Today, after much delay, it is going to be Christmas here. We were supposed to go to my parents' for Christmas but that didn't happen because of the weather. So today they are coming down here with the presents. Why on a Thursday you ask? First, they are teachers so they have all this week off. Second, my dad is running a race on Saturday and needs to be back. Yes, he's running on purpose along the very cold and windy coast of a large body of water on New Year's Day. This is the same man who can't understand what appeal showing horses has for me. At least I have the sense to do it when it is warm out.
There is a sport called Ride and Tie that involves two people and a horse. The first person starts running and the second rides the horse out on the same course. The rider goes awhile and then ties up the horse and starts running. The runner eventually gets to the horse, rides up past the other team member aways, dismounts, and starts running. This goes on and on until you finish the race. My dad and I have discussed it briefly. Very briefly. It sounds good while he's running and I'm riding but eventually I'd have to run and he'd have to ride. It is difficult to even imagine either of those things happening. I tried to imagine who'd have a meltdown first - my horse or my dad. It's a toss-up. The worst part is that I imagine it happening even before he gets mounted.
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