Sub-Tropical Cold
Hoo! Boy! We’ve had another cold snap……………this one was more of a cold slap/crack/and or punch.
Floridians don’t handle cold well.
But we Hunted! 
I had on my newly acquired Cuddle Duds…………my new insulated underwear from our local Walmart.
They appear to fit under my breeches (and that’s a feat in itself—–because there is little to no extra room in my breeches).
Double socks (but that’s normal).
And over everything, my e-Bay-acquired, used, oilskin duster.
I love my duster.
Whoever designed them, really knew what they were doing.
Dusters have appropriate snaps everywhere specifically for riding. A cowl for rain that’s removable, straps around your legs to keep the flaps in place, snapped/big pockets, double snapped front. 
It’s really riding-apparel perfection………………plus, it makes you look like you’re competent and know what you’re doing……………………”The Man From Snowy River”-type-cool.
But, let’s get back to reality…………………..it’s me on my plow-horse, Vi.
I never wanted to take off my helmet once it was on my head. I wanted to go home and go to bed and sleep with it on. I wanted to keep it on my head as my special friend for the rest of my life.
You know……………….sweaty head from riding………………meets cold air………………….not happiness………………..Not happiness at all.
Remember my conundrum about my Spanish Inquisition riding boots? (My problem may be solved………………….such sadness……………)
When my daughter was wrenching my boots off of my numb legs later, she noticed huge cracks in both of my soles of my boots right where the arches begin…………..caked with…………….well, you know what.
Maybe I can get them fixed at my local cobbler. I know they are Spanish Inquisition boots.
But they are “MY” Spanish Inquisition boots.
If I’m anything, I’m loyal.
The girls are tucked in their blankets in the front yard with their own, personal alfalfa block…………….that’s because, if we put them in the pasture with the rest of the horses, the others (specifically Bennett) would tear off their blankets and make a point of pooping on them……………….ah, Bennett.
In the front yard, the blankets are safe and the girls are kept warm after being sweaty.
I’m trying to fit in body-clipping around the cold snaps.
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Twenty-four hours have passed and I did fit in body-clipping for the two girls with major acreage of bodies to clip.
There are so many different designs and purposes to horse body-clipping.
It’s a science and an art…………………..personally, I just keep clipping until the clippers break (and they always do————-and a reason for my loud, adult expletives……………shouted for all of the neighbors to hear).
Here are just a few of the patterns: #1. Full Clip. #2. Hunter Clip. #3. Blanket Clip. #4. Chaser Clip. #5. Trace Clip. #6. Irish Clip. #7. Bib Clip.
I think I did something between a #3 and a #5-ish.
But, what I did do, just to irritate Lola, was something that “tweens” do with their ponies…………..now keep in mind that Lola is a well-schooled, sophisticated rider……………….eventing, dressage—– you know—–somebody who is fun to poke with sharp sticks.
Tweens love to fuss with their horses, over and over again. Hunt people do what is necessary for a healthy horse, but the fussing and excessive frills…………….not so much.
The Urban Dictionary’s first definition of “tween” is: a girl between the ages of 9 and 14. One who is too old for toys, but too young for boys.
(Hmmmmmmmmmm, I was thirteen when I went on my first date…………..but that’s another story……………….hmmmmmmmmmmm.)-(what was my Mother thinking)!
Give a tween a pair of clippers and they turn their horse’s sides into an artistic canvas of fun & frivolity.
They will leave their movie star idol’s initials in the un-clipped hair, or maybe a smiley-face, or hashtags, or a heart…………………………….heh……heh.
Sooooooooooooooo, I carefully left in an artistically, clipped heart on Ruby’s right hip (I’m sure a tween would scoff at my rudimentary artwork). I was almost totally sure that Lola would just hate it completely……………….and that’s why I did it.
And then, I e-mailed other friends in the Hunt who were going to be at the next Hunt. Everyone requested photos.
What can I say………………………Lola was thoroughly wonder-struck with the sculptured heart on Ruby’s butt…………………..well, that was after the sun came up and she could see it clearly in the daylight.
I promised her that I would add the obligatory pink or purple painted-on glitter to the heart for our next Hunt………………….the jars that are left-over from when my daughters were both in their tweens and doing the same thing.
*************************Lola was thrilled!!!!!!!*************************
One thought on “Sub-Tropical Cold”
Lovely just what I was searching for.