Happy Hooves Day

As six kids had signed up yesterday at the opening day and payed $28 each, I thought, well no time like the present. So today at ten a.m. Toby, Rick, Adele, Vicky, Britney and Aimee would arrive. The youngest was nine and the oldest twelve, but that was okay as Kate was coming to give me a hand. I couldn't wait to see her again.

 After breakfast I said my goodbyes to my brother Bodie and my sister-in-law Kayley who had spent the night in my spare bedroom....

 "Watch out what you're getting up to and don't do anything that I wouldn't do." Winked Bodie.

 "I wouldn't know what you are talking about." I joked giving my brother a playful shove.

 I waved them off and suddenly felt lonely....but not for long as I noticed that Life had got into the garden patch where the garlic had been planted and was furiously digging then up ! "Bad girl, bad girl Life." I shouted and ran over waving my arms frantically. I can tell you I gave her a right telling off as she cringed and crawled away as I replanted several garlic cloves while muttering more threats under my breath.

Kate

 "I hope I don't get that sort of treatment."

 I jumped to my feet with a start. "Oh hi Kate, I didn't hear you come." There was Kate, her hands on her hips. Now I felt like I was being told off ! My face must of been a picture. Like I'd been caught out doing something I shouldn't be doing and then she started to laugh.

 "You should see your face you do look guilty, like you been caught eating the freshly baked cherry pie that your mother warned you not to touch !!....More Laughter.

 I started to speak slowly at first, "So, you never got caught out when you were little doing something you shouldn't," I teased back.

 "Okay, okay, point taken," giggled Kate, "any coffee going ? "

 "Yep, come into the kitchen and I'll make us a coffee....Kenco alright with you Kate ? "

 "Fine."....

 It was nine fifty three a.m. The parents began arriving, dropping the kids off. The kids were excitedly chatting away to each other with squeals thrown in.

 "Now kids we must remember to be calm and a little more quiet around the horses," I reasoned.

 So Toby, Rick, Adele, Vicky, Britney and Aimee followed Kate and myself into the barn. 

Lady being led out

The kids who were now reasonably quiet, fed the horses, led them outside and under the supervision of myself and Kate, loosed Smokie, Lady and Flint into the small field. The horses ran around loosing off steam and had a good roll.

 I turned my attention to the kids and continued, "We'll clean their hooves out and brush the horses when we fetch them back in, and we'll have to look them over for any injuries, that's important."

 "Last one back into the barn is a chicken," Kate shouted. And with that we all ran over to the barn. Inside the stables got cleaned....well sort of, as the kids were in high spirits and began throwing the horse poo at each other....and Kate got caught in the cross fire. It was all on her face and in her hair. I couldn't stop laughing but Kate was not amused, no, not one little bit !

 "Don't encourage them " screeched Kate.

 Uh oh, I thought. So I said the first thing that came into my head, "Erm, did I tell you how attractive you look ?". Think I may have put my foot in it.

 "Oh you....you....you....ergh! " and with that Kate stomped off to get cleaned up I presume....

 "Right Kids, " I said in a serious sort of voice, "lets have a bit of order here now else your parents will have to be informed. That seemed to do the trick as the kids came to order. I set them on to cleaning the saddles and bridles while I went off to look for Kate....

Kate having a shower

 She was just getting out of the shower and had a bath towel wrapped round her. "Sorry Kate," I said in my most apologizing voice I could muster up, "I shouldn't have laughed at you."

 "This is gonna cost you big time". This was said in a i'm gonna make you pay for that voice.

 Oh boy, was I in for it now. "Okay, i'll take you out tonight for a meal, where do you want to eat ?"

 Kate thought for a while then said, "There's a new Italian restaurant opened up in Hidden Springs you can take me there, now go away while I get dressed."....

 Well the time came for the kids to go home and later me and Kate went to The Blue Lagoon Restaurant, run by Gino Dicappio. I just knew it was gonna knock a big hole in any money I had made on the Happy Hooves Day !

Opening Day

And so....the BIG day had arrived at last. Johnny Denver had parked his battered truck where I had showed him so as it wouldn't be so....noticeable ! I had told him that the other parking places would be needed for visitors.

 Hillary Clinton had offered to make a simple buffet at a reasonable charge and now it was arranged out the back of the farm on the decking area. Johnny was to bring it out in stages so as it wouldn't go off. He would remove the cling film from off the food when it was time. The opening day will commence at ten thirty a.m. and culminate at four thirty p.m.....or when it fizzled out I suppose, but those were the times I had put down on our website and the posters I had distributed.

 In the barn were now three stables for the three horses I had got. Johnny had made an area right at the top of the barn to enclose Flint. Bridles and tack, brushes and forks had their own area.

 As you entered the barn, to the immediate left we had made into a 'work zone'. Here now was a sturdy old work bench with two drawers and an equally old chair. In one drawer were note pads, biros, and stationery that would come in handy. In the other drawer were a variety of tools, nails and screws etcetera, and on the wall was a information board where I would pin the list with Johnny's jobs for that day and anything else that would be applicable. A filing cabinet with four deep drawers was standing proud next to the bench, I am sure we could fill it up with work related papers.

 My brother, Bodie and his wife Kayley were on their way and would be here soon. Thank goodness mom and dad couldn't make it, but they had rung to wish me every success for today. I wondered if Goldie Horne would come as I had invited her four days ago at my last lesson. She had work on that day and would try to make it at some time. Kate Winsley, who I had met at the horse auction, hadn't phoned me. You remember don't you that I had given her my cell number and told her to phone or call round my place anytime ? Anyway, I had asked Goldie to pass a message on to Kate....about my open day. Kate more than likely had....mislaid the piece of paper with my cell number on.

 Here comes Bodie's car now. A pale blue 1970's Ford Mustang Boss 429....a classic.... drew up outside.

"Wow you look smart in that suit." We shook hands and bumped knuckles in a male bonding ritual.

"Well I made an effort for you," Bodie replied, "And....I'm not always wearing my coveralls you know !"He joked, spreading his hands out down to his pants as if to make a point.

"Well, when you boys have finished, perhaps you could show me where I can freshen up." The last remark was aimed at me. "It's been a long car journey," laughed Kayley, hugging me.
"Sure, It's great to see you....this way."

Ten thirty came and a trickle of visitors emerged. The cling film came off. "Help yourselves folks." announced Johnny.  Goldie Horne dropped by and I showed her some business cards I had run off the printer. Included were words like, Beginners, Novice, and Advanced Day and Evening Lessons available on quality safe horses matched to riders abilities. Also I had printed flyers announcing a Happy Hooves Day for kids, six kids would share three horses. They would clean the stables and tack, feed and brush the horses and have half an hour riding lesson each. Three kids would ride while three kids would complete a paper naming as many points of the horse as they could, like mane, frog, pastern etcetra, then name all the grooming brushes and color the lot in. Then afterwards the three kids will reverse roles. Lunch would be provided of hot dogs, burgers, milk shakes or soda pop.

Kate Winsley

Wait....who's that ? It's....It's Kate Winsley.

"Hi Kate, glad you could come."

"Hi Kyle, sorry I haven't phoned you, only I lost your number."....

....See, I told you as much didn't I....Wow! She had such a nice smile. "Come and help yourself to refreshments." Kate had green eyes and auburn hair....so....so, enchanting.

Sabrina brought her guitar to play western rock music. Later Johnny Denver treated us to a lasso display and I rode Lady and jumped an Inclined
Triple Bar jump....in 'full English Style', clothes and all. Bodie had a good laugh about my clothes.

Some folks rode their horses to the opening.... In all I would say the opening day went well, this was because.... Kate was there!