Postponed not Canceled

I have been working diligently trying to be ready for the Arizona Trail spring ride. There is a long list of steps I have taken in preparation written two Blogs ago, also only  2 weeks and  about 7 rides ago. Giving great time in prayer and petition, I know this is not the time God has for me to step out and do this, I am going to have to bow out of the projected April departure date. I have 90%+ of all the gear, even a new pack saddle and horse. I am simply not going to be able to be ready that soon. This decision was not made lightly, the only way I could do a ride is for it to have been with someone and it was very helpful that we would have had ground support. I felt very much like I was giving up my only chance but I have thought this through very carefully. I need a few more months to get into shape, I also really need time for a one if not a two week practice ride before heading out for 6-8 weeks.

This has been a life changing adventure even just up to this point, it has sharpened my desire to go on living, and heightened my ability to not take any time or thing for granted. The list of things that has benefited would be as long as the list of things my life touches. I am truly not giving up just postponing. God willing it will not be for too long.

Sunday we took off for an afternoon ride but on this day the Oklahoma winds were unrelenting, and the horses were feeling the energy. Most of the ride was enjoyable with little worth mentioning. About half way back to camp my horse spotted the largest bobcat I have ever seen, almost four times what we usually have in central Oklahoma. Most rides have something that makes them memorable and I remember thinking that I would remember this ride forever. Not too far past that my comrades pulling up the rear stopped to water their horses when one of the predicted 60 MPH gusts came unbuffered straight down the creek bed topping a tree that landed squarely in front of my saddle. For the second time in a only a few minutes I was pleased Cheerio took things like a  man. After the tree top rolled off into the trail and I was trying to comfort my horse (truth be told it was me in need of comfort) I turned him just in time to see the horse directly behind me shoot like a rocket out of the creek bank. I can't say if we stopped her or she had just ran out of steam but I'm pretty sure that would easily count for the third good reason for my dear little horse to react and he just took it all better than I could have ever hoped for. He continued to lead and although the winds continued to whip and dip, I was on high alert, there was that minute or two of smoke that I could smell that made me put some pep to the step and move it on in to camp ASAP. Although the ride lasted less than 5 hours, when I got back to my trailer I was exhausted.

We rode Monday too! Yep, that's all, just a good 4 hours and the feeling that I was all used up before we started. But I am working on that stamina and my strength and I will be up to a long ride before you know it. Looking at my horse at the end of those two days I think he may have had all he wanted too.