Owls and Night Riders

Last night while feeding and 'tucking in' the animals for the night, my neighbor friend, Valerie called out to me. When I walked down to her barn, she asked if I wanted to join her for a night ride in her arena. It sounded like a great idea even though the wind was gusty and made the night feel chilly. I had never ridden a horse at night, nor a horse at night and bareback. I was nervous but also excited. Valerie rode her Appaloosa, Scout, and I rode my horse, Baby Doll.

Almost as soon as we were in the arena the winds ceased and the night was quiet and warm. Lightning was seen out in the distance exploding from a pink tinged cloud. We walked all over her large arena together, Baby Doll was completely relaxed with head down low. When it was fully dark, with the stars shining as bright as pen lights, the dark shape of an owl glided over our heads about 20 feet above us. It didn't just fly away either. It stayed above us for a few fly-bys and then landed on a pole at the edge of her arena. I was spell-bound at this little gift given to us from the night sky.

What made it even more interesting is how it led to a converstation about owls because of what my sons and I learned earlier in the day while at Star Fire Day Camp.
You can read more about that in my Star Fire Day Camp on Twins Plus One blog.

We rode the horses in the dark, with only a pale light from a post light on one side of her large arena, for at least an hour. When I started to feel unbalanced and sore in the legs and pelvis, I knew it was finally time to call it a night. Baby Doll was very responsive, gentle and quiet the entire time, but ironically started to get a little sour at the same time that I was feeling tired, too.
When we'd get to one of the two gates in the arena, she'd try to veer off to them and then stand still.
Normally, I'd not let her get away with that, but she and I were both feeling the same weariness, so after just one more go round, I dismounted. Valerie and I stood for a while chatting, with her on Scout, and Baby Doll napping beside me.

By the time Baby Doll and I walked back over to our barn, she and I were ready. I wrapped my arms around her warm soft neck, breathing deeply of that cozy horsie scent, and by the time I got back into the house, it was after 11pm. As soon as my head rested on the pillow I was asleep instantly.