It had been a long time since Jill had had that good deed appreciation feeling. You know that lovely vibe when your horse surprises you with some generous feat of talent and grace to save you? Or maybe just to complete your request with more perfection than you even remembered to ask for. Such a gift!! She craved the I hope my pony knows the way home feeling where you are at your wit's end and can just trust your horse to take you home...
She missed it and wished she was riding everyday, but she wasn't. Otherwise her life was pretty good. The soundtrack sure was...
She was not into heels and any guy hoping to see her in some was bound to be disappointed. Now, cowboy boots? THAT was whole other kind of aspiration, a kind Jill could get into. "I love cowboy boots but at the moment I don't own any," she disappointed her pal who wanted to borrow some.
2011-06-29
2011-06-27
Lucky 7
The Rambling Man extra gig was probably a figment of her imagination. She had no idea what to think and just kept working hard on all her many projects.
This is how I live! She posted pictures of her supper on facebook without explaining that she used the romaine lettuce to scoop the salad greens into her mouth in passing between other activities, instead of mixing them together and setting a plate and sitting down to eat. The humous was better than last time but could use even more garlic still next time...
This is how I live! She posted pictures of her supper on facebook without explaining that she used the romaine lettuce to scoop the salad greens into her mouth in passing between other activities, instead of mixing them together and setting a plate and sitting down to eat. The humous was better than last time but could use even more garlic still next time...
2011-06-26
No Laughing Matter
Jill and Stone had just done well at a show on the weekend when Jill got the call. She was still kind of glow-y that her coach was so proud of her and had stated the fact that the student had already increased the horse's worth by at least 10 grand...
In an instant, the praise turned to torture. The owner was calling to quote a number even higher than the weekend news, and to say she'd accepted an offer.
Jill started crying right then and there. In front of customers! She'd answered the phone at work and was so choked up she couldn't speak, had flushed red from head to toe and had actual tears welling up in her eyes, as she continued to make eye contact with clients waiting in line.
Into the pause on the phone line Jill's "friend" finally spoke. "April Fool's Day!"
*
Jill wanted to help with the fundraising for the pony sanctuary. But because it was founded in memory of a former student, one of her favourites of all time, she had been having a hard time talking about it. But with mention of it that morning, finally it felt like she had broken the ice, and she hoped to keep the momentum building. What kind of campaign, benefit or event should she offer to help plan and implement?
*
She had to tell TWO guys in TWO days to stop flirting with her, one for enjoying the single life too much and the other one for not enjoying it enough, ha. Was she impossible? Or, would there be someone that felt right to her along soon? Sometimes choosing to be so alone could get lonely!
Instead of pining away too long, she headed to the farm to spend quality time with some of her girls. "Farah my favourite winnies while I'm in the barn." Jill was telling students at one barn about a school horse favourite mount she had at another. "At first I thought it was because she felt lonely in her stall when her herd was in the paddock, but now I've realized it is a call to me, as I move around in the barn away from her." No doubt to the dismay of all others in the stable, every time she does call all out, Jill would shout sweet nothings back to her from wherever she happened to have got to, no doubt perpetuating the habit!
*
The students' mother told the instructor, after a difficult lesson "their grandparents have offerred to buy them whatever push button pony they want, but I say no. I want them to learn how to ride."
"The challenge is what we get out of it," Jill agreed.
In an instant, the praise turned to torture. The owner was calling to quote a number even higher than the weekend news, and to say she'd accepted an offer.
Jill started crying right then and there. In front of customers! She'd answered the phone at work and was so choked up she couldn't speak, had flushed red from head to toe and had actual tears welling up in her eyes, as she continued to make eye contact with clients waiting in line.
Into the pause on the phone line Jill's "friend" finally spoke. "April Fool's Day!"
*
Jill wanted to help with the fundraising for the pony sanctuary. But because it was founded in memory of a former student, one of her favourites of all time, she had been having a hard time talking about it. But with mention of it that morning, finally it felt like she had broken the ice, and she hoped to keep the momentum building. What kind of campaign, benefit or event should she offer to help plan and implement?
*
She had to tell TWO guys in TWO days to stop flirting with her, one for enjoying the single life too much and the other one for not enjoying it enough, ha. Was she impossible? Or, would there be someone that felt right to her along soon? Sometimes choosing to be so alone could get lonely!
Instead of pining away too long, she headed to the farm to spend quality time with some of her girls. "Farah my favourite winnies while I'm in the barn." Jill was telling students at one barn about a school horse favourite mount she had at another. "At first I thought it was because she felt lonely in her stall when her herd was in the paddock, but now I've realized it is a call to me, as I move around in the barn away from her." No doubt to the dismay of all others in the stable, every time she does call all out, Jill would shout sweet nothings back to her from wherever she happened to have got to, no doubt perpetuating the habit!
*
The students' mother told the instructor, after a difficult lesson "their grandparents have offerred to buy them whatever push button pony they want, but I say no. I want them to learn how to ride."
