It’s going fast. We are nearly four months into the year of the fire horse. I have vowed to spend as much time as possible with my fire horses.

They are hardly the spirited, high energy animals that one thinks about when they think of fire horses. Rather, they are calm, intelligent animals who use their energy wisely. They don’t do stupid things, which some would say make them high spirited.

Three Fire Horses

Today, a good example: I stayed home from the former banquet room of the historic Eagle Hotel – did some work at home. I wrote a letter to the Palmer Senior Center. I also sent out a lot of emails telling people about the upcoming Mat-Su Orchestra concert. And I began work on the second newsletter. I feel good about all of this, and like I was productive.

The sun was shining brightly, and so I wasted no time in getting outside on this, the second day of spring. The temperature was 40˚ F – this is the back porch temperature.

I got all the horses out. I started out taking Tyra and Shadow for a walk. The plan was for them both to escort me up Jim’s Road and onto the upper trail. Shadow had other plans. At the Samovar Road turn she disappeared. I knew that she had gone home. It didn’t seem right to her that Pete was not with us, nor was Ryder. With Shadow, I don’t figure much into the equation, which is why I want my own dog.

Tyra and I continued on as planned up Jim’s Road and onto the upper trail. Tyra seemed to be enjoying herself, running ahead and then waiting for me. We didn’t go far because the sun, in the line of southern exposure, made the trail punchy. If I again wanted to walk it, I would need to go early in the morning.

Tyra and I returned home, and yes, Shadow was waiting for us. I expressed my displeasure by simply not acting overly excited about seeing her. And, as I rightly reasoned, she had done what she thought she should do, given the fact that being without the other dog and owner seemed odd to her.

Hrimmi was next on deck. I did the same trek that I did on Tyra, but rather than walk, I instead rode her. She didn’t break any speed records, but she moved along willingly.

Lastly, I took Raudi down Murphy Road, getting on about a mile distant from the house. I got up on a snow berm and asked her to move closer so I could get on, and she did. I thought, every time I take a horse out, they do something that solidifies their training or presents itself anew.

I then rode Raudi to the Murphy Road/Ridge Runner intersection. She trotted some on the way down, more on the way back. Then she galloped nicely up the Murphy Road Hill. She coughs after she exerts herself – this time was no exception. We turned onto Oceanview and walked home, me praising her for doing such a good, good job.

I hope tomorrow to get home early enough to get a ride or a walk in. I need to continue to celebrate the year of the firehorse.

Next: 88. 3/31/26: Not Quite