"I thanked Him for the splendor"

Howdy Friends!

Last night's thunderstorms scrubbed summer weary leaves to glossy, sparkling green. They shimmered and glistened, and let go great drops of captured water. In the gray light of morning's break, Kessy and I set out to gait. Soaked leaves smacked my face, painting assorted soggy dots on my hat and shirt. Red muddy puddles decorated the logging trail we've both missed too much these past months. No matter the goo to gait through, Kessy, in high spirits would not be held to a walk, but did agree to her world class flat walk. Day five of her, and our, restart only twenty minutes was the plan, but knowing the lay of the land, and where the most wildflowers grew, we stretched the agenda, a minute or two. Over Little Bear Bridge her bare feet clopped, and among blooms, butterflies and yellow birds we stopped. Pausing to take it all in, I thanked Him for the splendor, the beauty, my horse, my wife, our daughter and my life. 

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"Ride Through The Rough Patches"

Howdy Folks,

He stopped under the oak on his way to the barn, looked out to his mare, and whistled. She raised her head, then after a pause, came to his side. Draping his arm over her neck he let her bear his weight. They stood a moment, him leaning on her, she accepting the weight. She was a good mare, always seemed to know when to corral her attitude and just be a friend. She did that today.

Rough patches are a part of life. Someone once said it's the rough patches that make the rest of life shine. Rough patches come sometimes out of the blue. Other times a body can see them coming, but when they get here they're just as rough as any other kind. Losing a friend, sometimes you can see that coming, and he had, for a while now. But now that it happened the time hadn't really done much to ready his heart for the heaviness. Walking back from the grave was when the real finality set in.

Not much to do about it. Just have to move on, get along with things, they say. Recently there had been too many, losing friends, rough patches. They all feel the same, so dammed final. Some friends are closer than others, and those make the widest rough patch. This was a wide one.

Without lifting his arm, he started for the barn. The mare knew to follow. Holding her head low she took his weight and stopped when he did, at the tack door. He wasn't much in the mood for all the preliminaries, so he brushed only where the blanket fit, slid on her halter, tossed up the saddle and swung right up in the barn, then rode out the door. His dog trotted behind.

He didn't ask for anything, just a slow steady walk, hadn't even bothered with reins, today just the rope would do. His mare knew what to do. She knew the trails. He could just sit, think about their old friend and ride through the rough patch.

His plan was to let his mare do the heavy lifting, he would simply sit and think. Part of the strategy of riding through a rough patch was doing nothing. Let the horse do the work while he contemplated then, as the familiar gait softened his hard heart, he could begin to see the beauty in the world around them. The mare knew her duty, accepted it and without a single misstep did it. 

The sun warmed their backs as they moved slowly along the wooded trail. Before long he realized there were a great many butterflies about that spring afternoon. The mare walked softly onward, and before he realized it he found himself looking for butterflies. They were everywhere, on the wildflowers, the tree branches, the greening grass, even the mud along the trail. He lost count in the thirties.

Watching butterflies he decided to hunt wildflowers too. The best place for wildflowers was a small ravine by the big stream, but that meant a mighty steep decline. It was this time last year they were searching for the same wildflowers and he knew his mare would remember the tricky path, and she did.

Their walk, with a little slide mixed in, was rewarded with a grand bouquet of wild flowers. Some dozen varieties grow in this little lost haven, some in bloom, some not quite ready yet, but all splendid. It was here they enjoyed the best bird watching of the rough patch ride too. By now his heart was a little lighter, and it was time to head back. First they had that steep hill to negotiate, and his mare took it in stride, as was her duty this day.

Back on the safe trail though, something must have told her he'd shed some of his heavy heart, and she decided she'd earned a bit of a heel kicking romp. She tested his resolve with a quick head tossing flatwalk, then without waiting for a cue, or permission, shifted seamlessly to a slow canter. Her silliness painted his first smile on his face. He wondered after the initial crowhop if she was truly trying to make him laugh, which he did, or just flat being naughty. He thought reins would be nice right about now … Then let go a hearty laugh and turned her loose.

When life plants rough patches in your way, lean on a friend and ride right through it.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Grandpop's New Year's Day Ride

Howdy Folks, 

This is the Eighth in my series of Grandpop stories. I began writing about Grandpop, June 27, 2013, with what at the time I imagined what would be a standalone short story, "Perhaps I've Just Lived Too Long." You can read that story (and find links to go on) (HERE)   Folks said they enjoy visiting with Grandpop, so I wrote more. Frankly, I enjoy him too. I hope you enjoy this New Year's Day Ride with Grandpop. 

