A Horse Trip & A Sunrise

I took a couple of days off from work this week so when a friend asked if I could go with her to check out a horse she is considering buying I was actually able to! It required getting up before the sun was up but it was well worth the drive. I threw off the regulars at 7-11 coming in six hours earlier than I usually do but I got my newspapers and some tea. Met up with my friend and over the bridge we went. I caught the sunrise in the second picture. We were still on the Eastern Shore when I took the picture. Crossing over the bridge I saw twelve ships lined up waiting for the harbor pilots to take them up the bay to Baltimore. We got held up in traffic just twenty minutes from our destination when a tractor trailer was involved in an accident and had tipped over on it’s side. After a three hour drive we finally made it to the farm. It was an adventure for me going from the flatlands of the Eastern Shore to the beginning of the hills and mountains of western Maryland. It was beautiful country over there.

Two dogs greeted us once we made it up a very long bumpy farm driveway. We were both expecting a traditional barn but the horses were being housed in a temporary barn. The horse we were checking out is the top picture with my friend. He was a handsome boy and pretty unflappable. There were goats, sheep and dogs present and making all sorts of noises and running about. There were low flying jumbo jets that unnerved me a bit. Where I live depending on the wind we are sometimes in the landing pattern of BWI, however, the planes are usually still at three to four thousand feet up. Here, where the horse was, the planes were much lower and in the landing pattern of Dulles. The horse never looked up. The woman got on and rode to show us what he could do and then my friend hopped on. She and the horse really seemed to click and make a connection. I think they will be a successful match. He moved quite nicely for her and despite being a tall large boy she did not look lost and tiny on him. Hopefully things work out and she is able to purchase him.

Watching the woman ride and my friend ride made me want to teach again in the worst way. I miss teaching riding. I love the aha moment you can show the horse and rider when they both get the concept you are trying to teach them. One of these days I will get back to it but for now I armchair teach and observe constantly. I read as much as I can on horses and riding and not just what I ride or teach but other disciplines too. I watch videos, dvd’s and anything on tv I can find on riding and teaching. I think I have watched the last Olympic equestrian events about thirty times now. Books and horses bit me hard.

I posted the bottom picture just because I love the blossoms blooming on the trees now even though it is chilly again here.

I hope you have a great day. Keep dreaming and keep learning!

Rumbling Thunder & Attachments

I stepped out of the home where I was caring for some cats to the lovely sky in the first picture. In the distance I could hear thunder rumbling. We have had ten days of high heat and humidity so a few rumbles of thunder marking the arrival of a cold front was not unexpected. I do enjoy listening to a rolling thunder. It reminds me of summers of my youth. I drove home to care for my landlords dogs only to find the one dog hunkered down in the shower as he does when he knows a storm is approaching-he is the best barometer. I know when thunder and lighting is coming long before the weather channel alerts me just based on when Max the dog heads to the shower. Misha the other dog joined me on the screened porch to listen to the thunder.

It has been almost a year now since I was let go of a farm job as I did not want to give up my pet sitting or other part time job nor live on the farm. At first I was quite upset over losing job as I had been there for nine years-working every weekend. I was quite attached to the animals, my paycheck and my routine. However, now that a year has past and I have had my weekends free for the first time in twenty five years I found that I enjoy my weekends-being able to travel, hang out, sleep in or do nothing. After getting over the fear and poor me attitude I originally had I now have found I have many more pet sitting jobs that far exceed the farm income, I have less stress and still care for others horses, chickens, goats and sheep. I do miss the animals at the farm and think of them often.

I have always loved praying mantis and can watch them for hours. They way they move it seems as if they interact with you and have intelligence. Some people are terrified of them but I an fascinated by them.

Have you ever been attached to something or a situation only to realize later it was best to let it go?

I hope you have a wonderful Monday!

Goats, Horses, Cats & Fireflys

Even though my college degree in animal science specializes with horses the vast majority of my pet sitting jobs consist of caring for dogs and cats. Therefore it is always a treat for me to care for farm animals. Today I cared for a small herd of goats, two horses and many cats. The goats make me smile. They are quite the characters filled with personality. The ones I care for are confident and yet polite when it comes to feeding time. In the past I had cared for very large flocks of sheep. They are entirely different-skittish, pushy at feeding time and I found a little harder to care for in the summer. I learned a lot from the sheep though especially around lambing time. Goats are not quite as cute but I love their spunk.
I got my soul satisfying horse fix today caring for the two horses. I fed them and just checked on their well being. I don’t need to ride a horse to feel a connection. I love caring for them and miss doing it full time.
After leaving the goats and horses I headed off to care for some cats. Four cats total-two are friendly and social. They hang out while I prepare their food and want attention. The other two are not quite sure of me even though I have been caring for them for two years. However, one of the shy ones today did sneak a peak and watched me with the two friendly cats for a bit before deciding it was just too scary to hang out.
I find there is something satisfying to me to care for animals and I am content at the end of the day.
Tonight when I got home after dark I stayed outside to watch the fireflies blink all over like a strobe show. It was mesmerizing. A lovely day all around.