Bare ground search, continued

Kea and I walked on bare ground again yesterday: the Rathdrum McDonalds and convenience store parking lot, the area surrounding Spokane Equestrian Center and a much smaller area surrounding the Hayden Costco parking lot. Costco still needs to lose some major snow berms.

The trip to Spokane had a dual purpose---one being bare ground; the other, to see the facility where I'll be sending my horses for a month's training. Our family has known the trainer since the evening he was nine years old and waiting outside my school-room door for a Schweitzer Valley Dwellers 4-H meeting and his launch to a very successful career.

Monte Collison is one of those rare young people I've come across in my life who always knew exactly what he wanted to do. He has stayed on course ever since that first 4-H meeting and has earned a wonderful reputation in regional and national circles as a horse trainer. In spite of his success, he never forgets his roots, and he considers himself like a member of our family.

When Monte was known as Skeeter, he rode Sassy, the Appaloosa mare we bought from the Knaggs family. I always thought it was neat that we'd bought a horse from the Knaggs. Anyway, Sassy served Skeeter well, as she did many other youngsters who tried their hands with horses, including my sister Laurie.

Now, Monte, who's 40-something and noted for his work with Arabians, will be riding another Appaloosa, belonging to this family. We hope he'll just be riding, that is. The goal is that he will stay on her longer than 8 seconds and work the buck out of her before Laurie and I climb into the saddle.

Lily's a powerful mare who can buck high off the ground and turn on a dime. Laurie and I are two once adventuresome women who are both getting older. We treasure our functioning bodies. So, we're hoping Monte will convince Lily in a month's time that removing her riders is not a nice idea. He seems pretty self-assured; of course, he hasn't stood beside her yet. Those Arabs are pretty mini looking compared to big Lily.

And, Lily's buddy who'll be going along to the equine center with her, will provide a definite contrast to Monte's challenges with Lily. Lefty's small, cooperative, a bit impish but nothing scary. Monte told me yesterday that he'll generally "school" the little guy in horse-behavior basics. He'll clip him, bathe him, leave him tied, teach him to show off his beautiful head, neck and body and get him good to go for anyone to work around him with no bad manners.

If all goes well, Monte and Laurie will show Lefty at halter during two Arabian shows over Memorial Day weekend. And, if all goes well with Lily, Laurie will take her over and maybe put her in some summer horse shows. My personal plans for Lily include saddling up and plodding down dirt roads and trails, proud to be riding a "mighty pretty Appaloosa."

This year has been designated a horse and gardening year for me. Both have always been close to my soul, but this year, with a greenhouse for the garden and the bright prospects that go along with my two young horses, I'm pretty stoked and ready to leave the sad memories of past year behind.

Yesterday's trip in search of bare ground yielded the expected results along with the exhilaration of knowing that fun times lie ahead this spring. Everyone at the equine center was very nice, and Kea was a hit with one of the regulars who loves Border Collies. Who could not be excited when upon leaving, this friendly lady---moments before a perfect stranger---asked, "Are you coming back?"

When I told her yes, she followed with a reminder, "Bring that little dog with you when you come."