False Gods: The Show Jumper's Challenge

Freezing Cold, But Oh, the Rewards

When I set out for the barn this morn it was minus one degree. I dressed in layers, scarf wrapped around my face, no exposed skin, and extra coats and gloves on hand. I was in for five or more hours outdoors caring for horses. In the cold, this means battling frozen hoses, heavy filthy blankets to put on or remove, poop frozen to the stall mats, pushing an overflowing wheelbarrow up hill through the snow--both directions. Today I was already tired when I saw a horse had pooped in her heated water bucket, making it into Poo Stew. It all had to dumped and scoured out. Slipping on ice, the wind razoring my cheeks, I headed back inside. On the way, I passed my mare. When she recognized me, a deep throated nicker echoed through the cold and warmed my heart, stopping my feet in their tracks. The reward. That's why we do anything hard--riding or writing or whatever your passion. For the love of it and for the "nicker rewards" -- like when someone writes a nice review of my book. Suddenly the memory of all the hard work melts away.