The view from the school

Can feel the biting cold in the air today, but was prepared and resolved to take Max out on a hackette before the ground freezes up again. Alas, it wasn't to be, as the rain came.

I don't do riding in the rain. My saddle is suede for one thing, but mostly, I just don't like it and neither does Max, so we don't do it.

Back into the school to play jumpies!

The four jumps are still set up across the centre of the school, so lining and even lunge work is tricky. They were set really high today too, from a jump lesson yesterday (we're not allowed to remove them), so I set him up a two jump course, dismantling the high bars and making them into an alleyway approach for him, with a small jump at either end.

But Max didn't want to play jumpies with me today.

He wanted to play "demolition pone" instead!

He went all wayward, and used the alleyway as trot poles, and picked the far jump as the one he liked to pop over, but the near one as the one he liked to dismantle and stomp on with great determination and purpose. He'd knock it down, and then roll it around with his front hooves, occasionally casting me an eager look to see if the display of disrespect and vandalism was worth a pony nut.

But we got round it, used one of the jumps for a bit of lateral work, and used the alleyway for backing up and moving quarters over, and it was fine, and fun, and whatever.

When we were done, I tucked him up in his rug again, and prepared to leave the school. And then, we did what we always do when we leave the school:

We spent ages just staring out the open door, looking out on the dairy farm next door, and the rolling fields up to the wooods, with the road winding through the middle of it.

This is a thing that Max really likes to do. Once upon a time I was intent on getting him out, turning him without him straining for grass, so I could close the school door, and then off and on our way.

But Max insists upon this pause to gaze on our exit, so I now factor it in and just stop and gaze with him.

I don't rush this moment of his, no matter what else I've got in my head as a list of things to do next.

This is partly because I enjoy watching his nose twitch as he takes in the smells, and partly because I like the far away look in his eyes as he watches the world. Then, when he gets all upright and tall because he's spotted something interesting, I strain to follow his gaze and see what it is that's captured his attention.

I suppose I've routinely thought of it as a thing I do to humour Max, and nothing more.

I realised today, as I was standing next to Max just watching, his muzzle resting on my shoulder, that this routine thing I do to humour him has become a favourite thing, a moment to savour in my day; a thing anticipated with a smile and eagerness.

I find myself looking forward to the moment when the school door opens and we step out and stare together. It is so peaceful, just standing together looking out on our world.

Today I said, "Isn't it beautiful, Max?"

It was beautiful, that view, even with leaden skies and drizzle. The green of the fields, the wooden farmhouse with smoke coming out of the chimney, the woods, the road. All of it, all in a moment.

A moment that makes me stop and appreciate the beauty I see in front of me, even though it's a daily view, is a very good thing indeed.

Bless my pony for making me stop and look with him, as he rests his muzzle on my shoulder in such an endearing way. It makes me feel quite honoured, that he sees me as his comfortable companion in this world, with a comfy shoulder for his nose to rest upon, while he makes me stop for a moment, to admire the view with him.