took my time getting out to the ranch to do morning chores for Bonnie. The overnighters had left so I stripped beds and put up some Halloween decorations.  








Then Joe and I went out to clear a big tree off Stratford Circle.  Next we took the gator down Marmaduke to the mailbox cul-de-sac (video).  

We tried to fix the broken post of the mailbox, but ran into some problems getting it to stand up straight. 

Once back at the ranch just after noon, I fed Amiga and Zorro and did some clean-up in the yard.

Then it was time for a little ride on Amiga.  Coming through the corral I noticed there was manure left over from the overnighter so I cleaned it up, along with several sticks.  

   


Jan arrived and we chatted some.  My sweet, patient Amiga stood quietly in the barn waiting.  










Jan got some photos before I headed out on the trail.  Amiga was a little sore, so I kept her at a walk, which she very willingly did, not getting excited or trying to gait.

Wednesday 10/22 - These two bucks were sparing this morning (video), while a few others from the bachelor herd checked for corn, which was all gone.

I had a vet appointment for Wanda to get her vaccines.  It turned out to be a way bigger imposition for both of us than I had expected.  At 8:30, Patty and I were able to trap Wanda in the feed room easily enough, but getting her in the crate was a real struggle.  I headed with her, to the vet, rather early, and she howled almost the whole time (15min) driving there and while we sat in the parking lot (15 min) and exam room (5 min) before being seen.

Long story short, they wouldn’t give Wanda her shots because she had a very low temperature.  The doctor believed it could be a vagal response - (sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure, leading to a drop in temperature), which is very unusual in cats.  But if Wanda got so stressed, it could’ve happened.  I told the vet Wanda seem perfectly healthy at the time we caught her.  But she was panting and drooling all over herself when we got her out of the crate once I got into the exam room.  To rule out sickness, they gave her an anti-nausea calming injection and put her in a dark, warming cage and would monitor her temperature. 

I came home and was in a 'holding pattern' waiting to see if Wanda was okay and could get her shots.  I started a load of laundry and had an early lunch not knowing how soon I'd be back out the door to get Wanda.  Maggie and I went for a walk, and checked out the progress on the columbarium across the street.  I spoke with the vet office two different times, first hearing that Wanda's temp was coming up, then hearing it was back up to normal but they were going to take away the heat source and see if she could maintain her body temperature.  I continued waiting and wishing for Wanda to be okay.  If wishes were cats, who knows what would happen, certainly mischief and chaos. 

Finally, just before 1:00, the vet called to say Wanda's temperature was holding on it's own and they would give her the vaccines.  I left right away to pick her up.  There was more waiting at the clinic, and they brought our howling Wanda out in her crate.  







We went straight to the ranch, with a little less howling this time, and I put the crate in the sun up on one of her favorite napping spots, and released her.  She actually did not tear off, but went into the barn, begging for food.  She was treated to canned delectables. 

Karen, who had been waiting on me since 11:30, met me at the ranch.  She fed A&Z at 1:20, and finally at 2:00 we were able to go for a ride.  I was the lucky beggar, on my fine horse, able to relax and unwind after the category 5 vet ordeal. 








We had a nice four mile ride, Karen on Zorro and I on Rico.  It was fairly windy so Rico was on a little more high alert some of the time, but both horses did well and were very willing to cart us along through the woods.  By the time I left for home after doing chores, Wanda was relaxing in the sun. 💖   

I took a quick peak at the columbarium progress. 


Seen in these two photos, the column of name plaques, but you can't yet get an idea of what the vaults look like behind the plaques.
(actually the compartment that holds the cremation urn in the columbarium is called a niche.  

Joe and I watched Survivor, which wasn't all that captivating.  

Thursday 10/23 - Patty sent this photo and reported that Wanda was well and her usual self, begging for food.

I was here at my desk, all morning; longer than wanted, working on various office/computer type things.  

Oh, I forgot to mention, the two rubber mats from the woods, were actually three sleep number bed, plastic platform base boards.  



They were not going to work, at all, as 'flooring/footing' on the ground in the barn just below the tack room steps.  I am trying to figure a way to raise one end of the ground for easier/safer stepping in and out of the tack room, especially while carrying a heavy saddle. 


I had mentioned the idea to Joe, to use the plastic boards between the cinder block wall and manure, because he has a tendency to knock the blocks askew with the tractor while scooping up manure to haul it off.  Well, he took the initiative (again without my help) to give it a try and sent this photo.  Not bad, but needs a little altering based on my vision.  

I ate lunch in the car while Joe drove us to the ranch.  Our first task was to clear some low hanging trees from the trail in the woods behind Jem's field (video).  

Two trees had blown over during the straight line winds last spring and were hung up on others, but slowly 'sinking' making it more difficult to duck under when riding.

These two photos show the trail, coming from both directions, now that it is clear.  You can see the remaining large dead tree that is hanging over the trail, higher up, and easy to pass under.  It is forked near the top and the Y is caught around the tree it is hung up on.  It should stay out of our way for awhile.

