Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Obe takes over...

Obe decided she wanted to have a voice in all this jibber-jabber (that's her word), so I've handed the keyboard over to her for this post...I feel like I should genuflect and say a prayer, because I'm not real sure what she's going to say. 

Hi all you people on the interwebz.  I just had to take over this post to tell you about the horrid things my mother has put me through the last couple of days.  I figure that the more people know the TRUTH, the more they will sympathize with me and bring me ginger snaps. 

First, she came up to the pasture to steal me away from my boyfriend, Rocky, while we were sleeping in the shade.  I'm not kidding.  She walked right into the gate and started crinkling the plastic wrappers on the peppermints she'd brought.  Dang it, she knows how to get me and Rocky to stand still!  Rocky was too interested in the peppermints to run away...if only he would have run!  I would've gone with him!  But, since he was interested, I had to be interested too.  Of course, before I could have my peppermint, I had to put my head in the halter.  *sigh*  So, she captured me and dragged me away from Rocky. 

Once in the barn, while she was grooming me, Adora and her human, Michele, came up the hill.  I like Adora...she makes me feel safe and comfy.  So, Michele and my mom WOULD NOT shut up the whole time they were grooming.  I like to snooze while I'm being groomed, especially when mom conditions and brushes my tail.  My ears get all floppy and I let my lip hang loose.  Not this time.  Nope.  Mom and Michele yacked the whole time.  I don't know how in the world they can find so many things to talk about...and laughter, dear me, the laughter!  I think they're losing it, if you know what I mean.

Mom got me tacked up in my jumping saddle, then took me outside.  But, rather than taking me down to the arena to lunge and work, she stood on this big green box outside the barn and got on me...without lunging me!  The nerve!  Then, she turned me AWAY from the arena.  Oh well, I got to follow Adora, at least.  So, we walked down the driveway and past Adora's house.  Then...you won't believe this...I almost can't believe it, and I LIVED it...once we got past the bridge and started up the big, long hill....she kicked me and made me trot!!!  Can you believe it?  Adora was trotting in front of me, and Mom wanted me to keep up with her!  That hill is long, and, while I appreciate the fact that Mom was in half-seat, it was HARD lugging her up that hill!  When we got to the top, I could hardly catch my breath.  My nostrils were flaring out so far even I could see them!  The nerve of some people...at least we got to WALK back down the hill!

Then, we weren't through!  We walked to the outdoor arena, and Mom made me warm up like usual...trot AND canter!  Ugh!  Oh, and it's not over...nope, not yet.  After we warmed up, we jumped, like forever.  She kept cantering me and cantering me to these jumps...I kept doing them perfectly so maybe she'd stop, but she just kept going.  Finally, she stopped me.  I was so icky sweaty...I mean, seriously, I have a winter coat coming in and it was almost 80 degrees.  What did she expect?  I got to watch Adora jump, too...but she was just as tired and confused as I was.  *another sigh*

Then...THEN....Bella came down with her human, Patti.  Michele and Mom said they'd LOOOVE to go on a trail ride with Patti.  REALLY?  A trail ride?  Did they bother to ask the horses?  Nope.  So, off we went.  We walked up that REALLY steep hill by the new pasture, over the hill in the woods, by that gate that I always try to use to scrape Mom off me, and back through the neighborhood and down the driveway (AGAIN) and back to the barn.  Sheesh...

When Mom FINALLY got off and took me to the barn, I fell asleep in the cross ties almost immediately after she got my bridle off.  I was exhausted!  Can you believe it?  Can you believe what horrible things I have to go through?  Shouldn't someone call someone and get someone out here to save me?  Someone?  Anyone?  At least Mom kissed me several times and told me I was such a pretty and good girl.  She seemed happy with the torture session.

At least I've had the past couple of days off to rest my sore muscles...crazy lady. 

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

The most respectful thing we can do...

I don't know Andrea, and I've never met Gogo, but I have kept up with their adventures and lives through Andrea's blog.  Andrea has made the decision to do the most respectful thing she can for Gogo.  In the animal world, we call it "sending her over the Bridge," meaning the Rainbow Bridge (which is an image from Norse mythology). 

Andrea, I don't know if you'll ever read this - a blog from a stranger you've never even heard from (apart from a couple of comments I put on your blog).  Please know that there are many others who have shed tears for Gogo.  She leaves this world with so much love and care - from you, from your friends, from those who have anonymously followed her travails online. 

On the other side of the bridge, she'll meet a handsome, tall, bright red gelding named Flash.  Even though he's been on the other side for four years, he still looms large in my dreams.  His arthritic, crooked right knee is straight again, and you should see how the wind whips his mane as he gallops like he did when he was younger.  Gogo's suspensory will be whole - the light in her eyes will return - and she will gallop with those beautiful bare feet with Flash and all the other loved horses that await her. 

I know it doesn't seem like it, but the pain gets a little easier to bear.  Sometimes I wonder...if it doesn't still hurt, am I still remember Flash like I should?  I know that I am.  Just because the tears stop doesn't mean I don't remember and love him. 

My prayers are with you and your beautiful mare...godspeed, Gogo.