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Stable Talk

It is for people like us,

who share a passion for horses.

 

Mother's Day for Horsewomen

Springtime in Nebraska is so unpredictable.  The first nice day is usually Easter Sunday and with a non-horsy extended family, there is no way horses can be introduced in that religious holiday – no matter how close to God I feel when I ride!  There are first communions and confirmations… all which would be hard stretched to include horses.  When we first bought our horses, I’d find myself itching to escape from these family get-togethers and ride.   Felt deprived of good weather that we longed for all winter and stuck in the house with ham and mashed potatoes, loud kids and Easter eggs!

Eight years ago, a few friends and I took the Friday BEFORE Mother’s Day off from work and went and rode.  We felt it would be “our” day and then we wouldn’t be so depressed come Sunday when we had to spend it with in-laws and out-laws and wild children!  The next year we invited a few more friends and the next year a few more and so it grew.  This past Friday, one hundred and twenty two riders – a majority of them women and mothers -- met at the Oak Creek Trail for the 8th Annual Friday Before Mother’s Day Ride. 

Preparing for the ride begins with requesting a permit from the trail managers.  Now you would think when they issued the permit, they would have thought that perhaps the bathroom at the trail head should be unlocked for this special occasion.  Imagine our surprise when the first of 122 women start to arrive after 2.5 hours on the trail and find the bathroom locked!  So the bar in Loma once again put their plumbing to the test.  We owe them BIG TIME! 

 It used to always be a chore to get the horse water to Loma the night before.  I always called it John/Tammy fight night.  I was at his mercy to haul it – and his enthusiasm wasn’t quite as evident as mine and something always went wrong.  But despite no facilities for the people, the horse water went off without a hitch this year! 

I only heard of one unplanned dismount during the ride.    In the past, we’ve had broken ribs and a broken ankle.  Either our riders are getting more experienced or are riding better horses.  Food was catered at noon and following the ride.  Who could ask for a better Mother’s Day?  The sun came out, the plum blossoms still had some blooms and I think God smiled on us that day.

So I couldn’t just leave it at that, could I?  Following the ride, I joined 9 other women for a mock Competitive Trail Ride at Two Rivers.  Seasoned competitive trail riders volunteered to mentor us through an actual ride.  I pulled into the campground shortly after the Mother’s Day Ride & set up camp.  Bright and early the next morning, following Starbucks coffee brought to camp by a friend, we saddled up for our CTR.  And the clouds rolled in.  And the rain started.  The organizers said they would call it off if there was lightning.  There wasn’t.  It just rained and rained and rained. 

Only horse people find them more involved in the game than worrying about how wet they are getting.  We did our obstacles, we trotted, we went through P & R’s, and we rode some more.  Before we knew it, we were back at camp.  And we were wet.  And cold.  You know how you get those chills right after childbirth?  That’s the kind of chills I got as I dismounted and started to put my tack up.  I had the chills through our potluck dinner & as I tore down camp.  I brought 4 coats along and had one dry one left to ride home in.  The heater felt great on this crisp spring day.   I walked in the house, hair still wet.  My husband is pretty sure I am crazy.  He’s probably right.  But the next day as I am sitting with in-laws and out-laws, watching my wild children play football in the yard and the sun is shining, I am grateful I already had MY Mother’s Day!

Thank you for attending the 8th Annual Friday Before Mother's Day Ride.  See snapshots shared with me of the Friday Before Mother’s Day Ride 2008.  Photos taken by Asche Photography will be available soon.  Please check back.

If you have missed an installment of Stable Talk, visit the archives for past entries.....

Many people have sighed for the 'good old days' and regretted the
'passing of the horse,' but today, when only those who like horses own
them, it is a far better time for horses.
 

C.W.Anderson

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