Japanes Punishment and Crazy Horses

dang I'm sore today!! it's terrible, it doesn't matter how i move, something always hurts! here is my theory as to why this is:

Peggy is in Alaska with her husband for 3 weeks, taking a well deserved vacation. she has left me in charge of her horse, Ulie. so yesterday i went to the barn at 10 so i would have time to ride Avalon and Ulie. I hadn't ridden Avalon since Sunday, but i figured he would be ok. i was wrong. not only did he have a trillion trillion time more energy than he should he was also very upset that he was out working by himself while his friends placidly sat in their stalls munching hay.

he nearly ran away with me about 5 times and i had my hands full keeping him from running away. (explaining part of the soreness in my arms) so i finally said, "screw this!", and i took him to the round pen. "Now look what you've gotten yourself into, Avalon." i told him sternly. "you are going to trot around and around in the deep sand until you are soooo tired... and then you're going to go some more." so we trotted around and around until dust hung in the air like fog.

when he was properly tired i opened the narrow gate out of the round pen. as we walked out i could see it coming, but not fast enough. my foot caught in the nice little X in the gate. "dang," i thought, "my leg is going to break! it would just figure that this would happen on the day when i told my mom it was ridiculous that she thought i needed to be supervised while riding" it didn't break, but my stirrup got pulled off my saddle and i got pulled off my horse. Avalon being the gentleman he is just stopped and stood there... NOT!!! Avalon cantered happily down to the barn and i was left to limp down after him. (this explains why my leg is sore)

i caught Avalon and took him back up, closing BOTH gates behind me. then we cantered quite nicely.

once i had had my lunch i tacked up Ulie. Ulie is an awesome horse, she can do some amazing stuff, but she can also be really mean, really wicked... Satan herself in disguise. (yes, satan is a she, lol) actually so far she has been extremely nice to me. she lets me pet her and catch her without trying to bite me! she only tries to bite or kick me when i brush and tack her up, it's quite amazing.

riding her is so much because she'll trot slow and tiny or fast and huge, she can turn sharply or arch her neck and prance. I love riding her! but she is a marathon horse and loves to run, so i had quite a bit of trouble keeping her slow (explaining more of the soreness in my arms)

well, it being Tuesday i had Aikido. for some reason i thought it would only take me 15 minutes to get to class..... once again..... i was wrong. and i was late to class. really, it wouldn't be that bad if they scolded you for being late, but no, they are not kind. instead they kept right on going with warm up and one of them (a nice, funny man with long, gray hair) came over to me and whispered, "so sorry you're late". so was i. i bowed, paying my respect to the dojo and then went to do my 10 push-ups. not wimpy push-ups, real push-ups. (explaining why my arms really and truly hurt)

despite the strictness and seriousness of Aikido i really like it (even though I've only done 2 classes). i love the rolls. you just sort of dive at the ground, but roll instead of hitting it. (i also enjoy throwing people, he he he) everyone said i was doing really good. i was really quite flattered, but i get so confused, i'm the only beginner in the class and i fine it very confusing. i suppose i'm doing alright though. i'm also the only girl, there is one guy my age though.

anyhow, enough of pitying myself and whining. think of the muscles i'll have! (and the bruises)