All of the horse-related plans I’ve made in the last two weeks have been postponed in some way. I’m not sure what to think about this but am becoming convinced that the Universe is trying to tell me something. And I’m not getting the message.
My 1/2 lease of Goldie, the very nice Thoroughbred mare, started last Monday. I wasn’t able to ride her until Thursday because the rains had mucked up arena footing so it wasn’t safe to ride and it would ruin the arena for future riding. Everyone was locked out. Then when I did ride her on Thursday, about 15 minutes into the ride I noticed she was lame. So I had to put her back in her stall. As of yesterday I was not able to ride her in my lesson. Instead I rode a one-eyed Thoroughbred named Jammers. He’s a very nice horse but couldn’t jump because he’s recoving from a hock (back leg) injury. I didn’t mind not jumping since I haven’t ridden in a couple weeks — I wouldn’t mind getting my riding legs back. Goldie has to see the vet, which kind of worries me because it makes me think that her injury might be more long term than I’d be willing to lease her for. The same might be true for the person who has the other half of the lease. Neither of us can use her when she’s in this condition.
I had also planned to attend the volunteer training at the therapeutic riding center so I could volunteer in earnest in a couple weeks. However, only two potential volunteers had signed up so the training was postponed until March 20.
The third thing was that I had planned to watch a team roping even at a stable to the northwest of us. I rode my bike there despite the terrible head winds (we’re having Santa Ana’s again). No steers were in the arena and only one guy had his horse out and saddled. I stood around for a little while until an Asian man came close enough for me to ask whether there would be roping today. No, the arena is still too wet and it’s a little too windy.
Writing all these down makes me feel as though I’m being a little too impatient. After all, what’s the big deal? If Goldie has a real problem, I terminate the lease and hopefully ride some other lesson horse. RideOn, the therapeutic riding place, isn’t going anywhere so I will be able to volunteer eventually. The ropers will probably be back in business by Wednesday or even by next Saturday. That everything happened one after another seems suspicious to me, like I’m missing some billboard in the sky that I should be paying attention to. Well, if I can’t read the signs then I guess I just have to wait and see if the next message is clearer.