A Little Sunshine....

Decisions, decisions.

I've come to a final decision.

I'm supposed to take Siera next week to my friend's place for summer riding. Siera needs to stay home until we figure out her lameness issue. Is it an abscess occurring, arthritis, or something else? 

I cannot in good faith take a mule that has issues to a friend's place.

Kristi would stress out  worrying that it could be her fault somehow. 

[Even though the mule would be on pasture]. 

She is a worrier. Kristi cares for her boarded horses as if they are her own children.

I know Siera's vitals are all perfectly normal. Siera is a wonderful animal with a good mind. However, I need to figure out what is causing her troubles and see if she is to be permanently retired or what.

So tonight I took Sunshine out and saddled her up to go get the mail on the ridge. My trail cam in the driveway caught us leaving.

Naughty me, I was in shorts and tennis shoes with no helmet but it was a last second decision and we just mosied up to the ridge, took a look around and grabbed the mail on the way back.

Sunshine acted as if we'd never stopped riding for the past two years. Good girl.

When she was first in 'training' to be a trail mule, I rode her nearly every single day for doing something. Checking fences, looking for mushrooms, taking the Jack Russell out for a jaunt. Giving the grand kids a ride on her -- leading them of course.

We trailered her all over. Sometimes Rich would ride her and sometimes I'd ride her. 

From 4 years old to nearly 20, she was ridden often. I'd trade between her and Siera.

When Rich got sick the mules became pasture pets. Still, kids would sometimes come and take rides in the yard.

Tonight we just went. It was short, but it was sweet.

I felt more relaxed with Sunshine than I was with Siera. 

Maybe it is because Sunshine was born in my lap so many years ago.

Maybe it is because I can walk out into the pasture with a lead rope and halter and sit down. 

Sunshine walks up to me and puts her head down to mine as if to say. "Hi, long time no see!" Her half brother Badger used to do the same thing.

Sunshine may be a better choice anyway. Kristi needs some confidence building while trail riding and I have a little red mule that has been there, done that and is mostly unflappable. 

I feel better about this decision. 

I can take time to figure out what it happening with Siera and take a good little red mule to her house.

 If we get a handle on Siera's issues, I can always swap out mules.

But tonight brought some deep emotions to the surface.

I recalled sitting in the pasture with Sunshine's mother during Sunshine's birth. I recalled all the miles I put on with Cheyanne her mom and then all the years with Sunshine. 

How I thought at first she'd be too short, she wasn't stunning enough, she wasn't a blazing drop dead beauty like her mom. But she was steady. And to her credit, Sunshine still thinks I'm her mom. She will follow me to the ends of the earth.

I've posted this photo before on my blog. For those who didn't know, this is how Sunshine came into the world nearly 29 years ago.

I think it is appropriate to recall that this little red mule is on this earth because of the Muleman I met on a Wagon Train.

I've been so busy with everything the past few years that I've forgotten the incredible relationship I have with this little red mule.

You 

are 

my 

Sunshine....