The weather was awful, humidity was making the air so thick that it was almost hard to breath. On top of the not so nice weather the bugs were swarming.
So for ha-ha's I brought my camera with me (the real one, not my blackberry). I managed to take one video, as I really suck at filming and lunging at the same time. In it you can see he really doesn't know verbal commands and has no concept of how to walk on a lungeline.
Well after this little video he got fresh the other way. Due to the humidity and bugs I hadn't planned on lunging him long. I'd also never lunged him in side reins before (but I think he had been worked with them before I owned him). However, I couldn't end our lunging session on a bad note, so we had to keep going. Part of the problem was that he seemed to be counting time in his head, and once it had been about 20 minutes he had decided he was done. Threw on the breaks and spun to look at me. I know that habit probably got started as he used to push his last owners around. He'd misbehave and they would back off, essentially training him to repeat his bad behavior.
We eventually got to a place where I lunged him over the calvaletti both directions. It was hilarious! He was so awkward but finally did it beautifully once both directions. So we ended on that good note and by then he was sweaty and almost dripping. So we got a nice cold shower, a hand walk down the road to check things out, then another shower and finally some light grazing before I tucked him in for the night (brushed him off, rubbed legs down with liniment, etc).
So I was all set. I would ride him Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, giving him Monday off. I came home from the barn and found out my best friend's grandfather had died. The wake was scheduled for Friday (which I did attend) and the funeral was at 11am on Saturday. Okay so I would ride Thursday and the weekend, no big deal...
(Again, Silly me making plans.)
I went to work and planned on going out to lunch at the pub down the road (I'd been sent an email for a free entrée of my choice). We had a lovely lunch and went to walk back out across the sand/gravel parking lot. I wasn't paying attention and I stepped in a small hole. Well my ankle collapsed (or as I say "Popped"), I went flying, skinned both knees and had unbelievable pain in my ankle. I then used my father as a crutch, and then it happened.... my ears starting roaring, my vision got funny, I tried taking deep breathes but it was too late. My body was in too much shock and next thing I know I'm on the ground opening my eyes. My father looking petrified, I inwardly groaned.
"I feinted didn't I?"
Gotta love genetics (that's a story for another time). I knew the drill, I had Rescue Remedy in my purse, along with my ankle brace and Advil. As far as I was concerned I was fine. My dad however was not convinced. Long story short, I eventually got dragged to the Doctor's later that afternoon. A couple of x-rays later it was determined I had fractured my ankle. (Son of a B*tch!) I was prescribed a space boot, offered pain pills (HELL NO. I'm good with Advil Liqui-gels, this statement made to doctor chuckle) and was told to come back in two weeks.
TWO WEEKS!?!? I can't ride for TWO FLIPPIN' WEEKS?!?! Stupid Murphy's Law...
So needless to say I'm not thrilled with the whole situation. And the kicker is, I know my body and everybody tells me I'm wrong. The doctor had given me that same disbelieving look when I told him that my Chiropractor describes me as "double jointed to the extreme". Then he tested for himself at my instance that I wasn't making this up and his look said it all. Yes I really am that flexible, yes I know it's just as much a curse as a gift, etc, etc. They said my ankle would swell up huge, I said it wouldn't (guess who was right). They said it would be more painful (I only took one advil this morning, and that was more for my knee then the ankle). At this point I'm highly irritated. The space boot is heavy, makes stairs near impossible, and it chafes and makes me overheat. Plus it makes that awful velcro noise every time I move. Eeew.
I have quickly decided I would have been better off with an air cast and a pair of crutches. If only the fates could have been that merciful. When wearing the space boot I'm in more pain than when it's off. If it doesn't get better in a few days I'm going to call the doctor. The way it makes me move is pissing my knee off to the point it hurts worse then the ankle.
That was my work look today, sexy right?
So despite everything I still went up to barn last night, this morning and tonight. UK is taking everything in stride (he's been a good boy and hasn't spooked at the strange thing attached to my leg). One of my friends may end up riding him for me, and if not we'll be having a 2 week lunging bootcamp (hooray!). I'm annoyed mostly at the fates (or what-have-you) as they keep throwing monkey wrenches in my plans! Well I guess it's true what they say:
"the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry" or the quote I prefer from the Van Zant song "If you want to hear God laugh just tell him your plans"
On that note I leave you now dear readers with this peaceful picture of the horses in their anti-insect garb from this morning.
So... Good night, good luck and watch for holes in parking lots!
-Jessica/EnglishCowgirl
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