I got to play with horsies! I got to play with horsies! Whee!!!
*ahem* Thank you.
Last night I spent my first night as a volunteer for the Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding.
It was sort of a full circle thing for me. When I was 14, I spent the summer with my aunt in Lansing and was supposed to get a job--thus spake Aunt Stella. Only one problem: I was 14. I went on one job interview at Hot 'n Now, waited in line in the hot summer sun, went inside the dark shed out back (this is sounding seedier with every word), and handed over my application. Things were going well until the manager realized how old I was and dismissed me summarily. I can't say I wasn't relieved.
Caring only that my idle hands not become the devil's handmaidens, Aunt Stella agreed to volunteer work and I found the perfect "job" at the Beekman Riding Center. I groomed horses, I led them around the grounds and the arena, and I did a heck of a lot of mucking out. And I loved it!
Last night, I went back to being a volunteer for the same kind of center. I knew only vaguely what to expect, but I was excited to be working around horses again. I walked in and breathed deep the wonderful earthy aroma peculiar to horse barns and it felt so familiar. Then I started getting a sketchy tour-lette from the lead volunteer and realized how very much I've forgotten. How do I saddle a horse again? Curry, THEN brush, right? Which side do I lead from? How do I wield this hoof pick?! I felt inept and silly. And I kept having to wander up to random people and ask, "Can I help you?" and "What do I do?" So I groomed. I untacked. I swept. I lead a pony in from the corral. I toted water. I swept. I helped a girl unmanure the arena. I swept.
I keep having to remind myself of something Jody and I have talked about. When you're used to doing things well on the first try, it becomes difficult to pursue those tasks at which you don't automatically succeed. I had to tell myself over and over again, "But you will know what you're doing someday. You'll learn the horses's names. You'll remember how to be comfortable in a stable. You'll do fine when you've been here a few weeks. It's called a learning curve!"
It's better this morning. The whole experience has been shucked of the awkwardness and uselessness I felt much of the night last night. All that's left is the giddy horselover jumping up and down, clapping her hands and squealing, "I got to play with horsies!"
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This is the pony I got to groom last night. His name is Silver and he was very kind to me. I do so love grooming.
2 comments:
The horses at Middleton are small Clydesdales. I think they, and horses in general, are cute and gorgeous at the same time, but I don't even know what to do with them. I mean, I don't know how to interact with them, pet them etc. I'm used to small animals, horses are a mystery to me and I never had the I LOVE HORSES "phase" that many girls have. I was all about the kittens.
Yay for you! That sounds like such a fun job. Well, at least a fun job for you. To me, it sounds like a job filled with large smelly animals and lots of poop. But to each his own!
And wow, were you really 14 when you spent the summer here? That was a long time ago.
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