Recovering.........Sort of...............Part 2

Part 1

There was something else besides getting horses outside that was gnawing at me. More than anything else, I wanted to ride. When and how were a big question but the need to feel myself in the saddle was overwhelming. My soul screamed for it.

My surgeon was actually encouraging me to get back on a horse. His goal for me was to have it done by January. I didn't really trust his recommendation since he openly admits he's terrified of horses and knows nothing about riding. I wasn't convinced he fully understood what riding might do to my body.

Even though it was clear he wanted me to take it slow I was worried just the whole process of getting the horse ready and getting myself into the saddle might be more than my body could endure. Considering the level of my pain most days I couldn't help but be afraid of making it worse. Despite my fear my spirit pined for the feel of a horse beneath me and that longing led to planning.

Usually when I've gone a stretch of time without riding, I will lunge my horse first, no matter who the horse. Just a little go round to test the psychological temperature of my horse and a chance for the horse to stretch.

I've never really seen Legs do anything during one of these tests to make me think this practice was necessary but considering he'd not seen any kind of work since last June I was thinking the horse deserved the chance to express some displeasure over this hiatus so getting him saddled and lunged were the first things on my list.

Having already been warned about lunging horses too soon, I figured I would need help with that task. It was a no brainer I'd need help with saddling too. I have lost so much muscle expecting myself to lift something as heavy as a saddle above my head would definitely be too much.

Every time I thought I had help available to accomplish these things something would happen and those plans would fall through. That's the only reason I didn't ride in January as the doctor had suggested.

By the middle of February my hopes of riding had been dashed so many times I decided to heck with those plans. It looked like the only way I was going to get on a horse was by doing it myself, just as I have always done.

To be continued.......

Part 3