Exhilarating

This evening I brushed Nike and! and I cleaned her hooves.  You use a hoof pick.  I ordered one of my own that has a brush attached to it, so I thought I ought to actually clean a real hoof before mine is delivered.  Haha!  Buying the basic brushes and things you need isn't that expensive I found out.  It gets expensive when you start buying fancy products, but the fanciness is for the people.  The horses coat doesn't care what brand the brush is.

It's kind of hard cleaning the hoof.  You have to pick hard and I'm a naturally soft touch person.  Finally, on the third foot I did it hard and got a giant chunk out and after that I realized what it ought to feel like.  I did three feet and Leah did one.  The front feet are easier than the back feet.  The back foot you sort of set on your knee so the horse can rest it while you pick.  It's hard on your back.  I was about ready to break a sweat.  I'm very girly you know.  I try from time to time to act like a bad mambojambo, but it's just show.  I finished the last foot, straightened up my back and finally got upright, and they said, "Hard work, isn't it!"  I said, "Yeah!"  My face was probably turning red.  That's lame.

And Leah asked me if I ride.  I shrugged my shoulders and said I have a couple times at Manny's ranch.  She asked me if I'd like to and I said yes.  Between you and me, it was big, giant, yes, but I didn't want to seem childish or uncool.  She said she's gonna take me out riding sometime.  Whew.  I can't wait!  Leah was sure grinning so I think she knows I'm sincerely up for it!

Tomorrow is the county fair.  Our son practiced walking Nike today.  I have my camera batteries charged up.  The arena is shady.  I hope I'll get some nice pictures.  I ironed our son's cowboy shirt and he shined his belt buckle.  We're all excited for the day to come.  We'll be at the fairground at 10:00am and the horse showing is at 4:00pm.  We're washing and purtying up the horses at 11:30 and it'll take an hour for sure for each horse and I think we're doing two horses.  I'm waiting to buy my own brushes till after tomorrow.  This way I'll have a feel for which tools I like before I buy my own.  We have to wear old clothes because guess what we're using to whiten Nike's white patches.  Mrs. Stewart's Bluing!  I used to use that on my own hair!