Joe headed back in the gator and I walked our woodland trail back, clearing it of sticks and branches.  At the corner of our back pasture, I decided to reconstruct the pile of cow bones that were ½ buried  out in the woods.  I had discovered them four years ago when we were clearing fence line and the white pelvic girdle caught my eye.  





I had a rake to uncover what was under leaves, brush and dirt and moved the bones to the corner, just outside our fence line.  I had to google cow skeleton to get the bones in a relatively correct facsimile of a cow skeleton.  The previous land owner had found the skull and given it to a friend.  I did find one lower jaw bone. 

It was nearing feeding time and Joe, who was off getting hay, called, possibly needing my assistance.  He had stopped to check his load and noticed a low tire.  Luckily there was a near-by gas station he could pull into to get air.  In this photo, while unloading feed from my car at the upper paddock, I caught Rico reaching through the fence for grass.  This is what breaks off his mane and breaks fence boards.  




I was relieved to see Joe pull down the driveway with his load, and I met him down at the shop to help him back the big trailer in.  
  






He had to pull the tractor, with the little trailer, out of the way first.

Joe's trailer backing skills are quite remarkable and he had the big trailer parked in perfect position without needing to pull forward to re-align and try again. 
  
 







I had fed A&Z at 2:30, and now got busy feeding the three boys in the lower paddock.  Joe busied himself with using the lawn sweeper on the corral, to pick up leaves and other debris.  Rico continues to be very anxious in the barn by himself at dinner time, as you can see in this (video).  

   

We came home to feed the pets and get ready to go out to eat.  I scurried across the street to quick get a photo of the day's progress on the columbarium.  








We met Karen, Patty, Therese, and Kathy at Vegas for dinner.  My two beers went down quickly and were so tasty and refreshing.  I also enjoyed my dinner as did the others.

Friday 10/24 - The mist or fog rising above Lake Glastowbury as I drove across the dam at 7:30am.  After morning chores I helped Betty with trailer hookup, and we loaded our two boys and hit the road.  

As always, Betty did a great job driving and we were unloading Rico and Dorado at the East Fork Campground just after 10am.  

The day was finally warming up some and we were on the trail before long.  









There are miles and miles of wonderful trails at East Fork.  Many paths lead you to various sights, well worth seeing, so I suppose that is the 'purpose for the path.'

Once up to the ridge, we had lots of pretty look-out areas.  We never dismounted to stretch our legs or snack because many spots had horses tied up already.  

We came across several groups of riders (the largest had five people) which Rico did well with meeting while going down the trail.  It was a beautiful day riding, perfect riding weather, although later in the ride I got a little bit cold.  I should have kept my extra layer I had taken off while getting too warm while tacking up out in the sun.
  
Betty taking a photo (left) of me taking a photo (right) from between the ears.  







She prefers not to be in my photos, thus I don't take many with her in them, but I do get Dorado, because he doesn't care. 

We started down a step hill (video) on the trail to Owen's Homeplace, but it got precarious with wet (slippery looking) rocks and I decided it wasn't worth going.  I don't need Rico to slip and fall and get injured/lame/or frightened.  




We proceeded to Bridge of Rock (video), riding the ridge past many cool rock formations and cliffs.  Betty made a good point, we have lots of fun riding the trails in FFG, but the scenery at EF and BSF is spectacular.  Our FFG trails are also a lot easier and safer, but no doubt, less of an adventure.  








We did ride on part of the trail that had the skeletons along the way.  In this photo, Rico looks at the dog skeleton, chasing the cat skeleton, that's after the rat skeleton (that's up on the skinny tree far right in the photo).  








At one of the several ponds we passed, it looked like beavers had damned the spillway.  



It's hard to know for sure.













But it made for a pretty setting and photo.

Heading back to the campground, we had to go through another large field that also had round bales, like ones we had troubles getting the horses past at the start of our ride.

For some reason, our horses were more afraid of these round bales this time.  So to desensitize them, we rode through the field and around the bales.  

Rico was less worried about the large baling equipment than he was the bales.  What a silly boy.  





Once back at the campground, we rode around on the obstacle course and then because Rico was scared of this horse drawn wagon, I had him follow it down the campground drive.  At the start of this (video) you can see me urging Rico forward using pressure from leg cues. 
We were in the saddle for 3½ hours and went 9½ miles.  There had been several stops to chat amongst ourselves or with others.  
Today's ride was a lot of fun, but it was bittersweet because Betty is moving Dorado back up to Jamestown and will no longer be my trailer buddy.  The past year was a 'great ride' while it lasted.

 

I really like this photo Betty took of Rico & I.

Even though I am an extremely lucky beggar, to be able to ride and enjoy so very many blessings, I still do a lot of wishing.  I wish:
Wildwood Stable’s never would’ve closed. 
Amiga was not lame with arthritis and tendon/ligament problems.
Jean still lived at the Ranch house. 
Betty wasn’t moving Dorado. 
Rico would calm down and connect with me and be the dependable horse that Amiga is.
My aging body would maintain its youth. 
And sister-in-law Mary would get better.
... just to name a few of my wishes.