Another Fancy Day etc

I’d like to start with last night in the bath tub. I ducked my head under the water and my ears buzzed. Oh! I’m getting too used to my hearing aides. They still work today!

Today, a nice day in the 70’s, I decided to do my dress rehersal Parelli Level 4 Finesse Audition and then take Fancy to my favorite trail riding place, James A Reed park. It’s a big deal to ride by myself, outdoors. Maybe other people would be trail riding too and I could sneak into their group or follow them. Note: Not another trailer nor horse appeared in the park while I was there.

This was to be my new trailer First Day!

I arrived at arena and got Fancy ready to go. I remembered my phone. I remembered to set it to film from the front instead of filming the wall. Oh, my brain is buzzing today. I decide Fancy will wear her new fancy bridle with the two separate reins and the cheap $45 bit. I have my romel reins on Fancy’s normal bridle, but the Finesse audition is for using two hands on the reins, not one-handed Romel reins.

Romel Reins – This is a western closed rein about half the length of the entire pice of equipment, joined at the withers, where the rider holds the reins. Close to where the rider hold the reins is the romel (quirt) heavier and larger in diameter than the reins. Romel reins were introduced in the 1700’s by Spanish vaqueros from Mexico handling cows on vast expanses of unfenced land where California, Oregon, Nevada and Arizona are now . Their lives depended on hardy, well trained horses requiring only a slight movement of the hand for direction. Yes, Fancy has progressed to a well trained horse!  But, I digress.

I saddled up, warmed up Fancy and got on. I took my phone to the end of the arena and set it on wall. I was ready for my dress rehearsal. I turned on the video to film from the front. I have to lean over to the ledge where the phone sets. This might explain what happened later….

It turns out, Fancy doesn’t care about her beautiful bridle. She cares that the bit is different and I also believe the bridle is too tight. It’s difficult to adjust this bridle, as the leather is new and stiff, so I didn’t. Fancy and I had a few arguments during the dress rehearsal. Her happy look was missing much of our ride. We are judged on that also. The great news is that we did get our flying lead changes. Our trouble was arguing about cantering. When we jelled together, it was was awesome. We did all the mandatory maneuvers. We rested and did them again. It was the end of arena riding!

I took off the bridle and loosened the saddle. I left her alone in the arena for 3 seconds and she ate my white cowboy hat. It barely survived! She also tried to eat my boots . (I had changed into my boots with spurs I keep at the stable. I yelled at her and stopped her mouth. I put her beloved romel rein bridle into the truck. Fancy loaded without trouble. I wrestled with the heavy door in the wind. Getting used to the trailer takes at least one – two trips.

Off we went. I’ve not been to the park in over a year! It hasn’t changed. I parked and unloaded Fancy. It was windy. I’m old. I’m alone. I know Fancy is perfect, but she was alert at the new place. Hmmm, we might just eat grass.

A car pulled up and parked near Fancy and I. A mom and a three year old little girl got out. Little girl was entranced by the horse. I told her she could pet her if she came straight to her head. Little girl was afraid of the huge horse. Fancy’s head was almost as long as the little girl was tall! Mom and I finally got little girl’s hand to touch Fancy’s forelock as she was eating. Oh we are delighted. Little girl picked dandelions and was going to feed them to Fancy. Mom and I interfered with that. We had another petting episode touch. Little girls said, “Can I ride her?” Mom and I say “No, she isn’t a horse for you to ride.” Little girl yelled, “I wanna ride!” Mom and I offer more excuses. Suddenly Mom sweeps up little girl and I look at her face. Little girl face is scrunched up. Little girl starts crying! Good Lordy, I made a little girl cry! Mom explains that pandemic is making little girl more emotional. I can certainly see the effect! Mom and little girl walks away and little girl sez, “But there is a seat up there for me.” Mom tells me little girl is too smart for her age as she walks away. Good Lordy again. I’ll never forget this.

Fancy and I walk along the grassy parking area. She is concentrating on eating and not worried about trees moving and strange surroundings. Another car drives by, pauses to look at us and drives to where we are. Grandpa leans out of window and sez , “There’s a little girl in here who has never petted a horse.” I command Grandpa to let the girl out so she can pet the horse! This little girl is around ten years old and quiet. We manage to pet Fancy’s head. Grandma and I chat about Fancy’s color as she marvel over Fancy’s eyes. Petting happens again and Grandma is trying to get a picture. Hold Fancy’s head up and we are perfect for a picture of little girl petting a horse. We take 3-4 shots. I told grandpa that I was thinking about not riding because it was too windy. Grandpa sez, “You don’t have to worry about the wind. It won’t make you fall off.”

I think he might be serious and imagine a clean curse at him while smiling at his “joke”. Hopefully, it was a joke. I heard Grandma say, “Your parents will be amazed at your pictures with a horse! I yell, “Tell the parents she went on a trail ride with this horse!” Grandma replied, “No!”

Fancy and I return to trailer. I get the good bridle out, and put it on. I decided to take off my white cowboy hat as it might blow off in the wind!

I will use the trailer fender to mount. I climb up on the fender, and Fancy remembers her role! She learned this two years ago at the Ava,Mo horse show! She presents her side to me on the fender. I swing my leg over and am safely in “the seat”! What a horse!

We ride in the parking lot. We do a flat foot walk one length and a trot another length. We peek at a trail. I decide not to take that trail. I’m thinking about the trail across the road, but there is a barn with scary equipment around a corner. I decide not to take that trail. We go beside the old loading dock and it is scary to Fancy. We pass the loading dock and go on a trail. I decide to veer into the field away from the trees where scary things might lurk. Fancy and I go half the length of the field, veer further in and make a return trip to the parking lot. Again, Fancy is nervous of the loading dock. I use the loading dock to mount and dismount, but not today. We return to trailer. I dismount, attach Fancy’s halter to the rope attached to the trailer, and take off her bridle. I go to tack room door. Open it and swing out the saddle rack. Oh lordy, this is heaven. I take saddle off and while loading it into trailer, Fancy shakes off the saddle pad. She didn’t step on it and I picked it up immediately. whew!

I decide to let Fancy graze and get even more used to the park. I do not have my folding chair. I try to sit on fender, but it only holds one cheek. Oh, the escape door … I open the escape door up and sit in the trailer, holding Fancy’s rope while she grazes. What a perfect trailer. She did poop, but it was several feet away from where I was sitting.

I have time to check my Finesse dress rehearsal. What! One second recording, screen shots, not video! Nooooo! Nooooo! Why can’t I get my dress rehearsal film! Is this what happens when aging. Does this happen to young people?

What a great day! I loaded Fancy. Checked that all trailer doors were shut and drove home! Titan Trailer’s first day was a complete success. I will be returning to the park and riding further away from trailer!

Fancy unloaded and let out into pasture. She galloped off to find the other mares.

Emma told me she wanted to mow. All righty. I drove mower to the barn and promptly ran over the hose…the new one I used to clean the trailer! I killed the shower head and sliced off about two feet of hose. Thankfully, the mower sliced the hose, crushed the shower head, but kept on mowing. Emma was grateful!

What a great day! It doesn’t get any better than this! (Do young people run over water hoses?)