riding etc.

I got to ride Minnie again today. It was a bit of an adventure, as she hadn't been worked in nearly 2 weeks, and she and Trump have been standing around bored a lot since goddessfarmer injured her back. This meant that Minnie was Very! Excited! especially when we got up to Kinney Hill and took her and Trump out of the trailer... Minnie then saw Other! Horses! and half dragged me over to look at them. goddessfarmer rescued me and got the chain on Minnie's leadline over her nose, which gives one more control as it causes pain, and Minnie Hates! Pain! Getting her tacked up was still a bit of an adventure, and once I was on her back she just wanted to Go! Fast! I spent a while just riding the wiggles out of her, mostly walking but also trotting a little. By the time she'd calmed down enough for me to feel comfortable enough to want a canter, Minnie was really tired, so I didn't do it. She's an old lady, but she forgets that sometimes.

As goddessfarmer noted, I did get a little bit of lovely flexey on-the-bit trot out of her. The best of it, alas, was only a few strides, because she was getting ready to canter without my permission. I took her back down to a walk instead. *Next time we canter dammit!*

I got to meet the barn cats at Kinney Hill, and enjoy a bit of hilarity with goddessfarmer over how many neurons horses have in their tiny brains. On Minnie: "She has twice as many as most thoroughbreds do, that is to say, two." On Trump: "He has a lot, because he has to do something while he's being where he is." (If you know the saying, "Wherever you go, there you are," Trump's version of this is "Wherever you are, there you are." He does not see any particular reason to go anywhere.) Also have the Kinney Hill liability release form, the first two paragraphs of which are pure goddessfarmer humor. ETA: Her lawyer wrote it, but it has her "voice."

I was very happy to see that goddessfarmer wasn't too injured to ride Trump, and we talked about some riding options for while she heals.

I had a nice surprise tonight in the form of Shabbos dinner chez teddywolf and tigerbright, with the company of browngirl, temina, ceo, gosling and the requisite toddlers, who are unbelievably cute together. The turkey was the best I've had in ages.

Now I need to sleep. And look forward to tomorrow when I get to see Minnie again (but not ride) and bring her and Trump some apple slices (I am making apple pies.)