Lots of Pain... A Little Gain...

[endlessrarities]

It's snowing again.  After three hours of pristine whiteness the novelty of living in a winter wonderland is rapidly wearing off...

As a result of yesterday's efforts, I spent the day waddling around the office like a geriatric penguin.  And of course, Wednesday night is horse-riding, so there was no respite.

It's strange how a Very Small Horse can take on the dimensions of a Whitbread Shire when you're suffering the after-effects of a strenous work-out.  I clambered up on Molly with as much as elegance as Willy Scott shows when she struggles up onto the elephant in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.  I thought for one terrible moment that the saddle would slip and I'd end up on the floor.  Thankfully, this didn't happen.  And unlike Willy Scott, I wound up sitting on the horse the right way round!

Once we both loosened off, the rest of the lesson was very successful.  Molly worked very hard - considering she spends most of her time bumbling around with kids on her back, she did very well indeed.  And once again, we were paired up for a couple of canters with the irrepressable Jack (the Captain Jack Sparrow of ponies, if you need a reminder), who was quite mad.  He jumped up and down, he cantered on the spot, he bounced, he half-reared and threw in the occasional spin on his hindquarters for good measure.

Hey, I like a fiery horse, but oh boy, is this lad too incandescent even for my tastes.  Molly was, by contrast, the very model of composure.  I shall be suffering even more tomorrow, but it'll be worth it, I think.

On an unrelated subject... Bellakara had told me that I really should get myself an Icon.  I've chosen my Icon - I now have to get it sorted out and uploaded.  Watch this space!!