Last night, Pete received a call from our friend Carmen Summerfield. She said that her old horse had died and that she would give us his hay, beet pulp, Biotin, and vitamin E supplements. Pete and I knew Carmen, sort of, because of our involvement with the Valley Arts Alliance. So this morning we went over to her place to pick up the hay, etc.

We stopped beforehand, at the store, and picked up a sympathy card.

It was a bittersweet visit. Her horse, Lawrence, was 28 years old, and his health was failing when he died. She had him for 27 years – she said she was a green rider and he was a green horse when she got

Siggi

him. I said that I empathized with her – I did not tell her about Signy and Siggi, who died earlier in life. And I did empathize with her – I could see that there is now a huge gap in her life, and of that of her husband, Eric. Carmen is an airplane pilot. Eric is a retired airplane pilot. I totally understood when he said that his daily routines to a large part centered around Lawrence.

I said, without going into too much detail, that this is the way it is here. My putter time is usually horse related. Like today, upon returning home, Pete and I put the hay in the barn, and he dried out a trash can in which we put the beet pulp. I took care of the smaller items, putting the supplements on shelves and in five-gallon buckets. I then cleaned the pen and moved the rubber mats, which were now a ways from each other, making clean up more difficult. I then walked down road and got the horses some willow branches. And after, I cleaned out their water buckets. As I worked, it occurred to me that up until now, this has been what Eric has been doing.

Our situation is similar to Carmen and Eric’s in that we have an older horse. Tinni is 30, which is up there. And being an older horse, he also has been getting preferential treatment – i.e., additional supplements and blanketing in the winter. The difference is that I have four horses total. So when Tinni dies, I won’t be bereft.

Tinni isn’t going any time soon, either. He has all his teeth, is maintaining his weight, and is bright eyed. Still, he is showing signs of age, which I am attempting to forestall in part by making sure he gets exercised.

It was overcast today – the rain held off long enough for me to take him and Ryder for a walk on our trails. I did so much puttering that I didn’t get the others out. Rain or shine, tomorrow I’ll ride.

In my mind, the acquisition of the hay and supplements was secondary to the visit. I so enjoyed talking with the pair – they are kindred spirits. We are making plans, come winter, to go skijoring – I told them that Hrimmi, who so enjoys pulling a cart, would also enjoy doing this.

Next: 271. 10/1/19: EMT 1 Class