Lose a Ball, Gain Some Insight

So it's best not to ride when you have a cyst in your pants. I found that out two weeks ago, on a Monday. When I rode the last time, and swung up into the saddle and felt like hmm, sitting on a hard golf ball that is actually my BALL. Attached to me. Painful. I rode anyway, because I was all dressed for it and Dewey and I were aimed toward the trail and the creek is on the trail, and well we had to do that. When you're all geared up for water, and nature, you just have to keep going, balls and all. Three days later I was driving to the ER to have my ball drained, and it was not as fun as it sounds. The good news is it's only temporary and I get to have it permanently removed this Thursday, for those of you marking your calendars. It was just an old cyst, but too much riding made it an old, big mean villain cyst. I hope to keep it with my sheep's ball that I have in the tack room. Maybe we can make a little necklace. In the mean time (and I am mean when not getting to ride), although it's nice to not have to ride sort of-- in the mean time the kids are getting to actually ride, and get their chance to learn the basics like I wanted but never was ready to do. Two kids have already been up and I'll keep it up in the next month while I'm grounded. I'm also back to teaching Dewey to drive, and we got to have him wear his driving bridle with blinkers for the first time. Then I walked him around with that on. Then I drove him around the paddock with that on. Then I drove him around the arena with that on. Next we'll try the street. He seems fine with not being able to see me. Something interesting I learned- if he's used to your steady hands on the reins, and your voice, and your reassuring touch, he doesn't much mind not being able to see you. The horse feels you, hears you and trusts you - he is built for work, and to be a team. He's way better at all this than you are. So really you are the one learning while he's saying of course we're working together. That's what we're doing. All this time. So one ball lighter, and maybe Dewey will pull a cart eventually. And I become aware that I am more than I knew I was, and that Dewey already knew this.