Phenomenal Cosmic Power

The clock struck four, marking the end of my first day working from home.

I logged off the computer and headed downstairs, still in shock.

How could it be quitting time already? I thought to myself as I tried to escape feeling like a cheat.

"What am I supposed to do with myself now?" I asked my husband as if looking for protection from the nagging feeling that my working day wasn't nearly done with me. "It's really over isn't it?" I asked needing a bit of extra insurance.
He snickered at me and held me for a moment.

"Oh my goodness I get to ride my horse now!" I exclaimed excitedly as I kissed him and ran out the door to the paddock.

Tonka was more than ready to go for an adventure but in my mind, the new chapter has always started with riding Punkin.

"Punkin!" I called after a quick apology to Tonka, and promising that tomorrow it would be all about him.

"Punkin!" I called again.

Looking up I could see her peeking out from behind a tree with an expression that read like "What fresh hell do you have for me today?"
"I told you life was going to change." I said while stroking her thick muscular neck.
There are no words that can prove a promise, only actions. Today was the first day and, this was the first action, in the new chapter of the life I had promised them.

Punkin left the paddock willingly and always melted under the touch of the brush.

When the saddle came out she was sure to notify me that her idea of a good life meant more brushing and less exercise.

"You'll appreciate when it's over" I told her having felt that way once about fitness myself.

We started in our small arena. A space we're both incredibly sick of. She was, as most green horses who haven't been worked in a month, rather feisty.

I blamed the arena, led her to the mounting block, got on, and off we went down the road.

She was hot, but she was always always hot the first time out after a spell of laziness. I didn't care.

For the first time since New Year's Day, I wasn't worried about what time it was, what chores still needed to be done or whether or not we would still be out when the street lights came on.

She did, as many nervous green horses do, and pooped at multiple spots along the trail.

The first poo went smoothly and it didn't take me too long to find a mounting aid. Punky was well-behaved and slid right over to let me on.
Almost like she was growing up.

Then came the second poo.

I slid off her back just like I had done before, kicked to poo off the road and thanked her for pooping close enough to a puddle that I could wash my boots before getting back on.

I looked around. There was nothing close for a mounting aid.

We walked down the road a little farther. and Half a kilometer later we found a pile of old wood.

Perfect. I thought to myself and led her over.

Nope. She flat-out refused to line up with the mounting block.

I looked around. This was it. It was the only good choice for a mounting aid.

I stroked her thick neck and thought nice relaxing thoughts, then tried again.

This time she was slightly more receptive.

I swung my leg over and slid on.

Before I knew what hit me we were up in the air. My legs only partially wrapped around her rib cage.

Normally she gives a buck or two then comes to her senses. This time it was different. This time she was going for broke.

Knowing that I would be the one to break if I hit the ground I clung hard. Then it hit me. She was bucking harder and longer than ever before because my legs had grabbed her in the middle and were squeezing like she was a tube of toothpaste.

I have to relax my legs, I thought as my mare continued to revolt beneath me.

In a moment of trust I relaxed my legs and dropped them.

It worked.

With the bucking over I could still feel the phenomenal cosmic power bound into her tissues.

I learned at a young age that my horses were more dangerous when I tried to contain that energy. Knowing I would be safer if I let her get it out we took to the closest appropriate place and ran.

At first her speed scared me but when I asked her to dial it back for a moment she accepted. The trust was working both ways.

With that I let her go again and we ran until I could feel the explosive power within her quench its thirst.

By the time we were done both of us were dripping with sweat. Our lungs grateful for a deep exchange of air.

We finished our ride surfing the wave of that power, high on the vigor of exercise.