FALLING OFF A FUTURE UNICORN IS NOT FUN!

I don't know about you, but even after years of riding my future unicorns, I STILL fall off occasionally. Maybe it is because I can't afford a "finished" horse (if horses are ever really finished!) I always buy the "just-saddle-and-bridle-broke" horse. Yes, the initial purchase price is much less but the medical bills make up for that! Readers of Behind the Mist and Mists of Darkness will know the name of Jazz, the star of those books. He is a beautiful, dark-bay Hanoverian. He also  happens to be 17 hands tall! That is a long way above the ground. Having purchased him as a young and immature 4 year old, I began his dressage training...working up the levels very slowly. He is now 11 and getting ready to compete at third level (see...I told you I was training him slowly.) In any case, over the seven years that I have owned him and worked on training him, I have hit the ground many times. He never bucks or rears but he will whirl when he is startled. I think whirls are harder to stay on than bucks! While the whirls have become far less frequent, they still  happen on occasion. This only serves to remind me of two things...1) I still have to be alert to the warning signs and 2) I am not getting any younger!

With the last conclusion in mind, I want to share with you a funny article that a reader sent me. If you are my age you will be able to totally relate. (P.S. I changed the last line because I don't drink alcohol.) Enjoy!

The Stages of Aging on Horseback

Stage 1: Fall off pony. Bounce. Laugh. Climb back on. Repeat.

Stage 2: Fall off horse. Run after horse, cussing. Climb back on by
shimmying up horse's neck. Ride until sundown.

Stage 3: Fall off horse. Use sleeve of shirt to stanch bleeding. Have friend
help you get back on horse. Take two Advil and apply ice packs when you get
home. Ride next day.

State 4: Fall off horse. Refuse advice to call ambulance; drive self to
urgent care clinic. Entertain nursing staff with tales of previous daredevil
stunts on horseback. Back to riding before cast comes off.

Stage 5: Fall off horse. Temporarily forget name of horse and name of
husband. Flirt shamelessly with paramedics when they arrive. Spend week in
hospital while titanium pins are screwed in place. Start riding again before
doctor gives official okay.

Stage 6: Fall off horse. Fail to see any humor when hunky paramedic says,
"You again?" Gain firsthand knowledge of advances in medical technology
thanks to stint in ICU. Convince self that permanent limp isn't that
noticeable. Promise husband you'll give up riding. One week later purchase
older, slower, shorter horse.

Stage 7: Slip off horse. Relieved when artificial joints and implanted
medical devices seem unaffected. Tell husband that scrapes and bruises are
due to gardening accident. Pretend you don't see husband roll his eyes and
mutter as he walks away. Give apple to horse.

Stage 8: Go to see horse. Momentarily consider riding but remember arthritis
won't let you lift leg high enough to reach stirrup - even when on mounting
block. Share ginger ale with grateful horse & recall "good old days".=

If you liked that, then you are a true horse lover. 

So...you will love reading the first two 

books of the fantasy for horse lovers: 

Behind the Mist and Mists of Darkness. 

They are available where ever books are sold. Or get 

an autographed copy at: 

www.behindthemist.com