Spirited

I felt pretty stoked on my way out to the barn on Tuesday — I rode Eli on Monday, and the weather was holding up well Tuesday evening so surely I would get another ride in. Unless of course Eli’s leg blew up again.

His leg looked great! Also …

Okay. Eli tolerates a shedding blade, even through some teeth grinding I got him sort of half way groomed enough to put a saddle on.

I get up to the arena, knowing it was getting late, and didn’t walk long before I started trotting. And then the arena lights went out.

Oh, I yelled. Like, HEY WHO TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS. A trainer and her student had just finished up in the arena and they knew I was up there. Another boarder who was there doesn’t use the arena right now. No one turned off the lights.

I went back down to the breaker box and flipped switches … I could see the bulbs light back up, but if they have already been on, the lights take a few minutes to warm back up. So I walked Eli around in the dark until the lights came back on enough for us to trot. Surprisingly, Eli stayed calm. I mean, in normal circumstances I think he would have stayed calm, but this is the Eli who hasn’t had much turnout and even fewer rides the past few months so I am glad he didn’t spook or try to take off or anything. He hasn’t done stuff like that in ages, but I remain guarded in unusual circumstances. Which the dark would be.

Eli felt very frisky at the trot, but he settled in enough to listen to my leg and seat and once I realized he was listening to half halts well I called it a day. Or night, I guess.

Eli needs a bath and a body clip. I don’t think I can avoid clipping him this winter.