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You might want to step away..
Apr. 22nd, 2011 08:43 pmI'm a terrible grump today. I'm not sure why, but I have been in a totally foul mood all day long. Could be because I haven't slept well in what seems weeks, because of this whateverthehellitis with my neck. Muscle spasms which seem worse when I lie down to sleep at night, making me a sleep deprived emotionally labile grouch. I'm usually a pretty easy going kind of person, but not today.
When that happens, the best thing I can do is go off and be by myself, where I can moan and bitch and cry to the universe, without upsetting passersby. Since today was the day we have to do all the barn work, I left Sue to do the small barn, and worked my way through all 10 stalls in the big barn. The horses didn't seem to mind my mumbles, and I warned Sue that I was best left alone (she had actually noticed...) Eventually, the work was done, and my mood was better. It was such a beautiful day it seemed a real waste to spend it being miserable. So after I fed the horses their dinner, I took Midnight out for a walk, and some inhand training. Because of his lameness issues, I haven't done much with him for ages, and he has become a bit of a pushy bugger. So I put the chain on his lead rope, picked up a small whip and we went walking. A few sharp snaps on his nose with the chain really got his attention, and after about fifteen minutes he was walking much more mannerly, not pushing into my space quite so much. We did a couple of rounds around the barn, stopped for a few bites of grass, a few more rounds, a bite of grass, etc. until we had done about 20 minutes of walking. He did have a bit of a hissy fit when I wanted him to walk on; I tapped him on the shoulder with the whip, and he struck out at me with his front foot, just missing my knee. That got him another whack on the chest and a firm speaking to. It just proves to me that I really have to make the time to work with him on a regular basis. I hope to get him fit enough to hack around with my western saddle on, and do some trail work this summer.
Ah, Midnight, my problem son. Your momma has been neglecting you, I'm sorry to say. Time to make some changes.
The time with my horse did improve my mood, enough so that I was able to be pleasant and civil again. Jack brought the birthday cake his co-workers gave him yesterday, so I had a nice piece of it before I left to drive home. Chocolate always makes things better.
When that happens, the best thing I can do is go off and be by myself, where I can moan and bitch and cry to the universe, without upsetting passersby. Since today was the day we have to do all the barn work, I left Sue to do the small barn, and worked my way through all 10 stalls in the big barn. The horses didn't seem to mind my mumbles, and I warned Sue that I was best left alone (she had actually noticed...) Eventually, the work was done, and my mood was better. It was such a beautiful day it seemed a real waste to spend it being miserable. So after I fed the horses their dinner, I took Midnight out for a walk, and some inhand training. Because of his lameness issues, I haven't done much with him for ages, and he has become a bit of a pushy bugger. So I put the chain on his lead rope, picked up a small whip and we went walking. A few sharp snaps on his nose with the chain really got his attention, and after about fifteen minutes he was walking much more mannerly, not pushing into my space quite so much. We did a couple of rounds around the barn, stopped for a few bites of grass, a few more rounds, a bite of grass, etc. until we had done about 20 minutes of walking. He did have a bit of a hissy fit when I wanted him to walk on; I tapped him on the shoulder with the whip, and he struck out at me with his front foot, just missing my knee. That got him another whack on the chest and a firm speaking to. It just proves to me that I really have to make the time to work with him on a regular basis. I hope to get him fit enough to hack around with my western saddle on, and do some trail work this summer.
Ah, Midnight, my problem son. Your momma has been neglecting you, I'm sorry to say. Time to make some changes.
The time with my horse did improve my mood, enough so that I was able to be pleasant and civil again. Jack brought the birthday cake his co-workers gave him yesterday, so I had a nice piece of it before I left to drive home. Chocolate always makes things better.
