I rode Bouffe again yesterday and had a great time. It was my first time riding in my new saddle a Passier Comet Franke Sloothaak. It's meant to be a grand prix jumping saddle but was very comfortable for me and held my legs in the correct position with its knee roll and calf block.
I rode with Zoe for almost an hour and the saddle remained comfortable. Bouffe was his usual mellow self, but his ankles seemed to be bothering him after being ridden on the frozen ground. I'm going to have to be careful in riding him during the winter without having the benefit of a ring with the soft sand footing. All and all it was a great experience being back in the saddle again.
I rode Bouffe yesterday for the first time in three years. It's been a long road back, with lots of physical therapy along the way, but I finally made it! When I get up on Bouffe's back I am an entirely different person; I have my legs back.
Bouffe stands quietly, always taking care of me, as I put my left foot in the stirrup and drag my right leg over his back. We ride quietly away, with Zoe behind us on her horse Onyx. Once out in the field both horses walk along, but Bouffe is his usual lazy easy going self and needs some encouragement from my legs to pick up the pace. I do a two point stance, but not for long as my legs are still weak. I sit down and pretend to race ride, which even though Boufee ignored me, still brought back those memories that felt so good. It's nothing like it.
All and all yesterday was wonderful. I got my life back!
At Shady Spring Farm the property is divided into four twenty acre fields and today it was time to move Bouffe and Onyx to another of those fields. I have never boarded a horse who has had so much lush green grass to graze on, which is a credit to the Seitz's, who carefully laid out the fields before any livestock was purchased. When you see the horses in the pictures below you know they are getting only the best of care!
These are some photos Zoe took of Bouffe and her horse Onyx just being horses.
In reading the title of this blog it says a man's journey with Multiple Sclerosis and an old bay horse. Since I have been back posting it has only been about Bouffe; so, I need to fill you in about me.
This time last year I was just getting home from spending eight weeks in the hospital after getting a very serious infection that the doctors, to this day, still cannot identify. The infection did affect my MS, making all of the symptoms worse. I am still trying to get back to where I was before getting sick. Riding Bouffe again is my goal, which I am working towards very slowly with PT, exercise and music therapy.
I wrote while I was in there and this what I transcribed after being brought back to life on April 28, 2016 at 8pm.
April 28, 2016 8pm
BLACK, black as a night lacking a moon or any stars.
Black was something my mother never liked;
for, it was evil, the devil, hell.
But I felt a sense of peace,
until the pounding began on my chest.
A beating as if administered with a brick
that was crumbling with every blow.
Each clubbing more intense
until a flash of light broke the darkness
and I heard the screaming
WAYNE, WAYNE.
***
Performing music both vocally and with my guitar is a creative process that I find very spiritual.
That Light
The show is just over
You’ve been with God for the last two hours.
There is nothing any better.
You get ready for bed and light a candle.
Everything you need is in that Light.
You fall asleep and do it all over again
tomorrow.
***
Finally, here are some more photos Zoe took of Bouffe:
Here are some recent photos Zoe sent me of her quarter-horse Onyx and Bouffe. They both enjoy being a horse and having Zoe to care for them.
I know it's been awhile since my last post and things have changed. Last October I had to move Bouffe to a different farm and it has been the best thing that has happened in quite awhile.
Bouffe's new home is Shady Springs Farm in Parkton, MD. The farm belongs the the Seitz family who are friends of mine. They had just gotten a quarterhorse mare and I suggested Bouffe as a companion. The whole thing has worked out great and both horses bonded to each other immediately. Bouffe now roams through 80 acres of rolling hills of grass.
I have to mention another important member of this new home-base and that is Zoe the Seitz's oldest daughter who taken over for me as Bouffe's main caretaker.
Zoe is a pre-vet student at the University of Delaware and has used all of her knowledge to provide Bouffe with the upmost care and affection. Bouffe and I will both miss her when she goes back to school next month, but I know the other members of this great family will be able to take care of things.
I still haven't been able to ride Bouffe, but he is enjoying just being a horse!
