Yesterday I took Colletta for a ride. I have been riding my horses regrettably little lately, but I have plans to keep my Tuesdays and Thursdays open over the summer (they're currently filled with school, but come final exams they'll be totally open) so I can concentrate on working with them. Yesterday was maybe the fourth or fifth time that I've had Colletta out all year...but it was a first in the fact that at one point she fell.
See, Colletta can be very pushy and 'wanna go faster'. Generally I don't want her to change gaits unless I tell her to, so when she does start going faster I'll pull her around in a circle until she slows down.
Yesterday while performing one of these 'slow-down circles' in town, Colletta slipped and fell. I think she must have caught herself for an instant part-way, because when she actually hit the ground I had gotten my foot out of the way of her body and landed standing up. It took me approximately .003 seconds to bail, after which Colletta jumped back up. I think the only injuries to either of us was my leg where I had hit the saddle horn jumping off (it's not even bruised, but at the time I had a scrape)...and I will say that Colletta stopped acting quite so stupid after this incident. At least, she started slowing down immediately when we turned in a circle and taking very tiny, careful steps in said circle. XD
(On a side note, I was wearing a helmet and had a cell phone, so if I had gotten hurt I could have called for help...in the case of unconsciousness being on a public road pretty much guarantees that someone will come alone at some point. XD)
I'm hoping that over the summer I can get both Colletta and Violet in some sort of trained shape...the former is her usual pushy self, and the latter is scared of everything (Tuesday it was trash cans *headdesk*). Long rides and wet saddle blankets are in order for both, methinks...
The herb garden was the domain of spearmint, weeds, and oregano yesterday...but no more. I pulled up some the fast-spreading mint and associated roots, saved some leaves for drying and pitched the rest, did the same with the oregano, and set about pulling up weeds. By the end of an hour or so my hands were caked with dirt, I had dumped three buckets of weeds, and I could actually see the ground in the herb garden. ^.^ I ought to get picture of the spearmint roots, by the by...they're frightening to behold. ("FEED ME! Feed me, Seymour!!")
I haven't drawn or painted anything for ages...makes me feel like a broken record when I say that. XD I also haven't been reading much except for World magazine (which I love, by the way) and Horse and Rider...I need to start ordering books through the library exchange system, 'cause I'm getting bored with the books at home. >.<
A tentative idea for a photo shoot has been percolating in my brain, so expect to see some pictures soon...until then, adieu.
Your flurried hostess,
The Fox