Hi Chemyn,
Michael is from L.A., and of Ukranian ancestry.
But he plays Irish music, so I'm sure he hears a lot of "Cheers" among his friends.
4 weeks, eh? That's great. My mare is pretty darned calm, generally. What I'm most anxious to be able to do is drive her to a ranch near here - they let me use their enormous arena, and I can turn her out there. She has room here to blow off a little steam, but there she can run and run and buck and squeal.
She's easy to handle, but I think I'll ask a horsey friend to go with me the first couple of times, just in case.
I'm so looking forward to being able to actually do some conditioning work (both her and me). I've had her for the same 3 years I've been having problems, so I'll start out with short rides and light work, then blam, I'd feel awful for a couple of weeks, then I'd start back with some light riding... that's as far as we've ever gotten. She loves to get out for trail rides, and we're only 30 minutes from the State parks in the mountains (with horse campsites, even!), so the potential for fun is limitless.
It gets so hot here in the summer, it'll be nice to still have most of Feb-onward to ride. Yay!
One of the straws that broke the camel's back and put me on the Road to the Land of Hyster was a little trip we took with another couple in October. It was the first time I'd taken Sabrina horse-camping overnight, and my friend brought her horse. We had reservations months ahead. But of course, that turned out to be during the Amazing Thirty Day Period.
ragon: I felt like crap, and of course, I was driving and hauling both horses. We got there and back, and had some fun, but I couldn't go for rides longer than an hour, and really was exhausted the whole time. Not the way to enjoy one's horse.
One of our donkeys (Clementine) is showing serious interest in getting out and doing stuff. Her job is going to be carrying lunch on day hikes, I think. She's only 3, but brave, sociable, and eager to go. I can't wait to be able to work with her. The other donk, Eeyore, is a homebody, happy with a safe world that doesn't change much, so his job is pet, companion, and lawnmower.
Thank you for the info on when I can ride! I'd better go lie down, so I'll be well-healed by then.