Do as I say, not as I do

On days when I don't have time to ride,

Which seems to happen too often in spring,

When the grass, the weeds, the garden is growing,

When the dogs have first priority on the work tab.

On those days, I've taken to working on the horses' ground manners.

For my spooky Lily, that means taking her on walks,

Around farm equipment, between trees, into tall grass.

When I spot a garter snake, in the grass, where I'm about to step,

I jump sideways into Lily.

Then, I laugh, and sigh, and keep walking.