Rainy day women

When I was almost fourteen, my classmate, Dawn, gifted me full rights to her leased camp pony, Cinnamon.

As luck would have it, Cinnamon was kept at a big public boarding stable just half a mile from my house. I could there on foot, and I did, more days than not, for the next six months.

I loved that barn, but it was a typical LA County space with lots of horses, all in small, dark stalls and barely any turnout. If you wanted your horse to get any exercise - or even see the sky - it was up to you to make that happen.

Holly in the depths of the C barn

I was happy to make that happen for Cinnamon.

One time during a rainy spell, I talked my mom into driving me to the barn to check on Cinnamon. I was surprised to discover a whole group of horse women walking their horses up and down the barn aisles. I asked what was going on. 

"We do this every time it rains," one of the women told me. "It's not fair to leave the horses in their stalls all day. They need to stretch their legs."

I put a halter on Cinnamon and joined in. 

I decided right then and there if I was ever lucky enough to get my own horse, I would be the kind of owner who went to barn every day, no matter the weather. I'd be one of those women walking my horse up and down the aisles.

Like Cinnamon, my girl, Sage, lives at a large, suburban boarding stable. Fortunately, her accommodations, although rustic, are a lot more horse-friendly. She has a stall with a run, and gets turned out with her friends almost every day.

Today was cold, grey and rainy. I went to the barn anyway. I gave Sage her breakfast and cleaned her stall while she was eating. Then I turned her out in the long, skinny paddock we call the "fun run." 

Of course, the first thing she did was stick her head through the fence...

and start eating.

There was a big puddle near the gate, and I thought it would be fun to take some reflection pictures of Sage.

I used the treats that are always in my pocket to lure her in the right general direction.

Then I stood back and let things unfold naturally.

It didn't happen right away.

Snack break!

But eventually, I got the pictures I was hoping for.

As if she somehow knew her job was done, Sage decided to roll - right by the fence - and that activated her chaos mode.

This got really intense really quickly.

I didn't want to get hurt, so I retreated to shelter of her stall and waited until she was standing quietly at the gate, ready to come in.

Two drowned rats.

I tucked her back into her stall with an extra flake of hay.

Then I gave her a kiss and headed home.

I was cold and wet and very happy. My younger self would definitely approve.