The following conversation took place as I brushed Hrimmi.

Alys: Hrimmi, How are you doing today?
Hrimmi: Do you really want to know?
A: Yes.
H: I am doing quite well. I appreciate the fact that you are now brushing me.
A: It’s that time of year.
H: Yes, it’s been some time since I’ve been brushed.
A: But I have been knocking the snow off your back all winter.

H: True, true.
A: I am grooming you first because you’re the first to shed.
H: Also true.
A: And we have just enough time to go for a walk.
H: Are you going to groom my tail?
A: Oh yes. I got the Cowboy Magic right here.
H: And are you going to clean my feet?
A: Oh yes. I have the hoof pick right here.
H: And are you going to brush my mane?
A: Oh yes, I have the brush right here.
H: I’m running a little low on hay here.
A: I will get you some more.
H: Hurry up.
A: Hrimmi, you seem uncharacteristically pushy today.
H: This is because I would like for winter to be over.
A: Why? You have the thickest coat of all three mares.
H: If the truth must be known, I have been bored for some time.
A: Yes. And I feel bad about this. I did my best to keep the trails open.
H: Your best was not good enough.
A: I am aware of this.
H: You know what I’d like?
A: What?
H: To be a cart horse.
A: I know this. And you have the right attitude and aptitude.
H: How come I’m not pulling a cart?
A: Look over to your right. The cart shed is snowed in.
H: Can’t you dig it out?
A: The snow is four feet deep in between the cart shed and the hay barn.
H: So?
A: You need to be patient. This summer we’re going to be doing a lot of riding.
H: Cart, cart, cart.
A: Okay.
H: Promise?
A: Yes. We need to get the shafts bent so that they fit you right. And I need to find someone who is a driving expert.
H: Good luck.
A: I have an idea. I could line drive you down Murphy Road.
H: I’d like to do this.
A: Remember when I took you skijoring? Pete rode you, and you pulled me. I was on skis.
H: I really enjoyed doing this.
A: We’d go out on the trails now, but we’d both post hole.
H: What do you mean by post holing?
A: It’s when one leg or foot goes down deep into the snow.
H: No fun.
A: No fun.
H: I would like some more hay, preferably the grass hay. I’m tired of this stemmy stuff.
A: All right.
H: The hay supply is getting low.
A: We’ll take care of it.
H: You mean get more?
A: Yes, I mean get more.

63. 3/5/24: Making the Mind Body Connection