Catching Pixie

 Photo by Katie Krueger

Last week while I was working with Pixie in the indoor arena (I had a few more items of clothing on than I do in this picture – it’s getting cold) I told Paulette about the fantasy that involves me jumping on Pixie’s back and riding around bareback.  To my surprise she said, “You want to sit on her?”  Um, yeah!  But do I not want to break my neck?  Probably a stronger “yeah.”  She said that she would go first, and she would slide on, straddle Pixie, but keep her head low, kind of lay it against her neck.  So I held the rope and Paulette got on her without incident.  Pixie didn’t seem to mind at all.  My turn!  I got on twice!  It was dreamy.  Even though we didn’t walk around, we just stood in one spot, I felt like I was flying.  I can still imagine the feeling.  While I was on her I took deep breaths and talked to her about all of the rides we would take someday.

No, not the thigh, even though that’s where the hoof-shaped bruise colored my leg for more than two weeks.  (Can you see it?  It looks kind of like a backwards “C” facing down a bit.  Ouch.)

When Pixie let her cow kick fly on a blustery October afternoon, she wounded my heart most of all.  My heart, and maybe a tiny piece of my ego were bruised far worse than any physical indication would show.  

I’t been a long time since I’ve written, but rather than trying to detail everything that’s happened here is a short list:

•  My friend Katie came out to the farm and took amazing pictures.  She can make anything look awesome.  Even hay…really!
• Harmony Horsemanship took a special trip to London Lodge, a retirement home and gave cart rides to little ones.  Peaches the pony pulled the cart and I drove! 
• I started a “lease to own” program with Pixie!!! In just over a year (February 2009) I will be the proud owner of a beautiful horse named Picture Perfect. 
• The day before I made my first lease payment, Pixie kicked me in the thigh (more on that later)
• I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve regressed, a little bit.

Back to the October surprise.  Ted, Pixie and I were working on groundwork in the play land.  I asked Pixie to walk through a sandpit, and apparently it was a REALLY scary sandpit that she did not like one bit.  So rather than politely walking through it, she flew over it and kicked out at the same time.  I was standing too close and her little hoof nailed me right above my right knee.  I immediately let go of the rope and fell to the ground.  She ran about twenty yards then stopped to munch on grass.  Ted didn’t know what to do.  I was crying really hard – probably 60% from the pain of the kick and 40% from emotional trauma.  My perfect, beautiful, wonderful horse who never kicked, kicked me!  What?!  How could it be?  My world had ended.  I was heaving sobs and Ted was sure I had broken something.  He basically dragged me to the gator, made sure I didn’t have any bones sticking out of my leg and retrieved the naughty horse.  He worked her pretty good for about 10 minutes, then we all headed back up to the barn.  

It’s almost a month later my leg has healed pretty well.  And my heart is doing better as well.  Pixie and I have had some pretty good bonding moments over the past few weeks – mane and tail brushing, lots of petting and kissing (side note: Eric came out to watch me work with Pixie one night and didn’t want me to kiss him after he saw me kissing Pixie until I washed my lips!  I said, honey, I’ve been coming home and kissing you with horse lips for months!).  So now, I need to work on healing my ego.  Like I said, I’ve regressed a bit.  I’m scared, worried, less confident and not just with Pixie, but with all of the horses.  So that’s what I’m working on now.  Little by little, I will regain my presence with horses.  It’s a good winter project.