16 Days and Counting

Next Sunday my horse is off to Oklahoma while I will prepare to teach young minds the intricacies of chemistry. Monday I will guide kids as they make their first polymer of nylon in our Chemistry II lab and then I will review with my Chemistry I kids for their test over the quantum mechanical model. Will the kids be able to tell my mind keeps wandering to a barn in Oklahoma City? Did Daddys Legacy trailer well? Is he eating and drinking like he should? What was running through peoples' minds as they saw him come off the trailer. Did people stop and stare at the big grand white horse? Did he do his usual announcement whinny as he backed off the trailer? I have had horses hauled by others before, but just not to the World Show. I don't have any reservations about the capable hands I have left my horse in, John Kabiesman of Yankton, SD. I do have some horsey withdrawl going on as I am used to be very hands on with my own horses.



While it wasn't a hard decision that someone else would have to help me fit my horse for the World Show, it does seem out of character for me. I have been Daddys Legacy's handler and trainer all the nine years of his life except for a short interval while he was being trained for roping. I have always traveled with him. I have always been a part of getting him ready to show. I seem a bit lost not being actively involved in his preparation right now. As I said before, I have no reservations about his care. I just miss being involved in it. I faced reality right away after I decided to take him to the World Show. I am a high school teacher and coach. Once school is going I don't have time to keep a horse in a full time conditioning program, let alone a conditioning program for the World Show. I also don't have the facilities to keep a horse in South Dakota in tip top hair coat condition in November. While our temperatures haven't been too bad, we have had one of the wettest falls on record so mud is the most common form of soil one can find. Maybe working in mud would have provided some excellent muscle work?



I couldn't go completely cold turkey from my horse. I have made several 4 hour drives to visit my horse in the past month. I always secretly hope he will lift his head out of his feed and whinny in recognition for his long lost owner, but no such luck. I should be glad my arrival finds him contently munching on feed with alert eyes and ears. He is a pampered horse living in a heated barn, eating top of the line feed, getting daily brushing. He is being treated like a king. His white coat glistens. His long mane however, is soon to be short. Silly horse had to rub a 4 inch section out in August. What was he thinking? He knew I had entered him in the World Show! At least the bald spot has grown to at least four inches so the whole mane can be shortened to look good. I am secretly glad I am not having to deal with the new mane look. I can keep my focus on chemistry, at least until my mind wanders.



16 Days and counting until he and I walk through the gateway.