Weekend recap...or I lost my horse...

Man...what a weekend!

We took A on her first trail ride. I let her ride my great, wonderful, perfect horse...Shorty. He was the king to me before Saturday but now EVERYONE knows he's the man! Now you have to realize every trail ride is different. I've never been on one that was the same as the one before. Some trail rides are road rides, some are parade routes, some are easy woods trails, some have lots of water...you never really know what it's going to be like until you're on the trail. My A is such a trouper! This was the roughest terrain that I have ever ridden and a LONG ride. We rode from about 9:30 am until about 5:30 pm...really hard riding. I was so worried about A but she didn't flinch. We rode through a lake that was thigh high on me. A crossed like a pro. Then we rode along a creek covered by trees. You talk about heaven. Oh, that was the most wonderful part! So beautiful. It was easy to forget that we were so close to home. But then...all of a sudden...you realize that you are in this really deep ravine...because up ahead is a 10 or 12 foot cliff (straight up...not a slant...not a path) that you have to jump...climb...whatever...you have to get out of the ravine. I'm in front of A and M's behind her. As we're approaching, I'm hollering..."Keep your feet in your stirrups." "Hang on to the saddle horn." "Give Shorty the reins!" Then I'm over the cliff...looking back praying my baby makes it up. If she doesn't she's got 10 or 12 feet to fall with a 1200 pound horse on top of her...and 50 horses and riders behind her. Can I tell you I've got a natural born cowgirl on my hands??? I'm so proud of that girl! She made it up that cliff like an experienced rider. Amazing! But the crazy part is that my heart is still pounding...two days later. Saturday night, I couldn't shut my eyes...I was so freaked out. Just the thought of what could have happened just made me sick. M keeps telling me that I have to let it go and thank God that everything turned out okay. We didn't know what was coming. We didn't put her on a horse that she couldn't handle. Things happen but we can't stop doing what we enjoy just because there may be a little danger involved. Fifty horses and riders had gone before us...and fifty followed us...without incident. Okay...maybe writing about it will calm me down. Well, anyway...A told me last night that she wanted to start riding in the rodeo. We start practicing this week and she'll start riding, hopefully, the weekend after Easter. I'm so proud of my baby. As for me, I think I'm going to get me a new Bob Marshall saddle (I sat in my friend's Saturday...and MAN!) and keep on working with Pride...because I've been informed that Shorty now has a new owner and her name starts with an A.

Yesterday, I planted 24 blue hydrangeas, six blackberry bushes, and three raspberry bushes.

Today, I can hardly move a muscle in my body. One day, I hope that I'll be able to ride all day and walk the next.