The Final Coundown

Okay, maybe not the final, final countdown, but the countdown until I go to Canon City to get chosen by a new horse.

I have just a couple of things left to do, but for the most part, I'm ready.  I even bought a helmet, which is a first.  I received a very nice Troxel "Sierra" helmet when I was a cast member on Horse Master.  I only wore it a couple of times after the show, because the weight of it gave me a wicked headache, not that it was heavy, just that with my T.O.S. (thoracic outlet syndrome), I don't tolerate neck stress very well.  When one of the wranglers showed up for the season with stitches and doctor's orders to wear a helmet any time she was around a horse, I gladly gave her my beautiful Troxel helmet.

I have no intention of needing a helmet, and agree with a friend of mine who said that if she ever felt she needed a helmet before getting on a horse, she would do more ground work.  I feel the same way.  However, the ground is hard and there are lots of rocks on the trail.  I can do a lot of desensitizing down here on the flat-lands, but up on the trail, there are tons of things that can cause a spook.  I'm not worried about getting bucked off in a temper tantrum, but I do worry about becoming unseated from a spook.

Troxel has a line of "Rebel" helmets, which are lighter weight than the trail helmet I had initially.  While I'm not at all a pink girl, I kept coming back to this helmet, and with my "three times" rule I had to click "buy" when I returned to it for the third time.

Now it's a hurry up and wait game.  Mom is pee-herself-excited about the new horse.  I suspect Bill is too, but he's playing it cool.  Me? I'm terrified. (And excited, but mostly terrified - just like I was approaching each of my due dates with the kids.)