The best day of my life! (well, in the top three)

Date: August 27, 2011 

Today was one of the best days of my life. It all started when I told Josh all I wanted was to go team sorting for my birthday. I'll be turning 30 this Tuesday the 30th of august, and it's kind-of a big deal to me. And, on top

of that, on my written Tex goal list, it said "August- team sorting- participate." Today was the last chance to team sort in August. It had to be done.

I have always been terrified of hauling horses in the trailer on the interstate or highway. But yesterday, Josh's work schedule changed to 9:30-6. We live an hour from his work, and team sorting begins promptly at 8. I HAD to bring the horses the 1 hour drive, on some interstate, to Baton Rouge.

 I've driven horses to the vet 45 minutes away, but only on small highway. I had a huge fear of going fast, and especially of lane changes on the interstate. Well, I wanted to go sorting, and this was the only way. So, today, I looked that fear in the face and told it "forget you" (in other words). I remembered that I was once single, and made up my mind that if something happened with the trailer, or the horses, I would simply deal with it! And so I did. There were no catastrophes. None of the horses fell down in the trailer. The trailer didn't come unattached and careen all over the interstate. There were no flat tires. The truck DID start. I didn't end up with a flipped trailer. I actually arrived with myself and all three horses safe and sound, and by doing so, faced so many fears and feelings of inadequacy. 

 We arrived around 7:15.  Josh warmed up Tex while I warmed up Sonny. Tex was pretty antsy with all the other horses loping around and behind him in the arena, but didn't throw any fits.

Then, it was time to ride! At this team sorting practice, teams are drawn and each person gets 5 rides for $25. I asked Josh to ride Tex on his first ride of actually team sorting, just to see what would happen, he held the line and went in to get cows. His turns weren't what they ought to be, and he was a little jumpy when the other horses moved quickly around him. But, no fits!! 

Josh rode him one more time, I rode Sonny once, and then it was my turn on Tex. I couldn't stop grinning as we walked into the arena. When our number was called, we went in and tried to sort out the cows. As one tried to go past, I had to ask Tex to stop, go, stop, go, stop, go to maneuver the cow, and he did exactly that. He did everything I asked him to do. It wasn't perfect, nor pretty, but I was so proud that he did what I asked. 

I rode him on four rounds tonight. By the last round, he seemed to understand our task and maybe even locking onto a cow or two. I loped him back down to the arena exit on our last ride, and probably had the cheesiest grin on my face you've ever seen. 

I am so proud that Tex did his turns when I asked, moved quickly or slowly when I asked, stopped on my seat, and even seemed to follow one certain cow toward the end. It was the best reward for all the time we've spent together that I could have ever wanted.  I felt a few happy tears creeping up by our last ride.

To top off my birthday celebration, I entered the $10 jackpot sorting at the end of the night on Sonny, and lucked out and won $35, which paid for all my rides that night. 

Seriously, it was the 3rd best day of my whole life.