It was a warm, sticky day in July. The air hung heavy with humidity, but not as heavy as my eyelids. I was in a new relationship and had spent too many hours up talking late into the night and not too many hours sleeping in my sagging summer camp cot. I was a wrangler, riding hours each day and teaching dozens of children, leading numerous trail rides for campers, outside groups, and girl scouts.
And this was ride number four of the day. I looked across the group of horses and selected a small bay mare. I liked to rotate horses so the favorites weren't used as much and so I settled on Ana. She didn't have much in the way of redeeming features in my opinion, since she was a bit scrappy and prone to either biting other horses at will or throwing in a small, happy buck. But she hadn't been ridden that day, so Ana it was. She, in typical feisty fashion, had gotten into a scrape and had a bite mark in her cinch area, so she couldn't be saddled.
No worries. I hopped onto her bareback and was ready to head out on the ride. The group wasn't my favorite, but I wasn't paid to give my opinions, so everyone was safely settled aboard their steed and out we went. I decided to lead, as I yawned and scratched Ana's neck. The group was quiet and we set about enjoying the scenery of a green Wisconsin forest. The horses quickly snatched leaves from the trees as we meandered and ambled. I yawned again and then urged Ana back forward. She was leading and I would prefer her to keep her mind in the game and not be too enthusiastic about this task.
And this was ride number four of the day. I looked across the group of horses and selected a small bay mare. I liked to rotate horses so the favorites weren't used as much and so I settled on Ana. She didn't have much in the way of redeeming features in my opinion, since she was a bit scrappy and prone to either biting other horses at will or throwing in a small, happy buck. But she hadn't been ridden that day, so Ana it was. She, in typical feisty fashion, had gotten into a scrape and had a bite mark in her cinch area, so she couldn't be saddled.
No worries. I hopped onto her bareback and was ready to head out on the ride. The group wasn't my favorite, but I wasn't paid to give my opinions, so everyone was safely settled aboard their steed and out we went. I decided to lead, as I yawned and scratched Ana's neck. The group was quiet and we set about enjoying the scenery of a green Wisconsin forest. The horses quickly snatched leaves from the trees as we meandered and ambled. I yawned again and then urged Ana back forward. She was leading and I would prefer her to keep her mind in the game and not be too enthusiastic about this task.
A moment later I looked up at my surroundings. We were heading back towards the home trail. What the?? I thought we had just headed out moments before and then I quickly checked my watch. No, somehow I had managed to lose a good twenty minutes. Twenty minutes? How had I managed to not be aware of the time and trail for twenty minutes?
I realized that I had managed to fall asleep. On a horse. Bareback. On a horse that occasionally bucked. How was this even possible?
I still don't know.
But I smile warmly upon that summer day when things were simple, riding was all I needed to do, and in desperate times, a nap could be had on the back of a little bay mare.
I realized that I had managed to fall asleep. On a horse. Bareback. On a horse that occasionally bucked. How was this even possible?
I still don't know.
But I smile warmly upon that summer day when things were simple, riding was all I needed to do, and in desperate times, a nap could be had on the back of a little bay mare.
You've never felt compelled to nap in a strange place? Teehee.
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