"The challenge is what we get out of it," Jill agreed.
2011-06-25
Good News!
Jill had always wanted to go to the Edmonton Folk Festival. It was one of the festivals that PAID emcees, and covered their flight and hotel expenses. It seemed like Roomie might be able to help her get the gig.
*
*
All the kids she surveyed about the pony party thought it was a good idea.
The boys in the family lesson were not so into riding. Different levels, sizes and fitness levels meant the class was basically spent on crowd control and handling traffic, but they were excited because it meant one day soon they would all be able to ride together on a trail.
Jill was trying to brainwash all her students into wanting lessons where she went out on horseback with them.
She was really looking forward to the open house!
2011-06-24
Horse Crazy and Lucky in Love
Jill found out much later in her life, that it was actually a client of her father's (whom they had visited at his farm several times), who arranged for her first riding lessons.
Amazing!
She hadn't realized what a benefactor Victor the barber actually was... How had she been unaware? She loved visiting him for the two paliminos and little brown shetland pony on the property. Ignoring all the dogs and birds for the most part, she would play with equines in the paddock for hours, and bring them in the barn to groom and play with them there and put them back out again to chat with some more... she did not interact at the human parties at all. Her infatuation was endless. And, sometimes, if she was really lucky, he would pop her up on someone's back for a minute.
Apparently, it was just ridiculously obvious, when she visited his place how much she loved horses. An enthusiasm he had himself also? So, he contacted a connection he had at a nearby lesson stable and paid for a series of classes.
Generous eh? What a lucky kid!
Of course she loved it so much that her parents would continue to support her in weekly lessons until a couple years later when she would earn them herself!
Windy Haugh was an eventing place and she was 12 when she galloped through the forest to jump the picnic table. Thank you very much Victor!
*
Roomie said she heard the landlord on the cell phone for most of the afternoon. Several callers rang through related to the day job, and the conversations all sounded the same, despite the different parties on the line. His method of passing the blame and shirking the work in a blustery bluff, was obvious even to an outsider, with every single caller. Yikes. No wonder the tenant satisfaction was what it was! Jill wanted to request a rebate compensation for every month they'd been there for the fact the landlord had acted more like a room mate than landlord...
Roomie had a different list, that included the fact that the space heaters requiring 3feet of space for safety in each 10 foot room had impacted their reasonable enjoyment of the rental, although it did help to address the "vital service" of adequate heat; Roomie also made calculations about reasonable enjoyment of her bedroom, given the malfunctioning boiler it was built around, pointing out that the NOISE of ill functioning boiler, made it impossible to enjoy, talk or sleep in the bedroom, not to mention the related unrest and concern about DEATH by malfunctioning boiler which was immeasurable!
They agreed they'd be better off living in the barn!
Jill was tearing down already. She was an expert at living out of her pocket and would make the next move with calm and grace, ha.
Amazing!
She hadn't realized what a benefactor Victor the barber actually was... How had she been unaware? She loved visiting him for the two paliminos and little brown shetland pony on the property. Ignoring all the dogs and birds for the most part, she would play with equines in the paddock for hours, and bring them in the barn to groom and play with them there and put them back out again to chat with some more... she did not interact at the human parties at all. Her infatuation was endless. And, sometimes, if she was really lucky, he would pop her up on someone's back for a minute.
Apparently, it was just ridiculously obvious, when she visited his place how much she loved horses. An enthusiasm he had himself also? So, he contacted a connection he had at a nearby lesson stable and paid for a series of classes.
Generous eh? What a lucky kid!
Of course she loved it so much that her parents would continue to support her in weekly lessons until a couple years later when she would earn them herself!
Windy Haugh was an eventing place and she was 12 when she galloped through the forest to jump the picnic table. Thank you very much Victor!
*
Roomie said she heard the landlord on the cell phone for most of the afternoon. Several callers rang through related to the day job, and the conversations all sounded the same, despite the different parties on the line. His method of passing the blame and shirking the work in a blustery bluff, was obvious even to an outsider, with every single caller. Yikes. No wonder the tenant satisfaction was what it was! Jill wanted to request a rebate compensation for every month they'd been there for the fact the landlord had acted more like a room mate than landlord...
Roomie had a different list, that included the fact that the space heaters requiring 3feet of space for safety in each 10 foot room had impacted their reasonable enjoyment of the rental, although it did help to address the "vital service" of adequate heat; Roomie also made calculations about reasonable enjoyment of her bedroom, given the malfunctioning boiler it was built around, pointing out that the NOISE of ill functioning boiler, made it impossible to enjoy, talk or sleep in the bedroom, not to mention the related unrest and concern about DEATH by malfunctioning boiler which was immeasurable!
They agreed they'd be better off living in the barn!
Jill was tearing down already. She was an expert at living out of her pocket and would make the next move with calm and grace, ha.
