Fair Weather Rider

Today is Tuesday, one of the best days to ride Poco up at the barn where I board him.

Tuesdays are quiet, not very many people around and no jumps set up in the indoor arena so one doesn't have to risk their life to ride. 

My friend Haley usually joins me. We've ridden together enough now that we have a set routine. We turn on some music and then we each silently work our horses. 

Once the work is out of the way, it's social riding time. We ride around the arena, cooling our horses off, having these funny philosophical conversations, which include much humor and even more laughter. I can't think of a better way I'd rather spend my day.

But today is (another) windy and rainy day. We've had them for the past few days but today our temperature has dropped.  It's currently sitting close to 40 degrees and the 25 mph steady wind which is gusting upwards to 35 mph is making it colder.  Snow level is right above us!

As I write this post the rain and wind are beating against my windows.  I can hear the wind howling.  The leaves and rain are flying past my window sideways.

It makes me glad to be inside but I wonder about our Belgians, out there in the pasture.  I haven't seen them for a few hours so (unless our fence has blown down), I assume they are in the loafing shed out of the rain.

Here they are!  Standing outside in the rain and wind with their backs to the storm.  Silly horses!  They have two loafing sheds to go to out of the wind and rain, one full of hay.  Yet here they are standing outside looking half asleep!

I could put them in their stalls but I save the stalls for the worst of conditions.  Hmmm, think we're about there on that status; however, I'll wait until tonight and then put them in overnight to dry off.

No riding for me today.  I do love this stormy weather but I'm a fair weather rider.  Poco is in a different barn then the arena.  I hate the thought of us walking between the two locations, getting soaking wet and blown around.  Oh how nice it is to have a horse that is so consistent that he doesn't have to be ridden every day and to not be afraid of getting on him after a few days off.  That's my boy, Poco.

So I'm off to check on him and his eyes (which have been doing well recently).  Today Poco gets a beauty treatment and a day off from riding! 

Fire in the wood stove tonight and a homemade quiche to celebrate today, Mr. 50+ and my silver wedding anniversary.  Sure we could have gone to Hawaii to celebrate this occasion but I know I'd rather be here and I know he feels the same.  Home, where we are warm, safe and sound with our animals and ranch surrounding us.  :)