Laziness Thy Time Is Nigh

I've been trying to make time to ride Pig occasionally. However, no matter how important I think routine riding is good for both Pig's mind and body, I cannot seem to manage to fit it into my schedule. While I stop by and see him fairly regularly, actually hopping on and taking him for a spin seems like ... a lot of work.

Especially when you consider he looks like this:
"Oh hai." -- Pig the Swamp Monster
The incredible amount of rain we've had this year has made all pastures unbearably muddy. Even for a horse who hates mud, its been impossible to avoid. Now with shedding season upon us, Pig is just coated in it. There's no way I have time to scrape all that off him to ride.

This is where the laziness comes in.
Who needs grooming anyway?
Last weekend I had decided Pig was going to get ridden. The weather was lovely (read: not raining or snowing or sleeting or otherwise precipitating) and I had the time and ability. Of course, when I showed up there were several stumbling blocks. The first, mud, I decided to completely ignore.

The second stumbling block? I had removed the bradoon from Pig's double bridle, having decided to use it as Bast's snaffle for a time. Unfortunately, I did not have it with me and had not returned it. With no other bit available, I decided to just strap down the snaffle cheeks and ride in the weymouth only.
So classy, y'all.
Pig didn't seem to care, though he was rather affronted when I hopped on him in the field without even removing his winter blanket. His skepticism continued as we marched up the hill with the dogs and headed towards the woods.
Asterid: "WHEE!"
Pig: "What fresh hell is this?"
We slid around in the woods for a bit, following the short trails. Pig tried to refuse crossing deep mud multiple times, despite my telling him he was literally covered in the dried form. We made it to the river overlook with minimal mishap (read: I did not slide off his winter blanket into the mud).
"Can we go home now?"
On the way back to the farm, we took time out to do some galloping in the partially dried out back field. Despite his age and growing decrepitude, Pig remains one of my favorite horses to ride. He leapt readily into the gallop and cavorted around. I never felt unsafe on him, despite riding him mostly bareback and without a complete bridle. He's such a good boy.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm good. Now why did you make me hike through this torture chamber?"
Hopefully soon I can manage to actually scrape the mud off Pig and maybe even tack him up. Until then, I hope you guys can laugh at our lazy rides. I have to admit, this is a new level of not caring that I didn't think I would ever reach.
We aren't the only muddy children on the farm, though.
Here's to getting the job done, even if you have to cut some corners!

Comments

  1. Awww I miss having those "lazy rides" on a horse you trust completely and have known forever. Those are the best!

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  2. Sounds like a lovely time really! I do miss those kinds of rides on Mr. P - when you know a horse so well you can just relax and enjoy. I hope I feel that again some day! We are lucky to have such special chestnuts in our lives. :)

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  3. I am so impressed that you galloped in a field sitting on his blanket.

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  4. at some point we just must accept that we are become the mud.

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  5. When our horses lived outside and were covered in mud we'd just scrape the mud off from the part where the saddle and bridle goes until mud season subsided lol

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  6. I am loving your bridle set up. I was like "Oh! That's smart! Just hook the bradoon strap to the extra noseband leather! Brilliant!" Fellow proud Indiana hillbilly here.

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  7. im glad you went out despite the roadblocks in the way <3 sometimes the best times we spend with our horses are when we are a bit disheveled looking, haha. i tip my hat to you - i've been there... on an absolutely filthy horse in mismatching equipment and lack of gear... most importantly tho, with a big fat smile on my face :)

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