Another month has gone by. I have to admit that my enthusiasm from my last post of
tackling life with a newly broken arm has started to wane. I am almost done with this
damn cast-thing, but it is growing tiresome!
I have had a lot of time to reflect this month on what the best winter course of action is
for my two horses. Having a broken right arm really accentuates how much effort goes
into the proper maintenance and care of each individual horse. This is something that in
the past, I have not really noticed as it has always been so second nature for me.
When my wrist was newly broken, I didn’t fully understand how useless my arm and
thus I, would be! I was immediately making plans to continue running and start riding
after a few weeks. Needless to say; none of these things happened!
Additionally, I didn’t realize how much help I would require to accomplish mundane
tasks like filling a hay net or picking stalls or even putting my hair up! Ugh!!! I am normally
quite self-reliant and independent. This new brush with helplessness has been truly
humbling and frustrating!!
Winter is really starting to descend here in VT. No major snow yet but temperatures
have begun to linger in bucket freezing depths longer each day. As I write this, an icy, sleety
rain is soaking the frozen muddy fields behind my barn. Winter complicates horse
care and riding, as we all know. The annual question of what to do with each horse
should have been answered months ago but with my injury, all my best laid plans went
up in smoke. I now find myself questioning the best course of action for each horse.
When I broke my arm, I was lucky to be able to ship my two horses in work off to Suzi
Gornall, my friend and mentor where they have been attending her boot camp and I
have been able to see them both progress from the sidelines.
Chatzi is a straightforward horse. He is green but he is very direct. He can be fresh but
he is not terribly troubled by his surroundings and can make friends anywhere.
Oskar is a bit more complex. As a TB with a questionable past, he understandably
enough comes with his share of baggage. Those of you who have read my past entries
here are familiar with his self-inflicted injuries usually acquired while he expresses his
displeasure at either his neighbors or his surroundings.
Suzi is heading south very soon and I will be collecting my boys in a week or so. I have
to admit that I’m getting a bit anxious about how best to continue their good work when I
am still 3-4 weeks from being back to one hundred percent.
I find Chatzi pretty easy to plan for. He would be happy with either total vacation or
moving to an indoor to continue his work. Oskar is another story. He doesn’t like time off
and he isn’t crazy about life at an indoor. Add to that my still broken arm and I admit that I
am at a bit of a loss as to the best plan of attack!
While early into this injury, I was in total denial of how much I would have to slow down.
Now I am fully aware of how much help I require to get anything accomplished! I have
had my donkey, Vinnie and my retired TB, Wylie to care for through this ordeal. I can get
them fed and watered and pick stalls slowly and sloppily if I need to, but anything beyond
that has been impossible.
Shortly after the incident, my young horse Chatzi kicked the fence and scraped his leg. I
managed to clean the wound but when it swelled, I was totally incapable of wrapping it.
Try as I might, I couldn’t get any of my other body parts to stand in for my right hand.
This was a good lesson for me. I am not a person who has spent much time
contemplating “I can’t do it”. I was more of a “how do I get this done?” kind of girl…
Realizing that I was incapable of providing a base level of good care for my horses was
depressing but a true reality check. Sometimes it’s just impossible to get things done!! I
immediately made plans to send the horses off to Suzi.
This turn of events has made me truly thankful that I am not normally so helpless and
grateful that my only real complaint is a broken arm that is healing well! While I’m on the
subject of being thankful, this whole episode has also made me grateful for the people
around me who have stepped up and offered to help me in every way imaginable.
Now that I need to step back up and take over the training and care of my horses, I find
myself questioning my ability to accomplish those tasks. I have become so resigned to
accomplishing nothing that its become hard to fathom that my body will be useful again
in a few short weeks!!
It goes without saying that I am beyond ready to get out and get stuff done. I will admit
however that this whole experience has given me a real appreciation of how many
people are willing to step up and help when asked!
I know that when Oskar and Chatzi come home there will be at least a few weeks where
I struggle to get the minimum done with and for them. I know that I will figure out where
they are best situated to get through winter and that they will tell me themselves what is
working and what isn’t. I admit that I’m a bit anxious about not having a better plan for
them. I guess sometimes you just have to do the best you can and be ready to ask for
help when you need it!!