The Illinois to Wisconsin........... Connection

One might wonder how my relationship with The Buddha began and I 'm happy to say I have my niece and her horse to thank.  She boarded her horse, Pardy, there for show training.  I was invited to accompany her one Saturday and happily agreed.  Several people and their equine were to arrive at 10am and have a faux horse show with a BBQ to follow ( I couldn't even  eat because I was so excited.)   The owner had agreed to let me ride Bud since I was related and had professed my undying love for the equine.  After waiting for what seemed an eternity - it was finally time to mount up and have some fun.

                                                  Bud and I meeting for the first

Pardy and I meeting for the first time

That first ride was unforgetable........and I mean ......unforgetable!!!  We argued constantly on the track - walk was trot, trot was walk, slow was fast - you get the picture.  He had not been ridden on a consistant basis and the fact he had just finished a " show " -  he was testing me BIG time.  I, however, had a great time just being in the saddle again and takng it all in.   After our less than  stellar performance - I was asked to release Bud back into his stall ,that has an ajacent run, and I did so gladly.  When I exited ,with just the lead rope in my hand, my niece asked where his halter was........well, on his head - where else?  Long story short -they do not release horses with their halters on since they could get hung up on something and cause damage ....so I was asked to retrieve it.  Back in the stall I go and Bud took one look at me and bolted out the door to his run - where we played catch me if you can for awhile.  I did grab the halter once and he about tore my arm off!  Luckily my niece came along and slowly approached him with a treat in hand and slipped off the elusive halter.  He and I stared at each other and I swear he was thinking " one for the equine and zippo for you lady".  I knew from then on.....my work was cut out for me......and I was going to love it.