Things not to do during one’s time off work
Generally, my work schedule lets me ride four days a week: Tuesday afternoons, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This month, I’m putting in extra hours for a handful of reasons and my routines are all out of whack. It’s not great, but it is what it is and I know it’s only temporary.
Our next 25 is the first Saturday in October. I had hoped to get in one or two good, solid long rides this month – specifically one this week where I really do have time to ride. Eighteen miles should be a good trial run for the tack setup and let me know what I need to change, plus see how our speed has increased in the past few months – the last time we did that particular ride was in June.
Things not to do #1: While putting up lights in my new tack room, I was a bit of a klutz and the drill relocated from the screw (intended target) to my finger (not intended). Drill bits hurt, y’all. Finger is bandaged up, not seriously wounded, but definitely going to take some time to heal up properly.
Monday night we went out for a brisk few miles. Tuesday she got off. I figured I’d work her lightly today and do our long ride tomorrow.. and then plans changed and I rode with a friend for our usual 7-mile loop today instead. Right around mile #5, headed home and walking down a steep hill, Fetti took a funny step and asked me if we should stop; I told her she was silly and no, of course keep walking.
Unfortunate event #2: Maybe 20 feet later I reached back to check on the crupper and discovered that actually, the crupper and the saddle were no longer attached. The pony earned major sainthood points for that one; the crupper ring and the leather that held it to the saddle just came right off, but the crupper was still sitting on her hindquarters with the loop around her tail. This is the same hill where she bucked me off once before in a separate crupper incident (though then it was too loose and kicked in HARD and FAST, so not really her fault).
Our local shoe repair place will sew the piece back in, and barn friends and I will then go off and attach screws to help hold it in place some more. Unfortunately, I won’t have the saddle back til Friday morning. I may be able to fit 12 miles in before work Friday.. but 18 is not going to happen.
Unless I manage to get off work earlier than usual in the next week or two, that 18 may not happen at all before the ride. I know Fetti is more fit than she was this time last year. I know our speed is doing better. I’m just not sure how she’ll handle the distance. I’m looking forwards to finding out.