Weather Woes

Just where did summer go? All of a sudden it's cold. Really cold and muddy and rainy and I hate it. Horse enjoyment season is summer, I've decided. Sure I was waiting for cooler weather and fewer bugs, but what did I know? I changed my mind. Shedding season is upon us and I'm wondering how all this hair is falling off these little horses and yet they're shaggier than before the shedding. Go figure.

So I'm struggling to eek out some riding time with this weather, as I wait for the rain to stop and then for the muddy bog of my arena to dry and by then it's raining again. I am, however, managing to spend some quality time with them, there's nothing they love more this time of year than being scratched and curried for long hours in the dry barn. And Tuff is enjoying the harvest from our modest orchard, and while the apricots have disapeared, he likes plums (pitted ofcourse) just as much and would never turn down an apple.

They spend the ever shortening afternoons romping in the waning pastures and lolling around in the mud. I had them pretty muddy during the summer what with daily hose-downs, but this is an entirely different mud. Sticky and slimy and sticks in their longer coats like glue. It's disgusting to wade around out there trying to clean pens because it's impossible to pick the muck from the ooze and ofcourse, some horse has just rolled in it.

But I must say, my guys really seem to love the Fall. They seem so carefree and full of vigor. I know ofcourse that with less riding time they have more energy but it's more than that. While I'm lamenting the close of summer, I think they are enjoying the last of the balmy weather before the freezing temperatures and snow and ice of winter appear. Perhaps if I lived outside like they do, I'd appreciate it more too.

It's something to think about, but for now, I see some sunlight trying to break through the clouds. Maybe I can sqeeze in some horse time before balmy days of Fall start looking really good to me because I'm mired in winter weather.