murakozi: (Default)
murakozi ([personal profile] murakozi) wrote2023-01-19 07:23 am

Goldie

I'm surprised that I didn't post this picture months ago. Back in July of last year, my stepdad and his wife were in the area and my little sister arranged for a trail ride down near Front Royal. She asked if I wanted to come along. I hadn't been in the saddle in years, but yeah, of course I wanted to. I'd been concerned that they might not have a horse big enough for me and also that they might not have a helmet that'd fit. My old riding helmet is long gone. The folks assured that they did.

I was the first to arrive and found I'd be riding Goldie. From the name and spelling, I assumed it'd be a mare, but I was wrong. He was a big palomino gelding.


Goldie

It'd been years since I'd ridden and I was a bit rusty, as well as not being in nearly as good shape as I was when I rode and worked with horses regularly. Goldie was a trooper and put up with me on his back for the ride, though.

I was reminded how out of shape I am when I went to dismount. I automatically just swung my leg over and dropped down. All those years at the barn I'd tell folks coming back from trail rides to move their legs and feet around a bit before getting down. I didn't heed my own advice, so I did stumble when I landed on the ground. Oh well.

Anyway, it was good to be aboard a horse again after so long. Goldie was definitely what I called a "DMV Horse" when I worked at the stables. That's not a bad thing and, honestly, is probably the sort of horse I needed to be on after so long.