Grandpop's New Year's Day Ride

We didn't ride every New Years day lately. Grandpop had a year every now and then, in recent years, when he just wasn't up to it. And I worried since he'd retired ol' blue a few years back his heart wasn't in it so deeply any more. He'd spent a long time brushing Blue this morning, explaining to him it was best he just stay in the barn and sit this one out. Frankly I'd have been satisfied to stay by the fire and sit it out too. But this year again the trek to, "ride in the New Year" as Grandpop called it would be just him, me and two fine looking geldings.

Riding in the New Year was a tradition he and Mom had started the very first year they settled on this ranch. For a few years it was just Mom and him, then I came along and Mom strapped me on in front of her and toted me along. "She had you so bundled up I worried you couldn't get a breath of air," Grandpop told me every time he tells that tale. I rode with them every year until I moved away and drifted into those years when I was certain I was far to busy to come home and ride a horse in the freezing January weather. I always wondered why it had to be extra cold on New Year's Day.

"You know it brings good luck to uphold a tradition on New Year's Day," Grandpop swung into the saddle with the ease and grace that defied his 85 years. I swung up too, and just as every time I watched him do anything, I hoped I'd be that spry when I was his age. Our hats tied down with scarves we set out for what I hoped would be a short ride. But I knew better.

A cold, sleet-filled blast nailed us as soon as we cleared the barn. Grandpop twisted in his saddle and flashed me his jolly grin. "Gonna be a brisk one I reckon, son." He aimed his horse for the three foot drift between the barn and tractor shed.

"Something about riding through the deep snow brings out the kid in me. YeeHa!" He tossed his arms in the air and they plowed through the drift, then set out in a trot along the fence line. I saw the cows huddled in the ravine below, safely out of the nasty wind. Secretly I wished I could join them.

"New Year's Day," he yelled above the wind. "Lots of things start over then, but I always figured lots of good things just carry on too."

We rode side by side along the fence, then cut away aiming for the hillside trail up to the mountain. I figured my hopes of a short ride were dashed and settled in for a cold morning's ride. My younger brother had planned to ride with us this year, but he and his sons were still hauling hay to the cattle. At least they had the truck cab to warm up in.

It took over an hour to get halfway up the mountain. Grandpop pulled up at the first overlook. Ice glazed his hat, face and mustache, and clung to our horses' muzzles and manes.

I chuckled to myself when I realized I could barely feel my feet. The view, though, was worth the cold. The company, too. Looking out over the windswept valley, sleet and snow blowing sideways, it truly was a sight to behold. "Worth every minute of these frozen toes." I told him as I dug into my saddlebag, pulled out the thermos, and fighting the wind, poured our celebration coffee. Then passed the cup to Grandpop.

"Happy New Year World!" Grandpop held the cup high in a salute, took his drink, leaned toward me and handed me the cup.

"Happy New Year World!" I saluted the world, and finished the drink. Then poured our second cup. We sat together there and drank until the thermos was empty.

"Glad ya rode with me son." He turned his horse and started down the trail.

"You bet."

****************

Gitty Up & HAPPY NEW YEAR WORLD! … Glad ya rode with me. ~ Dutch Henry

To read our next visit with Grandpop "A Nation Of Millionaires" CLICK HERE

"We Rode Anyway"

Howdy Folks,

 

Chris and I had made our plans a few days ago to ride early this morning. Beat the heat. Heading for Coffee Clutch at 5:30 it was 75 and so humid my glasses fogged as I stepped outside. Air thick as mud greeted me. So did Kessy, at the porch steps, her chest damp with sweat. I asked what she thought about going for a short one, she nodded and moved kind of slow, lethargic. As we did our morning routine even the roosters seemed a bit sluggish, crowing about half as much as normal. Only a Cardinal sang today. Hummingbirds were busy at the feeders. Phoebes darted here and there, and the wrens who have a nest in the tack room started their morning feeding routine too. But they all had a "Gosh it's hot" look about them.

Sweat trickled down my cheeks as I settled into my Coffee Clutch chair next to Kessy and poured my first cup of Folgers. I aimed a fan to blow right on me. Saturday stretched out in the breeze. Too hot to ride, was my clear headed thinking. Kessy was working up a sweat under the fan eating hay. Yup, too hot. I called Chris determined to talk her out of it. No answer. Darn. It's not that I'm a big softy, well not totally, but Kessy was sweating standing still, and my joints and things are more of a bother in this weather.

Chris would be here at 7, so at 6:45 I started Kessy's pre-ride exercises and tacked up. My shirt was soaked before I finished brushing. It was over 80 degrees already. Was the air heavier, too? I could taste the humidity.

We were ready to go and I was letting Kessy pick at the grass in the yard when Chris rolled in. "I brought Sunshine along today to pony with Molly and me." She said grinning.

