Daisy

I did a 10 miler today, with my customary walking breaks. It was a tough run, hot and humid, and my pace was off a bit but I still finished the run, so it's all good.

I got my first horse when I was 13. While my peers were experimenting with makeup and attending dances and football games I spent every spare moment at the stables riding and competing in horse shows. Then I got older, got a job, got married and horses were no longer a part of my life.

Fast forward to 1995 when we moved to a new home on an acre of land. Hubby offered to build a barn for a horse, but I didn't think I had the time to care for a horse properly. All it took was a visit to a miniature horse farm to change my mind. I saw Daisy in a pasture with several broodmares and she piqued my curiosity. She looked like a tiny version of a quarter horse and after spending some time with her I was hooked; she soon went home with me.

So yesterday the vet was out for Daisy's yearly checkup and vaccination and he tells me she's too fat. Not MY little darling! I protest that she's not fat; she's Rubenesque. The vet doesn't buy it and tells me my little Fatty McButterpants needs less time on the pasture and more time exercising. She'll be joining me for my shorter runs, which poses a problem for her and me. She has two speeds-excruciatingly slow and race pace fast. She gets frustrated because I'm constantly either tugging on her to speed up or pulling her back and trying to slow her down. And she's only good for a mile, so I'll have to adjust my course so I can pick her up for my last mile then drop her off, since she lives with the in-laws now. And I'm pretty sure she doesn't stretch after her runs. You know how these newbie runners are-you just can't tell them anything..

I wish there was an equine Jenny Craig. I would sign her up.