1-1-22
7:55 pm Saturday
A New Year’s Jaunt On My Pony Bess
My former pony Arabella has become Viggo’s pony and they are a cute pair.
I am now riding the wonderful Bess and as far as I am concerned, she is the best! She is 19 years old, about 14 hands, but she is full of heart and feels about 6 years old and 16 hands under saddle, and we fly together.
Shuna arranged a very special New Year’s ride in the fresh snow and frigid air of a winter wonderland.
We suffered some illness between Christmas and New Year’s at Cascadia Heritage Farm, and with the addition of a winter storm we have not been riding. Today temperatures got slightly above freezing and Viggo and Shuna are starting to feel better after their illness. So we decided to go for a ride but daylight was fading, we had to move fast!
I pulled out of the garage Shuna’s favorite Christ fur saddle, or as I like to call it the yak sack. I got out Viggo’s old western saddle that Shuna and I found at an antique store in a small rural town of Gold Bar when Viggo was not even a year old. It was very solid and so cute with silver bling, and for $150, we had to have it. Viggo has been using it for years. Last, I pulled out my very comfy Black Forest western saddle.
Shuna started to take off Abby and Arabella’s blankets and I worked on Bess. Shuna got hers off quickly while I eventually found all the snaps and hooks and got my Bess ready for the saddle. We tacked them up as darkness settled. We were ready, the ponies were ready. We have not been out for over a week and the darkness was not going to stop us.
I was so excited I did not even use the mounting block to get into my saddle as Shuna and Viggo waited. I put one hand in front of the wither and the other on the strong hind quarters and up I went without twisting my saddle. Shuna was surprised by my enthusiasm.
I am not sure what struck me, but I was stunned nearly senseless with delight as I started to trot down the snow-covered street to the path in the shadowy forest. I cantered up the hill into a world of black and white forest, a snowy wonderland. I let go of the reins and tighten my legs. I say to Shuna and Viggo we should go carefully down this path because we don’t know if trees have come down across the path, but I really was stunned senseless and a moment later my Bess and I were trotting down this winding and narrow path. We have traveled this path hundreds of times but tonight it is a gateway to a world of miraculous mirth and joy. Our ponies are thrilled to be out, and their joy moves through us and our joy echoes back to them. The trail opens to the larger fire road, and we fly. I have not had this experience before in my life, but I was taken out of my own experience into this space of shared vitality, possibility, hope.
I feel a connection to my Bess, to her wonderful vitality and spirit. I let my reins go again and Shuna starts to trot past me on Abby. Then for a few moments we are cantering side by side. Shuna and Abby are looking beautiful and full of delight, and it is very tangible and a pleasure to bear witness to. We are flying, dancing, swimming in the winter night. Oh no, Viggo is screaming for us to stop. Arabella is having so much fun she is kicking up her heels. We slow down and Viggo tells us what happened. We tell him how proud we are of him for not being thrown off.
We cannot make it far either direction on the path because trees are down in both directions. We ride it back and forth between the fallen trees, not wanting the ride to end. We eventually turn down the narrow path to take us home and Shuna and I tell Viggo to take some deep breaths of the dark and crystalline winter air to appreciate this magical evening. We all take deep breaths as we head down the path towards home.
What a wonderful New Year’s celebration! Thank you Shuna, Viggo, Abby, Arabella and of course my pony Bess for filling my New Year’s Celebration with so much joy. It has reminded me how absolutely blessed I am.
Thank you!