Sore, grouchy and reluctant I thought, oh great, it's hot and miserable, the horses will be hot too, and you choose today to pony Sunshine. "Don't you think it's too hot for that?" I questioned. Chris just smiled. Sunshine is a sweet, beautiful Arabian mare Chris has been working with for some time, and we've talked about starting her on the trails here by ponying with Molly who she loves and trusts. I really like Sunshine, think she's adorable. But boy howdy it's hot.

Sunshine, Molly, Chris, Kessy and me. And Saturday too.

We set out for the trails, Kessy leading, Molly and Sunshine following right behind, and dear Saturday taking up the rear. We all enjoyed a delightful ride. Sunshine did splendidly, it was quite obvious she enjoyed every minute. She even enjoyed Saturday's happy prancing next to her. And as always, I felt much better after our ride … Even if we didn't get to see any birds.

I reckon I'm happy Chris didn't answer the phone when I called to cancel. Sometimes you just have to ride anyway … I'll admit though, I like the cold better. I think. I'll let you know in about 5 months or so.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"Fun While Finding Neutral Position in the Saddle. A Diane Sept Clinic."

Howdy Folks,

Saturday I attended a fun gathering of good friends and fine horses at Marianne and Joe Jolley's, Stars and Stripes Farm in Finecastle VA on Saturday. The Jolley's breed, show and sell Rocky Mountain Horses.  The reason for the get-together was trainer extraordinaire Diane Sept's clinic on Connected Riding®, the main focus on Saturday was helping riders find their "Neutral Position."

Neutral Position, or Neutral Pelvis, is the position a rider assumes where they are free from bracing, resisting or restricting the horse's ability to move in its most natural and healthy state. It is a healthy and comfortable state for both the horse and rider. It is both very important, and not very difficult. It does require a bit of thinking and practice, but everyone can do it with a little practice. Riding in "Neutral Position" allows your horse to be off her forehand, lift her back and engage her hind legs.

Gathering at the barn

The day started with coffee and visiting on the patio at the barn, a few laughs and lots of chatter as friends caught up on old and new news. Diane started the lessons with a talk on the importance for your horse's long term health and of a rider's responsibility to learn the "Neutral Position" in the saddle. "Horses don't break down overnight, but years of dealing with riders who slouch, sit too ridged, too stiff or leaning front or back causing the horse to forever compensate, does take its toll, and eventually we begin to see health issues." Diane explained.

Martha Chatten balancing a rider in the saddle to demonstrate "Neutral Position"

It was then time for everyone to mount up and be "balanced," in the saddle, on the saddle stand. It was important for each participant to be balanced so they could learn the feeling of "neutral" on a stationary saddle, and understand how that can take away "resistance" in ourselves which allows the horse to move freely and healthily. There were lots of great comments from riders becoming aware of their posture, breathing and tightness, and finding the "lightness and release" of "neutral." (If you read my novel, "We'll Have The Summer" you might remember the scene when Sam brings all the guests to the corral to ride "Woody" the stationary horse. That scene came from Diane's teachings.) I was tickled to find that I was still really close to neutral having not been ''balanced" for a number of years. Proof that when you learn it you can maintain it. It's my belief your horse will help coach you.

Then it was time to mount up and practice "neutral in motion." Some mighty fine Rocky Mountain and Tennessee Walking Horses took center stage. I felt like I was at a first rate Parade of Gaited Breeds, as they strutted into the arena. I was in Heaven! They all looked beautiful as they took the rail. This happened to be an all gaited day, but the lessons learned here apply to riders and horses of all breeds and disciplines.

Diane coaching as riders discovered "Neutral"

Diane did her thing and began to offer suggestions and guidance to the riders, helping them to find "neutral" now in their saddle, on their horse. Now these were all accomplished riders on great horses who looked wonderful. Little by little, step by step each rider and horse began to change. The riders softened, the horses evened their strides and lengthened their bodies. The changes in the riders' and horses' postures was absolutely amazing.

 

Diane walks alongside helping riders find their "Neutral Posture"

After lunch Diane divided the attendee's into two groups, so each rider could have a bit more of one on one time to really fine tune what they had learned in the morning sessions. By the end of the day the transformations were simply amazing in both the riders and the horses. It was plain to see each participant learned something of great value they could take away and not only enhance their riding pleasure, but their horses' health too. And I had a terrific refresher too!

Thanks for putting this all together, Marianne and Diane! And thanks for the invite! If you'd like to learn more about the importance of finding "Neutral Position" check in with Diane Sept on facebook here -  https://www.facebook.com/djsept?fref=ts

You can also read all about it in Peggy Cummings lastest book "Connected with Your Horse From The Ground Up" you can order on her website - http://www.connectedriding.com/

Check out Stars and Stipes Farm and some beautiful Rocky Mountain Horses here – http://www.starsandstripesfarm.com/StarsandStripesFarm/Home.html 

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry