What a day!

I started my day with a bit of excitment when my dishwasher drain hose sprung a leak. Thank goodness I had decided to start it before leaving the house instead of hitting the delayed start button like I usually do. It wasn't long before water started pouring out from under the sink, all over my floor! I quickly shut off the washer and threw some towels down to soak up the water, but had to leave because I was running late and I had a training course to get to by 9:00. I called my handy man, who promised to stop over and fix it today. The rest of the day was taken up with meetings, phone calls, email, spreadsheets, and cranky people. It has been a long day in a long week, and I want to get to the barn and be with my horse.

Shiloh has a canker infection in one of his feet and he needs regular treatments, which consist of soaking his foot for about 45 minutes and then applying a topical antibiotic, which is really a medicine that is used for cow mastitis! I have a big canvas boot that I fit on Shiloh's foot, and then I pour in the soaking fluid (white lightning, vinegar, and water). He stands in the wash stall calmly, just watching and waiting. He actually likes the wash stall because he can look up and down the aisle and people stop and talk to him and give him treats. He loves treats, and he loves attention.

Being in the barn is so theraputic for me. After a long, tough day I am reminded of the things that really matter--shelter, nourishment, and companionship. I love to be in the barn at feeding time when no one else is there and you can hear the horses all munching their hay contentedly. I enjoy going out later at night when the barn is quiet and the horses are all dozing. And when I come down the aisle and hear Shiloh nicker to me when I call his name--well, that's a bit of heaven! So I'm off to get my barn fix!

Several members of my extended family have blogs, and I thought it might be fun. No one may ever read it but me, but that's ok. I named my blog Horse Tales because many of my stories are likely to be about my horses, Shiloh and Hope. That being the case, allow me to introduce my equine companions.

Shiloh is a Clydesdale-Quarterhorse cross gelding. He's 10 years old, black with white markings, and he has BIG feet. A local trainer once told me that I could never sneak up on anyone while I was riding "Thunderhooves." She is entirely correct; we are hard to miss! I started riding when I was 47, so I wanted a fairly safe and trusty steed. Shiloh is really the perfect horse for me. He is very calm and sweet tempered and provides a wonderfully comfortable ride.

Hope is a Belgian--20+ years old, chestnut, with blond mane, tale, and feathers. She also has big feet, and she is also very, very sweet. In her earlier life she was an Amish work horse, and my trainer bought her at auction (saved her from the slaughterhouse) and used her as a lesson horse. I share-boarded Hope for about a year, and when my trainer sold her barn, I bought her. Right now she is working in a therapy riding program, and with her calm, even, reliable temperment she is perfect for the task. Unfortunately, she may not be able to do it much longer as she has ringbone (kind of like arthritis) that is limiting her ability to take the corners and carry people. I will likely have to find a retirement home for her and put her out to pasture to live out her days munching grass and enjoying the fresh air. Doesn't sound too bad to me!