Horseplay
My dear, dear Cirrus - until Paloma showed up, he was the king of hand-me-downs.
In the beginning, it was just that I couldn’t afford to get him anything new. He got the $5 brushes I’d chosen for my first horse when I was sixteen, the ones with plastic bristles that snapped off with every other stroke. The battered old feed bucket that I’d been lugging my horse gear around in for years. The halter I’d picked out for Clementine (which, to be fair, WAS new…but after spending so much time imagining it as hers, it took me a long time to see it as his). Over the years, I picked up a few ropes, made him some reins, got a saddle pad that made my old saddle fit him well enough to get by - but in the world of horses (where there are tools and supplies and an infinite number of things to spoil your equine companions), he got only what was absolutely necessary.
Now, he’s a horse - and I KNOW he doesn’t go around feeling left out because I didn’t get him the fancy cookies. But when we brought the youngin home and she needed some stuff of her own, I decided to finally get some new gear for Cirrus, too. And let me tell you - the fancy essential oil shampoo and the face brush that I thought was frivolous but purchased anyways after reading endless online reviews that promised I wouldn’t be disappointed? As it turns out, my wild boy is quite the fan of the finer things in life. It’s funny how these small upgrades have changed our relationship - it’s the beeline he makes when he sees me, the disappearance of any and all itchy spots, the way he closes his eyes and sighs when it’s grooming time.
The cherry on top is the new saddle, ordered back in October, that will perfectly fit his short little back so he no longer has to feel uncomfortable while he carries me around. It should be here any time…to say I’m counting the days is an understatement.
In truth, I’ve been preparing for this investment into my horsey-life for a while. A long while. Years, even. I am nothing if not disciplined, especially with savings. I ferret away money slowly and steadily, playing the long game for as long as it takes. I’ve said I was saving for a new saddle. A second horse. Quality tools with which to communicate. The moment never felt right, so I just kept on saying “someday.”
But really, I think I just wasn’t ready to open myself up to the vulnerability that is loving horses. Horses are expensive. Their stuff is expensive. And growing up? I always felt like my horse obsession was a bit of a burden on my family. I spent a lot of time with a sore heart, trying to hide my love of these animals from my parents (I didn’t want them to feel badly for not being able to throw money in the direction of this passion) and from my horsey friends (I was afraid of their pity, afraid they would see my desperate jealousy). It’s silly, but I can still feel the pang now - the little bit of shame, the helpless draw I felt towards wild manes and wild hearts.
But the minute we decided to start looking for a little property, everything began to fall into place (enter Paloma, of course). Honestly, once there were TWO horses in my life, there was no hiding anymore. This is no weekend hobby, folks - this is my everything. The beginning, the end, the why…I’ve got horse-crazy-itis and I don’t care who knows it.
Naturally, along with buying some new gear for my ponies I’ve been learning to make all of the horsey things I can, too. A couple weekends back, Eric helped me to construct a gigantic loom and I wove together a mohair girth (aka, the bit that keeps the saddle on). Usually english girths are made from leather, but Cirrus is quite sensitive and vastly prefers the texture and breathability of the strings around his middle - so instead of buying a replacement for the disintegrating one we had been using, I decided to make my own. My carpenter father would likely be torn in deciding whether to laugh or be horrified at our rough and tortured construction of the loom itself, but it worked! And that, at the end of the day, is the most important thing.
This first girth is fully functional, but is suffering just a little from “first pancake syndrome” - so I am going to give this whole girth weaving thing another try. Besides, after years and years of drooling over the COLORS and PATTERNS available in western tack and then being forced to choose from the comparatively boring english color palette, I have absolutely no problems with making a second one. I’ll use any excuse I can to play with fibers, today and every day - and supplies for the second go are currently winging their way to me this minute.
I also made both horses new halters and leads AND spliced up a new thirty foot rope so we can play at greater distances. They’re nothing fancy, but they feel soft and smooth in my hands, made for an enjoyable afternoon, and seem oh-so-full of potential. Plus those leather ends - they’re just pure fun.
Now all that’s left to do is to load everything up and head down to the barn - these little goodies were fun to craft, but I’m sure they’re going to be even more fun when the horses and I head out to the arena.