Caring for Horses

While my wife is out of town, I’m responsible to care for our horses. She typically does most of the work with them, so I had to get directions on what to do and when to do it. I help out quite often, but I like to have directions so I don’t mess up. Typically, I read through them once or twice and then I’m fine. After the first day, it all becomes habit, and by the time she returns, it’s like I’ve been doing the work my whole life.
What’s great about this is that my routine changes. I have to be more aware of the clock for one thing. But, besides that, I’m out of my office and around animals, hay, trees. I love to hike and love the outdoors, always have. But with work and novel writing, I’m often trapped in my office for hours. I have to force myself to take walks. There’s always more to do than I’ll ever get finished.
Caring for horses is relaxing and fairly easy. It would become monotonous if I had to do it all the time, but when my wife is away, I actually look forward to it. My mind gets to wander as I’m dishing out grain, gathering batches of hay (pats of hay, we call them), and making sure their water is fresh and full. I think about my latest book, about a poem I’m working on, about a short story I want to write. Sometimes new ideas for books come to me, or a new way to market my books comes up.
But just as often, I simply meditate while working, not letting my mind go anywhere at all. Or I focus on the moment and smell the air, feel the breeze, listen to birds chirp, or the chickens cackle. Breaking the routine of my day is nice, and I think I should do it more often. Then I remember when I had no routine at all and got very little accomplished. Why I have to get anything done is beyond me, but it seems like it’s important to me in this life. So, I go back and forth between routine and out of routine, I let my mind wander one moment and focus the next. I live my life the way it comes, and am happy with it as it is.
* * Terry Persun holds a Bachelor’s of Science as well as an MA in Creative Writing. He has worked as an engineer, has been the Editor-in-Chief of several technology journals, and is now marketing consultant for technical and manufacturing companies. Seven of his novels have been published. His science fiction novel Cathedral of Dreamswon a ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Finalist Award, and his historical novel, Sweet Song won a Silver IPPY Award. His latest science fiction space opera is Hear No Evil.