Too Sick to Ride?

The last couple of days I've been feeling... icky. I can't quite describe my symptoms. I'm just nauseous enough to keep me on a Coke and crackers diet. My head aches just enough so that I'm constantly rubbing my forehead like I'm polishing a pair of boots. But it's nothing serious. For it to be serious-- worthy of me calling my doctor-- I'd have to be feeling too sick to ride. That would warrant a Level 4 Alert on my "How Does Cindy Feel Today?" chart. If such a chart actually existed, it would look something like this:

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Level 1: "I feel great! After I ride Wally I'll call Sue and see if she has any horses that need to be exercised. Maybe I'll even jump one of the show horses around a little course!"

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Level 2: "Ouch! Was that my neck that just cracked? Okay, I admit it. I'm not a kid anymore. I have the battle scars to prove it. But I'll feel better after breakfast and then I'm going to ride Wally all the way down to the river and back."

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Level 3: "Oh geez. It's 11:00 a.m. and I'm still in my pajamas! Focus Cindy, focus! Ignore the sore throat. Shake off the head ache, splash some cold water on your face and get moving. Get dressed and make yourself ride Wally in the arena, even if it's only for a few minutes."

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Level 4: "Thank God my husband has already fed Wally and cleaned the paddock, because I feel terrible. I thought The Plague was eradicated. Not only am I too sick to ride, I'm placing myself under voluntary quarantine and not leaving the house. What time does Oprah come on?"

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Fortunately, whether I'm too sick to ride due to actual illness or a flare-up of pain, it never lasts too long. The best cure for any ailment, it seems, is climbing on the back of a good horse!

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