Pearls&Grit

Fall is the holy grail of all the seasons for horse people. Warm on the inside, crispy around the edge, just like an apple pie. I don’t even have a horse right now, but a perfect fall day will make me sure start looking for one!

But why do equestrians love fall so much?

1. Bugs have died cold, dark deaths as nightly temps drop.
2. Our hay sheds are full. Oh so full and beautiful.
3. Horses are starting to get fluffy…that wonderful fluff in between the winter sog and the summer slick.
4. Temperatures are perfect for riding. Long rides, short rides, fast rides, slow rides…it doesn’t matter what kind of ride. Its perfect to get on and go!
5. We get to pull out that 20-year-old, perfectly broken in flannel shirt that is three sizes too big but is just right for our long ride/short ride/fast ride/slow ride.
6. Bonfires. No. No fires under any circumstances. It’s a nice idea, but no. Never. No fires allowed by the barn!
7. The days are a little shorter, but not uncomfortably so, therefore it is fun to sit around in the tack room after dark and clean our tack. It also gives us ample time and ammunition to figure out just what it is we are missing in our tack rooms to add to our Christmas lists.
8. Skittering leaves are fun training tools. Need I say more? The brisk, often breezy air and a sudden whoosh of fall leaves works wonders on our equines’ mental strength. The ultimate in desensitization!

What else puts the horse-lovin’ crazy back in your blood when the leaves start changing?