I think all of us have received those slightly schmaltzy emails about how wonderful our women friends are and how important they are in our lives.  Sometimes you just hit the delete button…..but every once in a while you think to yourself…..damn, that’s so true! What would I do without my close women friends. If you are as blessed as I am you have a handful of women friends you can call with your most ridiculous fears, mishaps, joys, triumphs and disasters. They know who you appear to be and who you are deep inside. When you call they will listen with their hearts and judge if they should tell you exactly what you need to hear to ease your pain or maybe act as the thinking side of your brain to gently correct your reality! You can be assured you will hear genuine joy in their voices if you are sharing a victory.

There have been more than a few times this past year when I have questioned my sanity regarding buying a young green horse at my age!! Without my fearless leader Edie I would have been lost. She worked with me every step of the way with generosity of spirit and practically held my hand the first time I put my foot in the stirrup. She was always there to answer my questions or quell my fears. Yet, she was honest when she thought it was time to take a step back and encouraged me when she thought it was time to take the reins alone.  I see the genuine pride and joy in her face when I tell her how Reilly and I are becoming partners….and how our trust has solidified. I could never have come this far without her guidance and friendship.

When it came time for our first big “away from home” trail ride I called my friend, Mary. Mary and I have covered thousands of miles together for over 18 years. The horses we rode when we first met died recently within a year of each other. My mare and her gelding are now 18 and 19.  Her Elisha is a brave horse and there is not much he would not do for Mary. As nervous as I was, I knew we were in good hands. What a perfect first “away” ride we had! Well, some would call it perfect!

Reilly got out of the trailer and was welcomed by her mini donkey and wildly happy dogs! In our 2 1/2 hour ride we met loose cows, very fast ATV’s, crossed three scary bridges on the rail trail, cooled off in a fast moving creek and came home to find her roosters on my trailer ramp.  Reilly was stellar and I felt we made great strides towards making him a true trail horse! Edie always says when you’re riding with another person to be safe you are also, metaphorically, riding your friend’s mount.  Mary rode two horses that day……hers and mine. She always kept an eye on us and Elisha was a wonderful babysitter.

When it came time to ride Reilly with more than one other horse, again I called my buddies.  Marlene and Linda rode their solid trail horses and we took off down the road. Now, Reilly is not Mr. Congeniality – not by a long shot!  He makes “ears” and “faces” at any horse who comes near us and he has reared and struck out on one occasion. He’s getting better all the time, but I still ride pretty defensively.  Our threesome ride was perfect. They let Reilly lead at first….then we played leap frog until he was comfortable in all positions.  They got close enough to his butt to let him know they were there, but never close enough to make him mad and never so far ahead to cause panic.  After a while things were comfortable enough for the three of us to vent about our human partners…..which is always a great benefit of “therapeutic riding”.

Then there is my friend, Rhonda, who loaned me her Clinton Anderson CD’s this winter while I was recuperating from surgery and helped me through the ground work. What a “Mate”.  And, Deb, whose long encouraging and funny emails have so many times put things in perspective.

I could go on and on and tell you about all the phone calls, rides and encouragement I’ve received from the horse women in my life.  They all know that without a doubt in a heartbeat I would be there for them whenever they needed me.

In August Reilly and I will do our first CTR……and I know  for certain there will be another  wonderful and generous woman rider who will get us through it with smiles on our faces.

Thanks to all of you………

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