Snowbound

The last couple weeks have been frustrating, to say the least.  I was away on a business trip, and upon my return I was absolutely decked by a one-two bronchitis-sinusitis punch.  So, it’s been better than a week and a half since I crawled aboard a horse.  And now, a blizzard, complete with high winds and white-out conditions.  I’m not going anywhere for a few days.   My next opportunity to ride will be Saturday.

I did go out to the barn last night to see Mads, who I was really starting to miss. I groomed her thoroughly, and wow, she’s really starting to shed.  It must have felt good, because she’s normally pretty squirmy when I groom her, but she stood quietly through several curryings, and then four separate brushings, from hard to dandy to soft to goat hair.  She loves the goat hair face brush, and liked being groomed all over with it – a lot.

We hung out quietly, me scratching her ears and poll, her pushing her head against my chest asking for more.   Treats were administered, more scritches applied to itchy spots.  She got a big bucket of “mare mush” (hot beet pulp and alfalfa cubes) and I tucked her in.   I would have preferred to ride, but I’m still coughing spastically at the least exertion.  So we just hung out, and worked on the friendship.  She was OK with that.