Sunshine on a rainy day

The blog has been quiet because there haven't been any tales to tell. I blame the weather. Max and I haven't been getting up to many adventures, just hunkering down and scowling at the clouds together.

He's still getting lunged once a week by the YO, and he's beginning to work really nicely. I don't mean he's becoming more polite or obedient, I mean he's learning how to use his body to best effect. The knock on from that is that he does it for me now too, and I can feel the difference working him in hand and ridden. It's not perfect, it's not exactly the way I wanted things to be, but YO, with all her experience, knowledge and skill, is much more clear in her directions for Max, and now that he knows what clear feels like, he is working wonders at interpreting my "fuzzy" directions, which in turn helps me to fine tune and become less fuzzy.

It's been pitching it down with rain today, but very mild with it. I had hoped to get to Max early enough to do something with him before my yard work shift started, but it was very miserable and neither of us felt like getting our heads round work, so we just hung out, stretched our legs a bit and had a laugh before I released him and his new best mate to their field together.

Slogged through the yard work. It all feels an uphill struggle when the rain is relentless, and even with waterproofs on, I still get soaked through. Everything is soggy, heavy and the straw and hay clings everywhere.

By the end of mucking out duties, the sky cleared a bit, and I went out to say my goodbyes to Max.

The approach to his field is a bit of a walk, and I can see him long before he sees me. As I walked towards him, I could survey the scene, four bums at the far end of two fields, no faces to greet me. I made no calls to draw attention to myself, but suddenly Max's head was up from grazing, and he turned to look at me. The three others still showed me their bums and a complete lack of interest, but Max continued to watch my approach, ears pricked forward.

I smiled, because I could almost convince myself that he sensed me, or heard my footstep, which was different from other footsteps so that he could distinguish between "somebody" and me.

I opened the gate, ducked under the electric tape and made a few steps towards him, still saying nothing. Max then began to walk towards me. I stopped walking and let him approach.

It may seem silly and bland to others, but for me, to see this big, divine creature with all that muscle and power walk forward eagerly to greet me because he chooses to is a never ending source of delight. It is also humbling.

"Hello Max," I said as he reached me and offered his nose. "A bit soggy?"

Head nod.

"I'm taking off home now, wish I could take you with me. I'll be back first thing tomorrow, and I'm at the yard all morning, so I can make a fuss of you. Maybe we'll do a bit of something when I finish working, ok?"

"OK, lady. Bring toast and marmite."

"So be good, take care, stay safe and sound. Watch out for your mates, don't hoon around in the mud like hooligans, it's slippery."

"As if."

"And I love you heaps. Cobblers gorgeous boy!"

"Cobblers" is our family rendition of "God bless." Once upon a time, when I lived alone except for my cats, I'd never leave the house without calling out, "God bless, boys!" Then when it was just Arizona, it became "God bless, kitten, my kitten."

Then I met the Ent, who took up the tradition, but changed it to "Cobblers, kitten Mike!"

So "cobblers" it is, and it still retains all the love, hope and protection of "God bless" in my heart as I say it.

Max tried to hold me there a little longer by going through all his tricks, a leg raised, a head shake, a nod, a nose thrust forward for a kiss.

"I have to go, Max, but thank you... Oh... I seem to have found a pear."

"Gimme!"

There are those who say that Max is spoiled. He's not spoiled. He is pure. He is splendour. He is as unspoiled as a northern Ontario landscape, or Blake's "Songs of Innocence".

The thing about that kind of unspoiled is it disarms and beckons, so that some of the world weary experience just falls away and leaves me with the wonder and hope of a child.

Horses are just for riding? Some of us know better.