Twenty one month Oliversary

Before I got Olive, I rode all the horses.

All of them!

I loved the variety. So much so, I worried that if I committed to just one, I would get bored.

I committed anyway, and it's been fine.

Aside from short rides on Saphira...

and Roy,

this year has been all Olive, all the time.

I love her, but sometimes I wonder if perhaps I am missing out.

Last week, the resident trainer at my barn asked if I would be willing to ride Olive's best friend, Delta, down the trail.

Longtime readers might remember Delta. I rode with her then-owner, Val, a lot back in the day.

She's changed hands since then, but has always been a favorite of mine. 

I've always wanted to ride her, so I couldn't say yes fast enough.

Thursday was the day. I got her out, tacked her up, mounted and rode her around the ring just long enough to check the steering and brakes.

Everything was fine, so we headed out.

Delta had not been ridden outside the ring for more than a year. She was a little sticky at first...

but the further we rode, the better she got.

We crossed the creek, we rode over the bridge, we went up and down hills, we survived encounters with bikes and trucks. Delta was wonderful.

Two years ago, I would have been absolutely delighted to have Delta as a steady ride.

But now, I found myself missing Olive.

She's such a wonderful, quirky, little rubber ball of a horse. 

Delta is wonderful, but Olive is the horse for me.

Happy twenty one month anniversary, Olive. You are as interesting to me now as you were on day one. I can't wait to see what we'll be doing this time next year!