January 6, 2007

Nitro and I did a few barrels today, he didn't seem to have his heart in it so we went out for some grass. We went up two meadows and met Jodi riding Bill. Just a lazy ride back Nitro wanted to stop at the river and paw and bob in the cold fresh water. a far contrast to the river I left in New Rochelle full with oil, blood vials, needles, and raw sewage. Nitro and I were grateful to have a clean river and we wondered how long before it to would be polluted, but for now Nitro could wash the grass off his bit and enjoy a drink. We walked back and I began to un-tack, when I heard Linda our resident long trail rider calling out to me. "Frank, I got bucked off Jane, she spooked at some sheep and ran." "Can you and Nitro head her off at the meadow before she dashes across Rt. 44 and gets hit by a car"? I quickly re-tightened Nitro's cinch and put his bit back in and ran up the driveway with him. I walked him across Rt. 44 and made a run across the meadow to wait for Jane to come running home. We waited in the setting sun this unusually warm January day hoping Jane would see us and stop before sunset. After about an hour Nitro picked up his ears, Jane was running. She decided to diagonally cut the meadow so I jumped back on Nitro and headed to cut her off. Thankfully he had a full head of steam left from not running the barrels. We flew over mud and ditches but it wasn't enough to cut her off. Jane was flying home. Realizing that if I continued to chase after her Nitro to could fly across Rt. 44 so I pulled him up. He always had good brakes and stopped as I watched Jane go on to Rt. 44 just being missed by two cars. Nitro did all he could, fate and alert drivers saved her. Nitro and I returned back to the barn glad all went well. Linda was fit to be tied at Jane spooking at a lamb so she wanted to go back out and asked Nitro and I to join her so that Jane would not get soured . Again Nitro went out the third time in a row. "Hay Frank are you making me a hack horse?" "Na just one of those days." I told him. "At least you got to graze." "Yeah, but I had to run in this heat with ling hair on." "Sorry, I'll make it up to you later." When we finally got back I put him into his stall, put his brown army blanket on and left him a half bale of hay. I rubbed him and patted him as he ate with his blanket to absorb the sweet. He felt better. so did I. "See you tomorrow Frank." "OK pal."