IMPROMPTU JOY









It's been awhile since I posted. My apologies. 

NaNoWriMo kept me busy in November writing Thor, the Mighty Friesian for Reality's Chance Rescue and Sanctuary. F*CK It, I'm 50! is in final revisions/editing stage, with an early 2022 publication date. Drafting, very early stages, of my memoir about my son have been in full swing, and another new project is in the works as well.

I've been busy! 

Life is stressful, but tonight I was gifted with a bright surprise. This evening I went outside for night feeds.  My old donkey was green faced and happy, while little Red (not so little, like a barrel with legs my sweet boy!) pouted because he always wants more.

Cinder finished her feed and I opened the back door of the hog barn which opens onto the middle pasture. I pulled a hay bale down from the top of the stack, swung around, and there was Cinder, half inside the doorway, dubbed the hobbit door due to its size. There stood my mare, chestnut head and shoulders leaning toward me, watching my every move. 

She backed when I asked so I could walk outside and throw the bale into the standing feeder. Whenever I put in a whole bale, I cut the twine and pull them away. Tonight, Cinder snorted and backed away from the zippy sound and movement. Rather than leave her with the fearful reaction, I used the blue twine to rub her down and then I had an idea.

Dusk is such a lovely time of day, especially when there's snow covering the manure and mud. It was perfect for an impromptu Liberty session. Swinging the twine to get her attention, I drew Cinder to me, and she responded immediately, walking right to me. Keeping her focus, I turned so I could walk forward but kept slightly turned her way. Cinder came right along, and as I sped up a bit she did, too. 

Once I was sure she was with me, I turned and stopped. Cinder's eyes were on me, and I raised my hands in front of me and asked, "Whoa." She stopped instantly, licking and chewing, and I was ecstatic! Pushing my luck, I repeated the whole process, this time moving up the hill and around the manure pile at a trot. Along came my little red mare, chasing right behind, shaking her mane as we moved together. Again, she stopped as soon as I asked, and again, licking and chewing.

None of this was planned. I didn't have my training tools. I didn't have a halter or lead. I was wearing Robbie's clunky old winter boots. It was getting dark. None of it mattered! 

My sweet Mustang was with me, gifted me with her focus, with her understanding. Pretty sure I'm going to be riding high (pun intended) off of this beautiful night until...until the next time! 

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