During the winter months Kate goes to a nearby farm where there is an indoor arena so I can continue working her when we can’t ride outside anymore. In an attempt to force spring to come, I brought her home yesterday. I rode her for a bit in my ring then took her for a stroll down our road. This was a big deal as she had been restricted to the barn, her small paddock, or the indoor arena since early December.
Horses love being outside. They love gazing off into the distance and keeping track of everything that goes on around them. As I rode Kate down the road she was keenly aware of every flitting bird and slumbering pile of snow (these are particularly dangerous,because you never know which way they are going to leap). I saw a group of deer grazing in the distance and kind of hoped Kate wouldn’t notice, but as they saw us, they bounced off into the woods with so much animation; with their white tails flashing. Of course Kate couldn’t help but notice! She froze in her tracks, raised her head (I call this pose “periscope up”) and I could feel her heart racing beneath me. As they disappeared into the woods Kate’s head gradually came back down and her pulse did too and we continued on our way. Isn’t nature exciting?