Lily therapy

It's truly amazing what this view can do for one's soul and mental well being.  

I enjoyed a dose of Lily therapy last night, and I can attest that it did me well.

Over the past four years, I've taken several shots from this perspective of my beloved Appaloosa mare from Southern Oklahoma.  

This photo represents the best Lily ears ever.  She has grown up.

She is now 7 years old, and most of the juvenile stuff is gone from her behavior.  

Immediately after dinner, I decided that Lily and I were going for a ride.  This summer has not worked out too well for enjoying one of my passions.  

In fact, last night was the first time I'd ridden Lily on her second set of shoes---nailed on three weeks ago.   I rode her twice on the first set.  

Never mind figuring out how much each ride really costs when you pay $80 per shoeing.  Still cheaper than skiing. 

Anyway, I pulled out the saddle, bridle and blanket in the wheel barrow and then the bucket of brushes.

Lily was waiting for me at the pasture gate.  She seemed quite pleased to see all the riding gear there waiting for her.  

While grooming her, I took the scissors to trim her bridle path.  She stood quietly.  None of the old tossing of her head from the old days of her youth.

In the past Lily has adamantly opposed any trimming of the hair extending outside her ears.  Emphatically so!  

And, even that wording may not be strong enough.  

I might add that one time when my two sisters and I tried to trim her ears, she bent a metal nose twitch.  

For those who don't know horses, twitches are used when horses are unruly. 

They're attached to the upper lip and when tightened will put pressure on a nerve, which makes the horse think of something else besides the clipping, trimming or doctoring. 

Horses usually behave really well with the first feel of the twitch.  Not Lily.

After trying every humane method possible, short of having a vet sedate her, we decided Lily's ear hairs could stay put.  

Well, last night while trimming her bridle path and her nose hairs, I reached up a couple of times and snipped the scraggly-looking hair extending from Lily's ears.

Not a flinch.  No pawing, no ugly looks.  She stood perfectly still.

She also stood perfectly still next to the mounting block.  Sometimes horses love to get right where they belong at the mounting block and then step aside once you raise your foot to get on.

Lily's manners at this point were impeccable. 

They remained that way through the entire ride.  Her walk was brisk.  She seemed to enjoy herself just as much as I was enjoying riding her.

It was a pleasant evening---not too hot, not too cool, no bugs, very few cars, no deer suddenly popping from out of the bushes.

We did encounter one herd on our way back.  It took up the road from side to side.

As we drew closer to the scene, we could see it was just a group of people walking.  

Nine people, one dog, one baby carriage.  This particular group included our next-door neighbors.

They were returning home after an evening stroll on our road.  

I rode up to them, introduced myself and invited them to take their route home through our hayfield and woods and to be sure to sign the Lodgepole Log, which they did.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed a very therapeutic and happy evening aboard my horse/friend.  I'm hoping more will come as our weather cools down for fall. 

Happy Monday.