The 1-8 Day

Sometimes I wish I could have lived during the sixties and seventies, when my mom was young. I wish I could have known her and had more time to know my Grandma O and Grandpa Simpson who passed just too soon. I wish I could have been able to get to know them as the people they were past and present. And as I would give anything to have them back here I know it is not possible so I must go on remembering the time I had with them.

Ink doesn’t know exactly what it is to bond and trust one human soley. He knows only about what nature and the track gave him. Everyday I go to the barn, open the doors to hear his whinny and I carry the same secret daily. I touch his face, and he shuffles around in his stall. He doesn’t want to dally and relax. He knows where he’s going and nothing is getting in his way. A male has a stubborn mind. I brush my hand swiftly across his neck, or the most I can get, as he continues to pace around. His ears pin, he’s tired of waiting. I walk in the stall, completely aware that at any time the big guy can turn and have a wack at my body if he desires. But he stands, letting me get the halter on without fuss. He tries to open the door. I do him the favor and open it, and we walk out. A gentlemen otherwise, he minds himself on our short walk to the arena. I walk him in, turn him around and un-clip the lead and hussle through the arena gate as he goes off bucking and kicking. I walk to the side of the arena and rest my head on the fence watching him move about. His trot is floaty, expressive and he moves across the arena with such grace. A large smile sits across my face. He canters with hieght and expression. He is happy and that’s what matters.

Errika goes out and joins Ink in the play. I could sit there all day and watch the two horses that own two very special pieces of my heart.

A few weeks ago Ink got a hoof abscess, and the vet came out. I’ve had him stalled since then. The field Ink and Errika were in is now very muddy. It is the lowest spot in the back, so all the water drains to there. I am not one to stall but right now it is the best option. Both the horses go out daily for turn out in the area with absolutely no mud, and the only area that is suitable for turn out at this time, the arena. If the ground of the path is dry (the large alley is a path that goes in front of the first two fields and the turns to go down to the last one which is where Ink and Errika were) I’ll turn them out there. There is lots of green grass for them to graze on. But now the rain is back and it’s too muddy for that. While they are turned out I prepare their afternoon grain and muck the stalls.

Yesterday (which I still consider today because I’m writing this only a half and hour after 12/11 ended) was my birthday. On Friday my family and Matt took me to the city (San Fran) to spin the night at a hotel very close to Union Square. I was soo surprised, because they didn’t tell me at all what was going on. We arrived at this fancy hotel and I was shocked! It was beautiful! Then after we checked in we walked (in the pouring wind and rain) down towards the square to find a place to eat. We ended up eating at a diner which had great food! The waiter was rather grumpy. Then we went shopping until 10, when everything was closing. Afterwards it was off to Starbucks, then back to the hotel. Later on Matt, Klint and I went down to the gym to work out. That was fun! They had plasma TV’s for each machine. So we watched the PBRA (Professional Bull Riding Association) while we burned some calories. The next day we checked out and went shopping. It was a great day. On our way home we went through the backroads. Drove through the old town where my parents grew up and drove into the ranch where my mom used to keep her horse that was and still is owned by my dad’s aunt. They have a cross country field there too, more eventing family. As we were driving out of the town, we saw George Lucas filiming a movie at an old ranch house down the road from town.

Yesterday I didn’t know what was going to happen.. But Matt came over really early, before school, and brought me my present and a bouqet of 36 colored roses. He bought me a white gold heart necklace with diamonds lining on side. It’s beautiful! Thursday his parents had me open their gift, because I wasn’t going to be able to see them, and they got me white gold heart earings which match the necklace.

My mom told me to be ready by 3pm, so I got ready early and we picked up Klint from school. Then they took me over to see a massuse. Another surprise! I got my very first massage and boy was it great. The lady was so nice. She did tell me I have a misplaced vertabrae in my neck which what may be causing my back pain. She also told me my vertarabe are really close together. Normally you should be able to fit a finger between. So she told me to go immidiately to the chiropractor. My mom is going to make me an appointment sometime this week.