When They Tug at Your Heart Strings

Today was lesson day. Despite some questionable weather, I headed to the barn to see what I could learn. There's less than a week until the big trail show, so I wanted to put some final tuning on my skills before the big weekend.

When I arrived, I noticed that the smaller field was empty, so I asked my trainer if I could put Maxine out for a little grazing. She said it would be fine as long as I could bring her in before she needed to use the trial obstacles for lessons, so I fetched Max from her stall and led her to the field.

Personal observation: I like to put Maxine out as much as I can, but she really can't be on pasture 24/7. When I bought her, I was told that she'd foundered a few years before. That being the case, I am cautious about her grass intake.

As soon as I removed her halter, Max was nose down in the dirt, looking for a place to roll. Within minutes, she was covered head to hoof in black soil. Her antics left me grinning from ear to ear. Little makes me happier than watching Max enjoy a good roll in the dirt.

When her attention turned to the grass, I wander back up the hill to tack up Molly. After a thorough grooming, I tossed on a saddle her back, slipped on a bridle, and headed up to the driveway (our makeshift arena). As I warmed Molly up for her first lesson, I'd often steal a glance a Maxine, who was romping in the pasture. She was having a grand old time -- running about, stretching her legs.

When it came time to bring her in, I wasn't sure what to expect. Typically, Max is easily caught. I simply walk up to wherever she's parked in the field, toss a rope over her neck, and slip the bridle on. This time, however, she seemed so happy to be out that I thought a chase might ensue.

I walked down the the fence and unclipped her halter from the fence. As I entered the pasture, Maxine's head lifted and her eyes met mine. As I stood near the gate, gently calling her name, she ambled over and dropped her head to grab a last bite of grass just a few feet from where I stood. I walked over, tossed the rope over her neck, and slipped her bridle on. A soft cluck and we were on our way.

Photo: Maxine grabs a bit of grass from the upper pasture -- also known as the front lawn. She's a great substitute for a weed eater.