2011-06-23
Cross Report
Control radioed to Jill in the 2nd cross country field to see how that little Fjord horse was doing back there. It was taking a long time. Jill radioed that she was clear and on her way back, but it was all she could do not to add "she trotted all the way around the field and over all 4 fences, on the correct diagonal." It WAS soooooooooo cute.
You know how dogs look like their owners? Jill realized who the young, solidly built rider was with her mother's question...
*
Waiting to cross the road, Jill heard all the chickadees chirping like crazy and swooping around in the middle of the street, so her attention was drawn to the rear left wheel of the vehicle at the intersection. It kind of rolled back and then pulled out, in a smooth, continuous motion, flattening one bird previously pinned? Jill cried out, realizing the little birdies had been trying to help their fellow, but it was over just as she observed what happened as well. And her heart flew off with the three other flapping then instead of chirping fellow birds. Did they all feel the same sorrow?
Jill wanted to imagine a handsome cowboy having a delicious dream about her. On facebook Tronas had told someone ELSE he'd expect their call, while travelling in the town where her sister lived. She tried to think that at least it was nice to see a nice part of it in his pictures...
She vowed to let go of the latest obsession and agreed to go out for a beer with the golf pro.
You know how dogs look like their owners? Jill realized who the young, solidly built rider was with her mother's question...
*
Waiting to cross the road, Jill heard all the chickadees chirping like crazy and swooping around in the middle of the street, so her attention was drawn to the rear left wheel of the vehicle at the intersection. It kind of rolled back and then pulled out, in a smooth, continuous motion, flattening one bird previously pinned? Jill cried out, realizing the little birdies had been trying to help their fellow, but it was over just as she observed what happened as well. And her heart flew off with the three other flapping then instead of chirping fellow birds. Did they all feel the same sorrow?
Jill wanted to imagine a handsome cowboy having a delicious dream about her. On facebook Tronas had told someone ELSE he'd expect their call, while travelling in the town where her sister lived. She tried to think that at least it was nice to see a nice part of it in his pictures...
She vowed to let go of the latest obsession and agreed to go out for a beer with the golf pro.
2011-06-20
New and Old
One thing Jill was proud of, was not lunging the little guy to within an inch of his life before getting on, which is how he was handled at his previous training facility. The well paid trainer there was afraid of him, afraid of a lot of things actually... But, for Jill, he had been fine, every time. With any luck, he even appreciated it and enjoyed his work a little more. She loved to warm up with a walk around whatever property he was living on, lol.
*
She couldn't get over the differences in their varieties of BAY. Maybe she had never known them both in summer? The old guy was dark brown, and the little guy was glisteney red, each with dapples. Jill longed for a picture of the two them grazing side by side, because the old man was bigger in every aspect and made a good frame for the smaller horse beside him, while also towering enough to show his ownself. Her retired best-ever-10 yr horse buddy and the new calmer, smaller athlete, owned by the same sponsor. It was lovely to have the herd of two to hang with, Jill felt incredibly lucky.
*
She popped a big black umbrella at them in the paddock and they didn't even care. Open closed, up down, flapping in an imaginary wind, with quite good acting she might add, but she could barely catch their attention.
It was interesting to have both of them involved in her chosen experiments, because you always had the behaviour of one to compare to the other. She knew them both so well. The little guy was so comfortable with the guitar this visit, that he actually tried to nibble the nylon strings on fret board. Gentle trouble. The old man, was curious and calm during quiet ballads, but would spook and dart away if you sang or played too close to him, with a rock 'n roll number. ha!
*
Roomie said Chiraz starred in Carmen and War and Peace, the horse roles in the operas. She had decided to act on the ad and "discover the unique experience of riding on the bridle paths of skyscraper-rimmed Central Park." To earn her lessons, she'd volunteered with the therapeutic riding association.
"I remember acting as a sidewalker for my very first time. I made a mistake or two in being too teacherly AND in saying to the blind rider "look up" instead of "lift your chin." language. Later the lack of understanding of word choice worked in my favourite because she relaxed and fixated on the fact that Sunday "looked like" she was in a good mood now."
She said she got the horse to "walk on" so that 35 medical professionals and 50 volunteers didn't have to stand around watching a lazy school horse refuse to walk. They all just about hit the dirt and freaked out because she hadn't signed a waiver yet, as she gave the horse a little nudge on the side and tug on the bridle to solve the h u g e problem...
*
She couldn't get over the differences in their varieties of BAY. Maybe she had never known them both in summer? The old guy was dark brown, and the little guy was glisteney red, each with dapples. Jill longed for a picture of the two them grazing side by side, because the old man was bigger in every aspect and made a good frame for the smaller horse beside him, while also towering enough to show his ownself. Her retired best-ever-10 yr horse buddy and the new calmer, smaller athlete, owned by the same sponsor. It was lovely to have the herd of two to hang with, Jill felt incredibly lucky.
*
She popped a big black umbrella at them in the paddock and they didn't even care. Open closed, up down, flapping in an imaginary wind, with quite good acting she might add, but she could barely catch their attention.
It was interesting to have both of them involved in her chosen experiments, because you always had the behaviour of one to compare to the other. She knew them both so well. The little guy was so comfortable with the guitar this visit, that he actually tried to nibble the nylon strings on fret board. Gentle trouble. The old man, was curious and calm during quiet ballads, but would spook and dart away if you sang or played too close to him, with a rock 'n roll number. ha!
*
Roomie said Chiraz starred in Carmen and War and Peace, the horse roles in the operas. She had decided to act on the ad and "discover the unique experience of riding on the bridle paths of skyscraper-rimmed Central Park." To earn her lessons, she'd volunteered with the therapeutic riding association.
"I remember acting as a sidewalker for my very first time. I made a mistake or two in being too teacherly AND in saying to the blind rider "look up" instead of "lift your chin." language. Later the lack of understanding of word choice worked in my favourite because she relaxed and fixated on the fact that Sunday "looked like" she was in a good mood now."
She said she got the horse to "walk on" so that 35 medical professionals and 50 volunteers didn't have to stand around watching a lazy school horse refuse to walk. They all just about hit the dirt and freaked out because she hadn't signed a waiver yet, as she gave the horse a little nudge on the side and tug on the bridle to solve the h u g e problem...
2011-06-19
Farewells (And Other Greetings)
It was great to have hours filling in as an instructor. Jill had said goodbye at the vet job, just a few days after helping to lift a frozen dead dog, that would't fit easily, into a vehicle. They'd lifted him from a yellow stain in the snow behind the clinic, and it haunted her because she had thought over and over the afternoon before she'd heard whining but she couldn't find the source. She'd done nothing for him as he died. She used to joke that only animal HATERS should be vets, because of all the hard things one had to do and the heartache to bear... But after so many months in the role she didn't feel like joking about it anymore, she felt like moving into a new line of work.
Before leaving the farm, Jill helped with the stalls and had laughed with the coworkers announcement "its amazing what a superskid one can take on the ice without hurting anything because the muscles underneath all the layers and layers of clothes are so warmed up by hard work." Her mind wandered to how the guy she still hoped would become a new boss had teased her on the first warm day of the season. "Don't you know how to dress?" She was wearing too many layers to impress the other guests/possible dates, she guessed, but only as he said it. She realized how long she'd looked the same no matter where she went: jeans, boots, tank and top. Makeupless, untrimmed and possibly even unwashed? Ug.
They had talked about the beatings, lash and spur marks, girth rubs, broken teeth, empty water buckets, dusty hay, mouldy grain, repeated injuries to eyes from stalls in need of repair, horses caught in nylon halters on protruding parts of a stall door, cast against concrete, running loose on the property towards the road, caught in electric fencing, sweaty, unclipped overheating indoors after arriving from another outdoor facility, standing in swampy yuck and mud, soon to be euthanized standing near dead with a broken pelvis because of ineffective recognition of herd activity in the turn out routines, poor paddock planning, knees buckling because of a heavy, overconfident rider, plain neglect, somsersaulting in the air having struck a shoulder on an immobile obstacle, rearing over backwards in disagreement with a trainer, improperly shod, untrimmed and unwashed, downright lame, overly or illegally medicated, sour, otherwise unsafe horses... available for sale, lessons, part board or trail ride... Not to mention false advertising, fudged scores/entries and exercise logs and training bills, and on and on and on. Jill felt she had seen it all. And she said that when she showed up at a place she LOVED to stay at? It was an amazing place, through and through. Especially his...
Arriving home, Jill was announcing to Roomie that she thought she may have actually just found another rare perfect place! Nevermind a clothing sponsorship, she needed some kind of employer provided transportation! She set the flowers she'd brought home from the farm on the table. Roomie laugheded to mention that she'd once told her then-husband "NEVER BUY ME FLOWERS. They are an evironmental and financial waste. I prefer BOOKS." Laughing, she admitted that this rant was from before she'd learned about the varieties of flowers one can eat... And back then? Roomie had surprised herself enjoying CDs, and original songs, as gifts most of all. Jill recognized the irony of how the times had changed... Roomie had sold or given away all her precious books and even CDs - she was really quite adjusted to the digital world.
The bouquet of peacock feathers presented to her, by a new acquaintance, for their pre-arranged meeting, really made them swoon. Wow! Jill wished, in hearing the story, and seeing the bouquet in the living room, for a suitor, presenting such a bouquet for herself.
 |
| photo by Lyle Lovett, used with permission! |
Roomie was tuning into the Signal on CBC Radio 2, emphasizing that the host was one of her heroes, Laurie Brown. She had published memoirs as the first Canadian female rock journalist, and probably the most adored too, that named rockstars by actual name, in so-called FICTIONALIZED accounts of them, ha...
Jill asked if she'd been working on her journalistic skills and Roomie shook her head, "Singing with the choir was amazing, and the talk was moving, mind altering and uplifting." It really does strengthen my spirit."
She was working on a small set to take around to some devotionals. "Pirates Gospel and Hallelujah ought a do it, right?" Hello praying for what you do want!
2011-06-18
Broken Hearts and Honesty
His brother would tell Jill at a horse show years later "You really broke his heart." Jill was sad to get the news about that, but glad that he had finally moved on and at least to be spoken to...
Jim had told her she was a good kisser under a meteor shower sky, and she knew then he was falling for her. She was trying to reciprocate, but, meanwhile, to her, he was the fall back star date. And, boss's brother.
That was part of the reason she had quit and left town. Cruel as it was to abandon him via departing the internship, it would have only been worse if she'd waited til the end of the season!
*
It was amazing to talk horses, and invent horse-journalism projects, with a drummer, ha. You know how sometimes a meeting with a person will really change your life? Jill said she'd been behind a kit before and decided it felt like riding. "You have these four quadrants right, and each one might have to do a different job. I've had moments, drumming, where it felt like, okay so bend a little left and now bend to the right with all my arms and legs each successfully doing their own jobs..." Jill was thrilled to see the agreement in her dinner companion's face. "You are the only person who has ever said a thing like that to me before. It is SO true!"
She'd asked if Jill was seeing anyone. Mr. pretending he wanted the horse smell had just sent Jill a Friday nite text, addressing her as pretty, and asking what she was up to... but he wasn't into her the way she wished and so, she said so. Or, typed so, pretty simply. "Ah bummer." he agreed, seeming to understand her interest in exclusivity without sharing the interest. He still hoped to hang out when he was back in town, lol. If they were to be friends, he would need to offer the truth. She didn't believe him about the canceled baseball tournament or his "buddy's" convocation dinners on both Saturday and Monday night. Honesty was SOOOOOOOOO important to her...
*
Was it too late to get her resume into the respected establishment that did horse-birthday parties?
Jim had told her she was a good kisser under a meteor shower sky, and she knew then he was falling for her. She was trying to reciprocate, but, meanwhile, to her, he was the fall back star date. And, boss's brother.
That was part of the reason she had quit and left town. Cruel as it was to abandon him via departing the internship, it would have only been worse if she'd waited til the end of the season!
*
It was amazing to talk horses, and invent horse-journalism projects, with a drummer, ha. You know how sometimes a meeting with a person will really change your life? Jill said she'd been behind a kit before and decided it felt like riding. "You have these four quadrants right, and each one might have to do a different job. I've had moments, drumming, where it felt like, okay so bend a little left and now bend to the right with all my arms and legs each successfully doing their own jobs..." Jill was thrilled to see the agreement in her dinner companion's face. "You are the only person who has ever said a thing like that to me before. It is SO true!"
She'd asked if Jill was seeing anyone. Mr. pretending he wanted the horse smell had just sent Jill a Friday nite text, addressing her as pretty, and asking what she was up to... but he wasn't into her the way she wished and so, she said so. Or, typed so, pretty simply. "Ah bummer." he agreed, seeming to understand her interest in exclusivity without sharing the interest. He still hoped to hang out when he was back in town, lol. If they were to be friends, he would need to offer the truth. She didn't believe him about the canceled baseball tournament or his "buddy's" convocation dinners on both Saturday and Monday night. Honesty was SOOOOOOOOO important to her...
*
Was it too late to get her resume into the respected establishment that did horse-birthday parties?
2011-06-17
So, What's The Sire's Name Again?
"For crying out loud, riding the horse no one else wants to is my specialty." The student was eavesdropping on her teacher in the tackroom. Who was she talking to? Jill was trying to impress a handsome cowboy with engaging discussion topics, instead of comfortable silences.
*
"First, I got electrocuted, now I'm gonna get fired?" Jill bemoaned "but, I haven't even started my job!"
She had been helping out in the boss's absence, ahead of her offical start date and an accident had happened. When the boss's partner finally stopped yelling, her buddy, a first time guest, said "and I thought your boss was a hard nose," and handed over a by-then-cold coffee, empathetically...
When one of Jill's favourite new students recapped all the yelling for her momma, who wasn't there she said "We're not allowed in the hayloft and if you have a dog he can shoot it."
The rant had covered a lot more ground than the one misfortune that actually took place. The student and her dad had turned the pony out successfully, under Jill's direction, and she was next to complete the process while they waited. Jill had the grey roan the boss's daughter had asked her take along, since they were on their way out to that paddock anyway. Jill was technically new around the place but she knew everyone and was competent, comfortable, and trusted.
After the child had released her equine in the field safely and successfully, the student's father had clipped the latch to the paddock gate closed in a way that looked weird. And Jill stepped forward to close the big metal gate properly and release the strain that didn't look right, thinking to unlatch then fix it... But, Instant Electric Shock informed her that the man had inadvertently clipped the gate's latch TO the electric wire, instead of the latch ring it was supposed to connect with.
ZIIIING, kablam. In case the amplification of the electricity through the big metal gate wasn't enough of a shock, when Jill touched it the huge jolt also ran thru the leadshank to the grey mare who leapt athletically sideways in pain and surprise.
Right onto the nearby student, standing what should have been a safe distance away.
Splat. OUCH, yowza etc.
In the ensuing shakey moments, Jill realized the horse had only stepped on the student's foot, and, Jill felt lucky for the deep mud. They turned off the electric fence, turned out the grey mare and did their best to compare notes about how to never do anything like that mistake ever ever again.
The student limped to the car, but the report after it was x-rayed was that she was fine.
ACK.
2011-06-16
Blind Dates
"Now, this is a horse that likes to jump with a little pace. Where most people go wrong is they ride the speed. What you did there was ride the rhythm. Well done." Jill was thrilled from the compliment from her teacher, but somehow it felt like she'd been set up on a blind date.
Meanwhile, she was almost going blind WISHING for a date. Tronas had appeared only the once and sent only the one email and then disappeared into a quiet corner of her imagination. She couldn't even mention him to anybody, because a crush on a celebrity rider like him would not be unique, and investing any real optimism in the chance to see him again would be nothing short of foolish.
And still she wished. And, wondered. Did he text? Had she given him a number in case he might like to try it?
Instead she wrote an email to her buddy, the coolest dressage queen Jill had ever known.
"I forgot to tell you that i did a turn on the forehand on rio last week that blew my doors off.
My new horse pal just went step. step. step. step. in perfect time and space. I've always known how to do them, and given the aid and signals, but this time, the horse did it. Perfectly! Both sides!"
Jill was amazed how the horses at her mentor's had gotten more advanced in her time away. And how instead of him just trying his best. or Jill just trying her best, and the two of them just getting the gist of it right between them... they had done it perfectly.
"I know its done at a w a l k, but, I am telling you: it was perfect!"
She couldn't wait for her buddy to be back in town so they could go out together and talk as they covered ground together. Riding all day and then a little campfire jam? Suffice to say Jill just wanted to mark down the date...
*
She found the perfect home for the black kitty! And then walked around the block sobbing her fool head off about it.
Meanwhile, she was almost going blind WISHING for a date. Tronas had appeared only the once and sent only the one email and then disappeared into a quiet corner of her imagination. She couldn't even mention him to anybody, because a crush on a celebrity rider like him would not be unique, and investing any real optimism in the chance to see him again would be nothing short of foolish.
And still she wished. And, wondered. Did he text? Had she given him a number in case he might like to try it?
Instead she wrote an email to her buddy, the coolest dressage queen Jill had ever known.
"I forgot to tell you that i did a turn on the forehand on rio last week that blew my doors off.
My new horse pal just went step. step. step. step. in perfect time and space. I've always known how to do them, and given the aid and signals, but this time, the horse did it. Perfectly! Both sides!"
Jill was amazed how the horses at her mentor's had gotten more advanced in her time away. And how instead of him just trying his best. or Jill just trying her best, and the two of them just getting the gist of it right between them... they had done it perfectly.
"I know its done at a w a l k, but, I am telling you: it was perfect!"
She couldn't wait for her buddy to be back in town so they could go out together and talk as they covered ground together. Riding all day and then a little campfire jam? Suffice to say Jill just wanted to mark down the date...
*
She found the perfect home for the black kitty! And then walked around the block sobbing her fool head off about it.
2011-06-15
Repeat Performances
"That boss was always tell me to trot and hack that (spooky) horse around the hay field and past the flaming burn pile, through the trees past the alligator pond and then between our paddocks and along those stallion paddocks of the quarter horse breeding farm next door. And then to meet him in the whatever ring at promptly such and such a time and he would school the horse, lol."
Leading, handling and lunging some of those horses was dangerous, but they didn't pay much mind to that. It was also joyously, exhilerating and she loved the riding of them most of all.
*
"Do you need a ride?" He asked her over and over thoroughout the day, in a variety of well logo'd machines on the show grounds. Sometimes she said yes and sometimes she said no thanks. In reality, she wanted to one to drive around lol.
*
One of her favourite days in her Olympic level Ocala season, was the morning the show jumper schooled his horses in the hay field. because that day Jill's boss did too. And he had to give her a leg up onto each of giants, as she rode them to and from him in the schooling area. We switched mounts in the wide open. They were all at least 18 hands high and it was nice to see the very tall him mount from the ground instead of me, ha.
That was the first day the groom from France started and Jill started chatting also. After that day, she always had an exercise ride buddy to go out and around with. What a gifted rider he was.
In between text messages while trotting, he was teaching her french -- yesterday's requested lesson was "demain je suis vacance" (whoo hoo!)
*
One time his boss rode over to join them. She said she was bringing another chesnut over because it seemed like it was just what we needed ha ha, in the shortage of them ha. There were so many on the property at that time. Cheval al'zun i told her.
