There Was A Time

When I Was Younger

Once upon a time, when it showered, I rode anyhow.  I rode when it was hot. I rode when it was cold, or when it was wet.

Now I wimp out.  Yesterday is a prime example.  Off and on showers, a bit chilly temperatures, and I simply "thought" about riding. But then thinking of wet tack, wet horse, wet me,  turned me off.

Then again, I used to ride my horse six times a week.  And that included some pretty hard work for at least four of those days.  But, I was evening then and doing jumping.  And I competed.  A really fit horse was essential, as was a really fit rider.  No way to slack off and still remain competitive and.....SAFE.  Ride a dressage test, walk a cross country course--probably twice on that same day--ride the course that day, and then finish up with a round of show jumping, and you need to be in shape.  I hardly ever had a helper with me, either, so I had to do all the horse prep, horse care, packing, unpacking, and shipping on my own.

Could I do it today?  No way.

Would I want to do it?  Well, to be honest, every now and then, especially when I watch something like the WEG I do get a little tug inside. There is nothing quite like riding a good cross country horse over a good course at speed.  It is addicting.

Yes, sometimes I do miss it.

But creaky old bones, a few too many falls, and the wisdom of growing older puts nostalgia in its place.

I'll thrive happily on my memories while I potter down the wooded trail and when I pop over a little log now and then, I'll just pretend it's a 3'6" hurdle conquered at a gallop.

That will do me just fine.