STAP SEUN
Can you teach an old(er) mare new tricks? Let’s see!
With the arrival of marginally warmer weather…. I.e. 8 degrees at 08.00 instead of minus 8, the fat bits concealed under thick jumpers, pullovers and jackets put in an unwelcome appearance. All through the disgustingly cold winter I would say to myself “as the wales do in Antarctica , so do I” Which of course was carte blanche to eat my way through the days and nights with the excuse that I needed energy. The little one, alias Jacqueline Russell, had a similar philosophy and the two of us blossomed into something resembling a grub (me) and a rugby ball (she). So come what passes for Spring in this Alpine Climate, we turned all the mirrors to the wall and continued the pastime we had so got to enjoy. Eating! But the fudging exercise did not last because whilst I could hide myself from myself, I could not hide the rugby ball with four legs that parked off on the floor grinning at me. And so it was that we found a small mountain just out of town to exercise the rugby ball, and a horse by the name of Charlie Brown, to exercise me.
Now let me hasten to explain that I first started riding when I was 8 years old and have always considered myself to be an above average horse rider so my reason for taking riding lessons was for the sole purpose of losing the blubber, not to learn anything. I mean what could you teach me? (sic). Try Afrikaans in the first instance! Do not be fooled by the name Charlie Brown. This little chap understands only Afrikaans . So when I boomed in my most posh horsey cadence “Walk On” and Charlie Brown just blinked, I wondered if he was perhaps hard of hearing. Next thing I hear “STAP SEUN” from behind me and off we set. I collapsed in a heap of giggles because I was mortified that the horse could speak Afrikaans whereas I battle a bit.
I digress. What can you teach me? HUH. I arrive with my posh leather gloves, French riding boots and skinny jeans ready to leap on and show the instructor just how good I am and what happens instead? I get handed a curry comb?- No way! You are not serious I say to myself! I mean I haven’t groomed a horse since who knows when?. Charlie Brown, who looks exactly like a horse called Legend who scraped me off his back once upon a time and put me on my back for a week, rolled one eye at me and flattened his ears. “All my students have to groom the horse first” Says Ninke. So groom the horse is what I did. And actually it was a pretty good idea indeed. You kind of form a bond with a horse you have to help with his ablutions!
But when it came to riding, the laugh was most definitely on me. Riding styles have changed quite considerably from when I was 8! I had to start from the beginning and boy did I creak. Touching toes while on a horse’s back, standing in the stirrups while the fellow chuffs around the arena are exercises for those who have not spent winter munching away or curled up like a tennis ball against the cold. But the part that had my hairdresser hooting with laughter when I regaled the story of my first lesson, was how, when told I had to learn a new riding style, I was tempted to say “Look sweetie, I know how to ride, just perfect what I know” But, as the words formed on my tongue I suddenly thought of the age thing. I mean there is NOTHING in the world more aging that not wanting to learn new tricks. So rather than reveal my age to this proficient young instructor, I said “show me how!”
So if I may impart a little wisdom on this Friday, do not close your mind to new ideas. One can learn something every, single day. Take the veld fires here as another example? All through winter the countryside was on Fire Alert. The first rains come and still we have fires? Bigger ones? I am super puzzled. Until someone says to me now the danger season is over, they are burning to improve the grazing. I knew that!!!? But I am a little concerned. The walk the dogs and I now take in the morning is up a small mountain just on the edge of town. (See reference to Rugby Ball above). It is a superb walk. We wind our way right to the top on a well-developed track and each morning we greet three Blesbok Rams. But they have burned one side of the mountain and now we no longer see the Blesbok. The Reedbuck too, seem to have gapped it. I tell myself they are safe and grazing on another part of this mountain and since I am seldom wrong, that is where they are!
At the top of the mountain (Okay, Koppie, but it is a “Kop” to my mind it is veeery high) there is a panoramic view and one ponders the beauty that abounds. It is uplifting and uplifting. The second uplifting is the tucking of the rugby ball under the arm because the panting noises from ground level and small beetle eyes gazing at one imploringly are hard to ignore! Slowly, slowly catch a monkey. We will all get fit yet.
On this note allow me to wish you an exceptionally happy weekend. And if you need to stock up on Rosanique or any of her cousins, drop me a line on lynn@rosaorganics.com. The postal services works a bomb!
Sincerely, Lynn Schultz http://www.rosaorganics.com/. 083 453 0220
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