It is almost Christmas.
All I want for Christmas is for Jaliska to go to Florida to train and compete for the winter. It would be a dream come true. As a matter of fact my training with Jaliska in Florida was one of the items I put on my Star Chart, a listing of things I want to achieve within five years (i.e. goals one would consider when shooting for the stars).
I created my Star Chart when I was in Germany after reading the book “Steering by Starlight,” by Martha Beck. Katrina my riding buddy loaned it to me to read during my two week training holiday there last summer.
Martha wrote that one should “not to be surprised if the things on their list actually happen within six months.” I do the math in my head. Let’s see. I was in Germany in late August so this would be within six months, four to be precise.
So I have a conversation with Jaliska while tacking her up for our ride. “J," I say, "it’s up to you.” “If you want to go to Florida to compete with the other Grand Prix horses then you should KICK ASS during your trial ride with DJ next week.” “If not, well then, you should still do decent so as to not embarrass yourself.”
I am a big believer in “if it’s meant to be, it will be” and “if not, then something better is in store.” We just might not know what the "better" is, yet. So I will leave it up to the universe to decide.
I bring J to the outdoor. The footing is very sloppy due to the heavy rain last night but since I am only doing a light ride “per vet orders” it will be fine.
I like to ride her outside as much as possible, especially now with winter upon us and along with it the fast approaching frigid, single digit temperatures. Once the ground is frozen, we will have no choice but to ride inside.
It is a crisp 30 degrees. It is dusk. I smell smoke from a distant fire. I love that smell. I find it comforting that somewhere, someone is being warmed by a real fire, the exception not the rule today.
There is nothing better than a roaring fire in the fireplace during the winter. I recall reading books to my kids on a blanket in front of the fireplace when they were little, around 4 and 6. One of our absolute favorites was “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane,” by Kate DiCamillo.
It was about this fancy china doll rabbit that was adored his little girl owner. But Edward did not appreciate her or the privileged life that he led. As a matter of fact he thought he was above it all and for some reason deserved better. It was only after a series of significant and tragic misfortunes that he ultimately learned about true love. The moral of the story was to be grateful for what you have, it could always be worse.
In any event, I wasn’t thinking about Edward Tulane while in the outdoor ring this evening. I was just feeling the utter and complete happiness that comes from riding my horse in the chilly night air with a hint of smoke wafting through it from a distant fire.
All I want for Christmas is for Jaliska to go to Florida to train and compete for the winter. It would be a dream come true. As a matter of fact my training with Jaliska in Florida was one of the items I put on my Star Chart, a listing of things I want to achieve within five years (i.e. goals one would consider when shooting for the stars).
I created my Star Chart when I was in Germany after reading the book “Steering by Starlight,” by Martha Beck. Katrina my riding buddy loaned it to me to read during my two week training holiday there last summer.
Martha wrote that one should “not to be surprised if the things on their list actually happen within six months.” I do the math in my head. Let’s see. I was in Germany in late August so this would be within six months, four to be precise.
So I have a conversation with Jaliska while tacking her up for our ride. “J," I say, "it’s up to you.” “If you want to go to Florida to compete with the other Grand Prix horses then you should KICK ASS during your trial ride with DJ next week.” “If not, well then, you should still do decent so as to not embarrass yourself.”
I am a big believer in “if it’s meant to be, it will be” and “if not, then something better is in store.” We just might not know what the "better" is, yet. So I will leave it up to the universe to decide.
I bring J to the outdoor. The footing is very sloppy due to the heavy rain last night but since I am only doing a light ride “per vet orders” it will be fine.
I like to ride her outside as much as possible, especially now with winter upon us and along with it the fast approaching frigid, single digit temperatures. Once the ground is frozen, we will have no choice but to ride inside.
It is a crisp 30 degrees. It is dusk. I smell smoke from a distant fire. I love that smell. I find it comforting that somewhere, someone is being warmed by a real fire, the exception not the rule today.
There is nothing better than a roaring fire in the fireplace during the winter. I recall reading books to my kids on a blanket in front of the fireplace when they were little, around 4 and 6. One of our absolute favorites was “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane,” by Kate DiCamillo.
It was about this fancy china doll rabbit that was adored his little girl owner. But Edward did not appreciate her or the privileged life that he led. As a matter of fact he thought he was above it all and for some reason deserved better. It was only after a series of significant and tragic misfortunes that he ultimately learned about true love. The moral of the story was to be grateful for what you have, it could always be worse.
In any event, I wasn’t thinking about Edward Tulane while in the outdoor ring this evening. I was just feeling the utter and complete happiness that comes from riding my horse in the chilly night air with a hint of smoke wafting through it from a distant fire.
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