Autumn Ambivalence Be Gone!

We’re back!!!  I counted it up in my record book.  It’s been 94 days since I was able to ride both Admiral and Nutmeg.  The ironic part, I really didn’t want to go to the barn last night.

We have had an amazing run of nice weather this fall.  80’s and sunshine every day for weeks on end.  While other parts of the country have been suffering from droughts or monsoons, we’ve been soaking up the incredible weather, knowing that sooner rather than later, winter would arrive.  Well, it showed up on Monday.  Rain and 50.  We’re expecting the first freeze tonight with temperatures in the 40’s for the rest of the week.  Naturally, when I want nothing more than to cuddle up with a blanket and a cup of tomato soup, both horses are finally ready to go back to work.

One thing or another went wrong this summer.  Admiral rolled on a boulder rock pebble and was out with an impressive bump on his back for months.  Nutmeg threw a shoe, then threw a fit the day her shoe was back on, leading to a month of stiff sore muscles and liniment rubs.  Friends got married, fencing started and stopped about ten times, stalls needed to be built and money ran out.  Riding just wasn’t at the top of the priority list. 

I never thought I could survive without my equine therapists, but I was actually getting used to coming home to my husband every night and skipping the five hour venture to the barn and back.  Sure, when it was sunny and warm I looked longingly out the window and dreamed, but the nasty rain did nothing to entice me to the barn.  Even the thought of getting to finally use Nutmeg’s new dressage bridle (a birthday present in August) had lost its luster.  Autumn ambivalence had set in, full force.

But I had to go to the barn.  Really, I had to go to the barn.  The poor ponies’ blankets were in the back of my car, laundered and smelling fresh less like manure, and they needed them ASAP.  Plus, I promised a friend I’d drop her new round of Smart Paks off while she was on vacation.  With less than adequate clothing, to the barn I went.

Thank goodness for indoor arenas!  That is one thing I will definitely miss when the horses come home.  I didn’t die of hypothermia.  I didn’t have to cut my ride time short due to the dwindling light.  And, I got to ride BOTH horses!!!  They were both sound, they were both happy to see me, and they were both fairly well behaved.  I dropped off the blankets and headed home with a feeling of contentment I haven’t had in a while.  You can’t really put it in words.  Let’s just say, I’m glad I went to the barn after all.  It may not be what I want to do at the time, but riding always helps and leaves me with a fresh perspective.

A Happily Ever Nightmare

It’s every horse owner’s greatest fear.  During your morning check you discover your horse is missing.  No fence down, no gates open, just a missing horse.  All the thoughts that race through your head are bad, just to varying degrees.  It’s a nightmare.

For a horse owner in Mid-Missouri Saturday morning, the nightmare became a reality.  Their palomino gelding was missing.  His heard-mates were unconcerned, but he was definitely gone.  They spent two hours combing the pasture and turned up nothing.  So they called their local radio station.  I took the call.

“I was wondering if you could get something on the air for me?”

We get these calls all the time and, if I can say so myself, we have a pretty good system for dealing with them.  “I’ve got something for sale,” gets pointed to the Swap Shop program or a Sales Rep.  “My dog or cat is missing (we’ve even had a bird),” we take their information and put it on the daily Pet Patrol.  Birthday wishes, Community events, and meeting cancellations, there is a time and a place for that information every day.  But what do you do when someone tells you there 1200 lb. animal is loose somewhere near town?

My heart stopped and simultaneously went out to the couple.  Decision time.  A horse is not your average missing pet.  It’s a safety hazard.  “Of course I’ll get it on the air for you.  Can you tell me a bit more…”

So the horse’s description and last know location went out to all our Saturday morning listeners.  I gave the information twice in a twenty minute time period.  The phone rang again.

“We found him!  Well, they found him.  They’ve got him in the arena up at the fairgrounds.  Thank you so much!”

That palomino gelding had traveled over five miles and crossed a US Highway.  Thankfully there was a big event taking place at the fairgrounds over the weekend and someone recognized the horse from the description they heard on the radio.  I received a third call from the owners later in the morning, thanking me again and blessing the effectiveness of broadcast radio.

It was a wonderful end to a horrific circumstance.  Thank goodness for quick thinking people,  thank goodness for watchful neighbors and yee-haw for local radio with real people on the other side of the mic 24/7.   Next time you turn on Pandora or Satellite radio, remember “radio” is more than entertainment, it’s a service to the community.  How’s that for a Fresh Perspective.