Riding My Nemesis

If I could have picked any horse, I wouldn't have picked Cosette.

My family and I are running late to join some friends for a trail ride. We have three horses, which the kids will ride, and my husband and I need to borrow a couple. Our friends have two tacked up and ready. The one I am riding is Cosette.

A few years ago, Cosette dumped me on my rear during a riding party.

"We can change horses, if you want," my husband says, who will be riding sweet Josie, by far one of my favorites.

But everyone's already waiting, and it would involve changing saddles or at least stirrup lengths. "I'll be okay," I assure him, even though I am nervous as heck.

***

She tosses her head like a rebellious teenager (she's 7 I think, under 10 at any rate) and when she passes her "house" (she's actually the horse of my friend's daughter), she sidepasses and wants to turn back.

We make it past the houses and road, the train tracks and a gate with a little bottom panel which she jumps and gets my heart racing. Out in the open field, she pulls at the bit, and I ask my friend if she gets out of control loping.

"She loves to run," she says.

I can't hold her back any longer. So, taking my friend's advice, I hold onto the reins with one hand and the saddle horn with the other.

I feel like a genuine, true-blue cowgirl, my hair streaming in the wind, my horse galloping under me, taking a jump here and there that threaten to spill me, but I hang on, stay on. I am laughing and my husband tells me I look great.

I'm tiring 'ol Cosette out, and it can only be good, right?

***

My favorite part of the trail ride is this:



A meadow of tall yellow grasses swaying in the breeze, lending luster to a pack of riders up ahead. It is like a chest full of gold treasure, where every step, you wonder if you will discover something, and yes, to the left of me at one point, there is a tire. Other than that, it is just a beautiful fall carpet. There is a secret hush as we pass through, and I hate for it to end.

***

We cannot go up the mine we were originally wanting to see. But we see coyotes along the way, tan-colored creatures that lope like playful dogs.

Cosette tosses her head still, even as I try to keep her to a walk going home,and I am saddle sore, but I am in one piece, and I am happy.