Riders on Crane's Beach

Whatever the gait, the going on Crane's Beach in Horse Season (October 1st through March 31st) is mighty fine, and the region's riders make the most of it.

People hack out alone:



They ride out in pairs -- oh, what fun it is to ride the beach with a friend!





And they ride out in groups.





It's fun for the whole family (if the whole family rides):





Here are some favorite images from my photography forays. I love this pair -- the pony is such a sturdy, steady fellow.



Simultaneous nose-itches:



(This next one is now my horse! Given to me as a good home):



A pair who obviously trust each other very much:



Some of the horses find the water fascinating:



Synchronicity:





And finally, the gallop -- oh, yes, you've been waiting for the gallop, haven't you?

An odd thought while pushing a wheelbarrow

It was, I think, the third, perhaps fourth wheelbarrow load I'd pushed out from the barn to the manure pile. I was nearly there when a thought popped into my head:

"I feel better."

Just that: "I feel better."

I've been suffering from digestive problems for several months now. Stretches of decent health have alternated with stretches of more or less considerable misery. A colonoscopy is scheduled for mid-January to see what the heck is going on in there. In the last week the misery has ratcheted up and expanded its repertoire. Going once again from solid food to clear liquids , yogurt and jello, and starting a new course of ciprofloxacin has done little to relieve the current discomfort.

So the sudden irruption in my mind of "I feel better" was surprising. I thought about that thought as I dumped the wheelbarrow, returned to the barn and continued mucking. Given that the belly discomfort was still niggling at me, it seemed an odd thought. And yet, it felt right. I realized that, for the first time in a couple of days, I wasn't tending (or fighting the tendency) to hunch over protectively. Wasn't wholly wrapped in a dull fog of inward focus.

Now, some several hours later, I continue to feel as if a measure of misery has dissipated. Oh, there's still enough of it bubbling in my gut to tell me things are not right, but incremental progress is better than none, eh?

Ponies in the snow! Having fun!

A few days ago we here in Massachusetts had our first real snow of the winter, and when I put Ben (Thoroughbred in blanket) and Commander (Morgan) out the next day, they wasted no time in enjoying the fluffy white stuff. Ben waded about, nosing through the unblemished powder:



"What is this stuff?" (You'd think he'd know by now, having lived through 17 winters, but he's not the brightest bulb on the tree.) "How does it taste?"



Commander, having paused by the run-in to grab his usual mouthful of hay, headed out to see what all the excitement was.



Ignoring the silly Thoroughbred boinking about, he headed past...



...till he'd found just the right spot to drop...



... and roll, and wallow, and roll:



Ben decided that was a great idea.



Wheeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Wallow wallow wallow:



Wheeeeeeeee me too! Said Ben.



Shake it up, baby!



Feeling mighty fine!



"Hey, Ben -- you coming?"



"Comin' at ya!"



Yeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!



Shake it, baby!



Hey there, how ya doin?



There's something about playing in the snow that brings out the ATTITUDE in even the mildest-mannered of horses.



And so I leave you with one last ponypic, and wish you a happy holiday and an even happier new year.