Playing weather man

Often in the summer we check the radar to see what the weather holds in the next few hours before heading out to ride. Yesterday it was hot and muggy and Jack warned me that there was a large band of thunderstorms along the Wisconsin, Minnesota border that was sure to hit us late afternoon, early evening.

We headed out to ride and I noticed it was starting to sprinkle. I ran back in and from my extensive knowledge as a weather forecaster decided we had just enough time to get a ride in. So, out we went to catch the horses, saddle up and work them out. It didn't take long for both of the girls horses to be covered in sweat. It was just so darn humid! I rode Classy around the pasture working on getting her into shape. She was stiff at first but but her arthritis loosened up as we moved around. When the girls were done riding we cooled off on our usual trail ride, but as we headed towards the barn I noticed the storm was about upon us. I cut the cooling off stage short and motioned to the girls to head to the barn quicker.

We got the saddles off and N was rinsing Gunner when it started to blow. Dixie and S were next in line for the hose and she looked at me to ask if it was necessary to rinse her off with the rain coming. As hot as the horse was I insisted. She was about half way through when I pointed at the pens and yelled "Let's go!"

As I took off with Classy at my side I could feel her looking at the trees, the sky and the sheds whose doors were banging from the wind. I turned the corner for the pasture gate and saw Emmett who had escaped his own little pasture to meet his mama!

N had already released her horse, so I yelled for her to grab Emmet's halter while I rushed Classy into a pen and shut the gate to keep them separated. In the background I could hear S yelling for me, but assumed she was coming up soon. N disappeared to the get the halter and I waited while Gunner, The Donkey and Emmett got reacquainted. Emmett, whinnied and pushing against the pipe gates trying to get at Classy. Giving up he turned to the next available horse Gunner. Gunner, poor dude, just doesn't have the necessary parts, and while he likes little Emmettt...not in that way. Things quickly escalated as Emmett examined Gunner too aggressively and Gunner started to squeal and kick out at his inquiries. After what seemed like 20 minutes of this, although I am sure it was seconds, I screamed at the top of my lungs for the girls to hurry.

N showed up as I was making my way out of Classy's stall to separate them and get the halter on Emmett. S followed behind her adding one more horse to the crazy mix.

At that point we were able to lead Emmett to his separate pasture and Lloyd the Donkey quickly followed, knowing where he really belonged. I reassured Classy, opened her stall gate and followed Emmett to the pasture, as he was now tearing around in the pouring rain trying to figure out how to get some of that milk he was so sure he needed.

The wind picked up yet again and he finally gave up and went to his stall. I closed it up with he and Lloyd in and stood and watched the rain. The girls, crazier than I, ran back to the barn to put tack away. While I waited the worse part of the storm out, S came back to see how I was doing.

I later found out that she had froze in the driveway at the end of her lead line as Dixie pranced anxiously because of the storm. N found her sobbing as she went back to get Emmett's halter. I'm not sure what was said, but N snapped her out of it and got the pair moving towards the pasture in time to get back before the horses injured each other. Maybe it was the desperate screaming of her mother?

I think I will listen to my husband a little closer when he talks of approaching storms. He is nicknamed Charlie Shortino (local weather dude) around here.