This is a test. This is only a test..... to evaulate how much effort you are willing put out to do what you claim you love to do.
My morning started off really well. I slept well, didn't have to get up very early, started my day with a good breakfast. It was looking promising. I got myself ready for the race, put dinner in the crockpot, did a load of laundry and dishes, and put together all my horse's evening grain for quick and easy distribution. I knew today was going to be long so I was setting myself for success, go me! I feel so on top on things, let's go barrel racing!
I walk out the door and that's when things start going downhill. First, I hear cows mooing. That's not really a big deal. Except that I cannot see them. They have once again, crashed a panel and gotten themselves locked in the old barn. There is no food in there, no grain, no treats and it leaks like a sieve, so it's not a dry place to hang out. Damn cows! I make a mental note to get them out before I leave. I catch all of my 5 year olds with no problems. But Laynee decides, Not Today Satan! Running, kicking, not gonna be caught! I abandon trying to catch her pretty quickly. I've got other matters to tend to.
I get all the 5 year olds blanketed and ready to load. I decide to release dumb and dumber from the barn and jury rig the panel as a quick solution to the immediate problem. I put some treats in my pocket and Laynee is caught with no issue. OK, back on track.
I load all 4 horses, call for Lucy (the stow away cat), because I saw her milling around my trailer. She comes out of the barn. Crap! Now she's headed for my truck. A quick trip into the house to get some cat food, and back out to the barn. Perfect, cat's accounted for. Into the truck I hop. Just at the precise time I'd planned to leave. Turn the key.... click, click, nothing. Mother Father!!!!
Last month this same thing happened. Yesterday, I decided to fire it up and make sure we were good to go for today. Started right up, no problem. I should also mention, all my help is out of town for the weekend, so I'm on my own. I call Gabe who talks me through properly jumping my truck. Call me spoiled, call me lucky... whatever, I've just never had to do it alone. I closely follow instructions and it works! TaDa! Now I'm good!
I get my phone plugged in, music set up, drinks secure. Look down to see my truck saying, "6 miles to E". Are. You. Kidding. Me??? I call Gabe. I think more for someone to hear my exasperation, because he can literally do nothing but say, "that sucks, sorry." And he is not wrong. It does suck.
After sitting for a few minutes, both my truck and myself thinking about it, my truck decides, you know what? I think I can make it 55miles to E. 😁 Great! That's good enough for me! As I leave the driveway, actually, it can make it 106miles to E. Even better white truck but I only need about 20. Let's go!
I arrive to the round up grounds and it is raining. A miserable drizzle. I pay my fees and really start regretting bringing so many horses. And to think, I almost brought 2 more. Man, I'm clearly a bit of an optimist! I'm glad I didn't.
I clean off my mud encrusted caballos, which is super fun when you are soaking wet. All the hair and dirt transfers from the horses to my coat and face. I bet that's cute! Thank God I'm already married 🤣 I'd never find a husband looking like horsey hobo.
The weather turns off and the sun kind of comes out. This day doesn't suck after all. My mare, Laynee, made nice runs in both the barrels and poles, placing in the 1D in both. I only rode Justin and Prim and entered them in the futurity time onlys which I was thankful for friends videoing and holding my other horse. Both horses made good runs and progress was made! Wahoo! As for Mazie, I didn't even try to ride her. Just a trip to town to stand and be tied but that's still important in and of itself. Maybe next time for her.
Overall, it ended up being a fine ass day! Moral of the story is, sometimes you are tested to see how serious you are about something. I'd be lying if I didnt say when my truck didn't start, that I didn't think about staying home. When it said it was out of diesel, to unload and put them away. When it was raining, to only ride my open horse and forget about my colts. It's not easy but nothing that is worth it, ever is. Keep on keeping on. The only way forward is through!
