“Marvelous Magnificent Maggie kicked a dinner plate size hole in the steel siding of the indoor riding arena this morning.”
That note on the ranch house kitchen supper table greeted a cowboy returning from a long day at the office.
Wasn’t any use getting upset eight hours after the buckskin mare had been “making laps, bucking, running and kicking.”
Still laughing about the rambunctiousness and damages sure wouldn’t have been the right take on the hole-in-the-barn either.
Most importantly: “Was Maggie hurt?” Apparently not at least there weren’t any obvious cuts or lameness.
“So what caused her to get so excited? Was she scared of something?”
Perhaps, a piece of paper blew across the arena? Maybe a mouse scampered under her feet? Strong winds might have rattled the tin or the big sliding door?
A sparrow or mourning dove may have flown in close over her head or came in suddenly from her backside? Possibly one of three barn cats out hunting ran by her unexpectedly?
No logical explanation could be given.
It’s not that the sand filled arena used as daytime turnout pen is anything new to the 12-year-old show mare.
Maggie’s spent about 12 hours there daily for the past five years except when at a couple dozen shows annually.
An outsider might assume the horse’s never seen the real world, like a teenage cowboy’s first night on the town.
That’s far from the case. “She’s been everywhere,” semblance of Hank Snow’s hit song.
Travels have been throughout eastern Kansas competing in nearly every type of horse competition. Not always doing so well, but making others work for what they get. Ridden hard during the day and tied to the trailer overnight.
Likewise it might be thought Maggie doesn’t have enough to do. That’s probably true considering the feed bill.
Additionally, wrong for several reasons, Maggie’s a “stall horse.” However, she’s never boxed up all day and gets ridden almost daily year around.
Still, flightiness isn’t unusual for the “good” mare. More often than willing to admit, Maggie has embarrassed her rider sashaying around doing stuff she knows better than do.
Kicking a hole in the barn was “just another of those shenanigans.” Blessed she wasn’t hurt.
Reminded of Isaiah 65:16: “Earlier troubles are gone and forgotten with the blessing in His name.”
+++ALLELUIA+++
XIII–17–4-21-19