Darkness falls

Sep 022009
 

Gratitude creates it’s own attitude. It can give you a new perspective, a new focus. I am going to use this day as my opportunity to see those things.

It is getting dark earlier now. I didn’t get to the barn until seven tonight. I tacked Paisano up quickly and headed out by 7:15. We rode out about 2 miles at a trot, then turned back. It was dark and gloomy under the trees and a mite spooky, so we trotted and cantered that bit.


When we got down to the road (we have to ride 7/10ths of a mile from the trailhead to the barn), dusk was falling even in the open. The nearly full moon rose above Mt. Pisgah. I had a vignette between two hills that could not have been more perfect a view.

There was little traffic, most drivers were very considerate. Note to myself … I need to remember to bring my safety vest for all future rides. I have to give credit to Paisano for his level headedness. We were passed on the bridge by a car with headlights and he still trotted calmed over. The one vehicle that passed us faster than I liked was, of all things, a truck and horse trailer.

I went down the road a bit and came back to the barn through the farm fields. This gave Paisano a few minutes of rest and a good bit of thistle eating, his favorite. And it gave me the opportunity soak in the broad vista of cumulus clouds lit by the moon and enjoy the perfect temperature of the air.

I can’t think of a better way to end a long day at work… and that I am thankful for. Rides under the moonlight are a wonderful thing, when you have a perfect pony to share them with.

On the level of training for our LD ride, we did about 3.5 miles with about half or a bit less at a trot in just under an hour. Most of the trotting was uphill too. Yes, he was at his jog trot. I hope to get in some rides with other horses to encourage him to move out more. If you are in Eugene and want to meet at Pisgah on weekend, please email me.

Take a few minutes today to create your own Thankful Thursday.

How:

  • Sit back and consider what you have to be thankful for. Listing three to five things is nice, but one will do.
  • Post about gratitude on your blog. If you don’t have your own blog, go ahead and write about what you are thankful for in the comments here instead.
  • If you blog, please link back here or leave a comment.
  • Feel free to tag other bloggers, if you like to do that, but it’s not necessary. This is not a meme that obligates you to do anything, but look for gratitude. Oh, and link back, and comment, that’s all I ask.
    • Visit these other blogs that often participate in Thankful Thursday:

  • Tired Dog Ranch
  • Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch
  • Earth Dancer Spanish Mustangs