The need to update this blog has been niggling. First, I looked back over my lists of posts. Hmm; last year I was absent from here until May 22. It's a bit later than that now, but I haven't been absent for as many months as before. Now that I'm back in the saddle again, I can look forward to enjoying some more adventures this year!
"Back in the saddle" you ask? For those who don't follow me on IG/FB or my sheep/farm blog, you're likely unaware that I had bilateral knee replacements on April 9.
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| my no-longer-bowed legs one month after surgery |
Six weeks and a day after surgery I had a post-op appointment with my surgeon, who surprised me by saying it was okay to ride again. So of course I went home, tacked up Stella, and rode! I had been preparing for that day by resuming the groundwork I did with her before backing her almost five years ago, and I did some of that groundwork before mounting. I also told my son, who was home from work, to keep his phone on in case something happened, and then asked if he'd come down to provide proof. Stella was as good as gold; it certainly helps that I've trained all my horses to stand where I put them so I can use a fence, rock, stump or hump to mount to save their backs from the torque of the saddle tree. I now use that process in reverse to dismount, as sliding off and hitting the ground on my still-recovering legs doesn't sound like a good idea.
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| preparatory groundwork |
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| 'groundwork' done from the arena fence |
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| first time astride post-op |
I've ridden nearly every day since, progressing from short walks, to adding a little trotting (sitting is more comfortable than posting), to cantering on the one-week anniversary of getting back in the saddle. And what an anniversary that was, because my husband rode that evening, too! He hadn't been on a horse in years, and Lance hadn't been ridden in years, but Rick really wanted to try out a saddle he had taken in trade on a client's account. Lance reinforced why he's retired, stumbling to his knees once while walking. My tall husband sure looked better on him than he did on his former little cutting/reining-bred QHs, though!
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| two riders generated a LOT of dust (it's been a very dry spring) |
Between my last post in November 2024 and my surgery, Stella and I continued as usual, schooling at home, getting in my usual New Year's Day ride, and poking through the woods in hopes of spotting an early wild iris just days before my surgery.
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| no wild iris, but lots of other flowers, including this feral cherry |
There; now I'm all caught up, and so are you!
