These Boots are Made for Riding, Part II

True to my word, I went back to the western
wear store to order my boots. As the order
slip was being filled out, I casually asked the
salesperson how long it would take to get the
boots. The other salesperson in the store
chuckled in the background and then said
maybe a month, maybe three.....THREE MONTHS?? Hold yer horses, pop tart!! However, I felt too timid to say anything. They explained that the length of wait would depend on whether or not the boot was in stock at the manufacturer. If it was not, it had to come from China. CHINA?? This was beginning to feel a bit much. After all, it wasn't like this boot was being custom made for me. If I had gone with an Internet purchase of this boot, it is quite possible this boot could be stomping it's way to my door step as early as next week. But I tried to do the right thing, and now I might have to wait three months, or longer? This did not seem fair. But I tried to remain optimistic and paid the deposit on the boots anyway.


I am not a patient person (honestly, it would have been hard enough for me to wait for those boots to arrive next week!) Whenever I order anything online, I use the company's online UPS tracking system and watch as it makes it's way across the country....pinning down the exact day and hour of it's arrival...... goodness yes, I am a bit ridiculous.

Anyway, I worried (me, worry?) about the boots all day and today decided to go straight to the source. I called up Twisted X. Would you believe an actual person answered the phone on the second ring?? She had the cutest Texas drawl. She was very helpful and checked the stock on the boot in my size..... and YEE-HAW, they had it. She said their company is growing so fast that they are occasionally having a hard time filling their orders. But I view this as a good thing, as it shows people want these boots!

Okay, I was stamping my spurs (oh wait, I don't have any boots to put my spurs on!) to call my western wear store and share this information with them, and encourage them to get my order in immediately! But I decided if I was too dang annoying, I might never be able to show my face in there again. So I will give them the benefit of the doubt and call them on.....Monday.

Stay tuned!!

Stardust's 50-something Cowgirl

This is a picture of my mother's QH/Morgan gelding, Dusty. Yes, that's right, I said my mother's. My mother has a horse!! She got him last summer, before I got My Boy! Now if you had known my mother throughout my childhood, this would surprise you. She was afraid of horses. She would pet ours nicely on their heads, paid for their hay, signed us up for 4-H and hauled us to shows, but never had an interest in riding. Until this past year.

She finally found a horse passion of her own! She started with lessons and built her confidence on the ground, then under saddle. She learned natural horsemanship methods and became a Parelli follower. Before long, she was enlisting my help in horsey shopping. I knew she was growing in her abilities but she was still fairly green, and it took the right horse to get her going. We were lucky to find this 10 year old gelding. He is not perfect. He is not registered, has a dropped hip, and is a "Curious George." But he has been very patient with her (she spoils him rotten so I am assuming he is trying to stay on her good side!) In the 6 months she has had him, her comfort with him has grown and she has worked through various scenarios with him, thanks to a supportive instructor and new horsey friends at the stable she boards him at. The great thing about Dusty is that he would never intentionally hurt her, but he is challenging enough for her skills to grow.

I am so proud of my mother!! Goodness, it has been special to see her find a hobby of her own and to learn something new (and isn't learning new things the key to keeping our minds fresh as we age?) I think she is an inspiration to anyone who is thinking of becoming a cowgirl. It is never too late to start riding horses, as in her case; or to start riding horses again, as in my case. Let's keep recruiting new riders to our wonderful equine world!