She mentioned overhearing about Jill wanting a lunge lesson on the naughtiest of all chesnuts. They talked about the joy of riding they'd had as youngsters and how the young people of today missed out on so much of that fun with the insurance and laws and blah blah blah.
*
Jill always loved that mr. fantastic frenchie got dumped the bay on the asphalt his first day out. After that, he started wearing his helmet with the more challenging horses ha.
*
In highschool Jill had always been too busy horsing around to hang out with all her musical celebrity friends. Now it seemed things were swinging the other way around?
She loved listening to the comic who had been to SXSW. You will never see Don't Mess with Canada on a belt buckle, ha.
2011-06-11
Visits
"Mr. Poo poo! I was naturally skeptical of a guy who wanted to come to a barn..." Jill's pal wrote back ha
She assured that Yes, Yes, she will be delighted to watch again next week. Mr. claimed-he-wanted-the-horse-smell was actually just into trying to get lucky ha. Now he's away up North for a while on some straw-build project or other.
She assured that Yes, Yes, she will be delighted to watch again next week. Mr. claimed-he-wanted-the-horse-smell was actually just into trying to get lucky ha. Now he's away up North for a while on some straw-build project or other.
*
When she'd gone for a hack around the property with the fiancee of Driver, and also owner of some show jumpers, it felt to Jill like they'd really clicked. Jill had made a mental note right then and there to keep an eye on the couple and try to be their nanny when the time was right!
She stopped in at the farm and the owner wasn't home. But she met the au pere from Germany, riding around and letting herself in and out of paddocks and manipulating the gates while still on horse back. There was just one child to look after and her six month arrangement had included 5 weeks of travelling around! Jill wondered if there was a replacement already in place?
2011-06-09
Avoiding Ruffled Feathers?
Her father said he chickened out on the adventure. And she could relate. She still hadn't sent her aunt the Tanya Davis CD gift she'd intended for Christmas. It was meant to be mailed with a letter about how track 6 "Don't Bury Me" resonated so strongly after the death of Jill's gramma.
In a way she wanted to find a nice farm home for the black kitty, who she wasn't sure was consistent in using the litter box... Maybe being eaten by coyotes isn't SUCH a bad way to go? She wasn't taking him to the humane society, that's for sure. She was haunted by the article about the new regulations for daily care and euthanasia imposed by the city, after the tender for services had been open for SOOOOO long and then renewed.
Roomie said "If you're going to go into the water, please make sure your bug spray and/or sunscreen are non-toxic and river-friendly." Jill was learning a great deal about Environmental Illness and the environment.
She was glad for all training in electric fencing. When would she publish the article?
"For my next education in the horse world," she announced to her companion, "I want to become a certified farrier." Not to make a living at it in the world, but just to inform her research and in order to take care of the feet of her own "personal" ponies.
2011-06-05
When Did I Tell You That?
The last BOY I was teaching" Jill chuckled, "was a screecher."
"What were you teaching him?" asked the boarder, brushing his horse.
"What were you teaching him?" asked the boarder, brushing his horse.
"I do not mean Jim" she joked back, continuing, ""though I did teach him his trot diagonals and canter leads... I am remembering the actual paying student and the pony that would spook. And the kid was the kind that would yell out in fear, which, believe me, did NOT help relax the frightened equine..."
*
*
Could she move to a farm? She'd made the mistake of telling the black and white cat they had to move. And now she was hiding someplace, for the 2nd day after a whole night outside. Jill remembered the first move of the kittie's life how Jill thought she had actually escaped from the 2nd floor apartment above the store until she'd found her hidden between the boxes.
*
"I am interested in what you are interested in," he said when they were making their plans. But out in broad daylight he didn't want to hold hands and later he had a date for tea with a girl he liked to talk motorcycles with, for which he was packing not just wine, but lots of beer... Alas. As he dropped her off, he said "Thanks for taking me." and she was glad they had had such nice time together, even if it had to end too soon.
*
"There should be a rule that the driver's butt can't be wider than the equine's."
*
"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa." Jill was looking down at the mare's front feet, a body language for stopping she'd learned when studying lunging technique. She was using her arms in also working with the grey's natural barrier instinct, blocking their path... She thought the owner's instruction to her friend to keep coming, closing in from the other side, was perfectly well timed. Easy does it was just how they did it. They were an amazing team!
Jill thought if she could keep the foal from knocking into her, or getting past her, she could get it to stop running, and then she had a much better chance of the stopping the mare. Of course there was also verbal instructions that might be effective and Jill kept saying "Whoa. Whoa." in a hopefully helpful way in case the ponies were forgetting the overall idea, ha.
"I think we might have something here." The owner recognized that her placement and effort was working and kept coming, in a perfect approach, with the grain bucket to the hard catch gal's halter, while her new love interest held the rear barrier, ha. Probably it was mostly that the mare and foal were so tired that it worked...
