Overcast Morning on Chestnut Hill

The outside air was cool and damp. I decided to take my camera and bike over to visit Miss Daisy.

Crystal drops of rain covered the small, lush field. I leaned my bike against the white fences and climbed in through the rails. I used to be able to fit my body between the fences just fine, but it's gotten to be a bit more difficult over the past three years.

Daisy and her big brother, Riley, were dozing inside their run-in stall when I arrived. I crossed the pasture and greeted my friends. Riley, as usual, nudged Daisy out of his way so he could stick his black muzzle in my face. I shoved him away and went to hop on Daisy's bare back. Yes, inside the run-in stall squished next to big ol' Riley. Probably not the safest way to sit on a horse's back, but hey, I've been doing it for a long while; nothing bad has happened. Yet.

I must be allergic to horses. Sitting there in the stuffy run-in, my nose started to itch and I sneezed several times. This has been going on for a year or two now...it's strange because I never used to have this problem. And, oh yeah, I forgot my travel pack of tissues. Oh well. I would sacrifice quite a lot just to be around horses.

I slid off of Daisy's back and went to retrieve her bridle from the tack shed. I looped the reins over Daisy's neck and offered her the bit. She took it, a little begrudgingly, and I secured the throat latch and nose band. Rounding her head (yep, still in the run-in with unpredictable Riley), I held the reins in one hand, and tested her bare back with the other. Daisy shifted a tad under my hand's pressure behind her withers; she knew what was coming. I ordered her to be steady, tightened my grip on the reins, and scrambled up her back. Yeah, literally, I scrambled, because at that moment, Daisy decided to walk farther into the run-in. 

Safely on her back, I gripped with my thighs and rode Daisy out into the open. Surprisingly, the flies weren't horrible. It had been a while since I'd last rode, so Daisy was a bit testy. But she surrendered after the first walk around the field. 

All in all, a very successful time with my favorite pony in the world. 

I dismounted her in the middle of the field and started walking back toward the run-in. Daisy followed right behind, even though I wasn't leading her. (I taught her to follow me sometime last year; I'm relieved and proud to know she hasn't stopped) I jogged around the field for a few seconds and Daisy trotted at my heels. The flies started to gather and I felt bad for Daisy, so I slipped off her bridle and stood back. Daisy stayed. I walked toward the fence and she came. Laughing, I ran a little ways and she trotted swiftly after me. I halted a hundred feet from the run-in and gave Daisy's neck a gentle push. She trotted away, then broke in a short gallop, skidding to a quick stop beneath the stall roof.

Did I mention she lost a ton of weight over the winter? She must feel so light and springy! Haha for a short-legged pony.
I replaced the bridle back in the shed, thanked Daisy for behaving, and biked on home.

Horse Butts

Riley (devil horse ;)

Miss Daisy