Ride for the Ice Cream

“Just look at life with more playful eyes. Don't be serious. Seriousness becomes like a blindness. Don't pretend to be a thinker, a philosopher. Just simply be a human being."

- Osho

I think the horses can sense when you have a genuine, childlike excitement that you only get when going places you've never been before. In turn, they react with a similar openness and joy for the moment. Yesterday was a day for exploring. A while back, I noticed a sign for PJ's General Store and knew that'd it make a great ride for the training horses. My partners in crime were: Sunny (a Friesian Sport Horse) and Kanga ( a 2 year-old quarter horse). 

I rode Sunny and ponied Kanga as we headed out on our adventure.

The horses were in good spirits as we enjoyed an open road and endless sky. We covered ground quite nicely at the trot with bits of cantering just for fun. After about 7 miles, I was about to give up when I spotted what looked like a store sign. Just a little ways up the road we finally saw PJ's. They had hitching posts out front for the horses and a plethora of goodies inside for me. I managed to walk away with just an ice cream and some tea. It made for a very satisfying mid day snack as we began our way homeward.

Not one to let anything get too boring, about a mile away from home, Kanga decided he wasn't going any further. He slammed on the breaks, reared and pulled with all his might and caused general havoc. Sunny was spectacular! He remained right with me as we worked to convince Kanga that walking really wasn't that terrible. There are few things as satisfactory as when you are presented with a challenge and your horse steps right up with you to face it as a team.

At the end of the day we rode 15 miles to get some ice cream and discovered a great little store. If you are ever out near Yoder or Rush, be sure to swing by PJ's General Store. It's located at 1260 E Truckton Rd. Lincoln County, Colorado.