"Did I make your day?" Jill felt stoopid to realize she was not only taking all the credit but speaking her thoughts aloud to the cuddly Clydesdale, who would now get a turn in the turn out paddock... "Didn't the team do a good job for you?" she hoped the others were oblivious to her chatter.
They each took a horse after that and Jill thought afterwards how her apple core tossing buddy had turned a horse out wearing sandals and but how beautifully it fit with how he'd explained his communication philosophy earlier "if I get stepped on its my fault."
"I am interested in what you are interested in," he said when they were making their plans. But out in broad daylight he didn't want to hold hands and later he had a date for tea with a girl he liked to talk motorcycles with, for which he was packing not just wine, but lots of beer... Alas. As he dropped her off, he said "Thanks for taking me." and she was glad they had had such nice time together, even if it had to end too soon.
*
"There should be a rule that the driver's butt can't be wider than the equine's."
*
"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa." Jill was looking down at the mare's front feet, a body language for stopping she'd learned when studying lunging technique. She was using her arms in also working with the grey's natural barrier instinct, blocking their path... She thought the owner's instruction to her friend to keep coming, closing in from the other side, was perfectly well timed. Easy does it was just how they did it. They were an amazing team!
Jill thought if she could keep the foal from knocking into her, or getting past her, she could get it to stop running, and then she had a much better chance of the stopping the mare. Of course there was also verbal instructions that might be effective and Jill kept saying "Whoa. Whoa." in a hopefully helpful way in case the ponies were forgetting the overall idea, ha.
"I think we might have something here." The owner recognized that her placement and effort was working and kept coming, in a perfect approach, with the grain bucket to the hard catch gal's halter, while her new love interest held the rear barrier, ha. Probably it was mostly that the mare and foal were so tired that it worked...
"Did I make your day?" Jill felt stoopid to realize she was not only taking all the credit but speaking her thoughts aloud to the cuddly Clydesdale, who would now get a turn in the turn out paddock... "Didn't the team do a good job for you?" she hoped the others were oblivious to her chatter.
They each took a horse after that and Jill thought afterwards how her apple core tossing buddy had turned a horse out wearing sandals and but how beautifully it fit with how he'd explained his communication philosophy earlier "if I get stepped on its my fault."
2011-06-03
More Ranting About the Stars
She said "I know how to shovel and I know how to yell at rockstars." She meant she was not shy in standing up to them if required, or in conveying truth.
*
Jill noticed that the blacksmith came around the corner as she taught a new student how to pick out the horse's foot. She'd said, explaining the senstivity and texture and role of the frog, pumping blood back up the horse's leg that "some people say a horse has FIVE hearts"
*
In one story or other, Jill's rival should fudge the scores while scribing during her test. Then the judge can say she would consider sending Jill a horse to work with, as her "retribution."
Also, where is the story about the Heavy Horse Pull?
*
Sisters finish LAST said the woman who had driven her bro to the dentist and even stopped for coffee on the way. her brother bought an ice cap for Jill and a coffee for himself but NOTHING for his chauffeur - he didn't even offer!
*
When the swimming date got cancelled due to the weather, Jill called her neighbour-friend with an invitation to walk in the rain.
*
I'm used to farriers that are friggin' flirts, Jill complained to the boss. "You know, they show up at a stable FILLED with women, and they are the only man to have stepped foot on the property in a month, so they automatically have this appeal. AND then, they are comfortable around horses and they are buff or built or whatever because of the physical nature of their work. and everybody swoons over everything they do... They are like the rockstars of the horse world.
2011-06-01
Fashion Sense
One time when Jim had walked into the barn he had exclaimed "You are the best-dressed farm hand I have ever seen!" Jill refused to waste the high quality hollywood handme downs that came her way from time to time, even if she wasn't living a hollywood lifestyle, lol.
When she walked by with the big red, horse for turn out, Jim was sitting on the edge of his truck, fiddling with something on his phone. Red was frisky in the cool breeze, despite the warm sun, and she had to concentrate to keep up with him. After she passed with an arm over Red's neck, lifting her t-shirt a little futher away from her black jeans, Jim teased "Pull up your pants!"
She laughed and walked on in her saggy last-wear-before-laundry hip huggers and tank. It was good in the heat to want skin exposed ha.
It turned out a moment later, that what he was working on sitting in his truck was a text message to her that said "nice belly button." ha
When she walked by with the big red, horse for turn out, Jim was sitting on the edge of his truck, fiddling with something on his phone. Red was frisky in the cool breeze, despite the warm sun, and she had to concentrate to keep up with him. After she passed with an arm over Red's neck, lifting her t-shirt a little futher away from her black jeans, Jim teased "Pull up your pants!"
She laughed and walked on in her saggy last-wear-before-laundry hip huggers and tank. It was good in the heat to want skin exposed ha.
It turned out a moment later, that what he was working on sitting in his truck was a text message to her that said "nice belly button." ha
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