I mentioned yesterday that I was assuming some of the barn chores for a few days. I'll admit it, I have gained a whole new level of respect for RM's daily efforts. Don't get me wrong. I have cleaned a lot of stalls in my time. It's not a very technical job, and most anyone can do it, but even so, RM has jumped quite a few notches up the impress me ladder. She does it every day! And she works full time.
Cleaning ones own stalls is easy, especially when there are only two that someone else cleans in the morning. Have I mentioned that I clean my own stalls each afternoon? I do. I clean whatever has accumulate since the morning clean-up which is usually not much. Well whoop-de-doo! Try doing four horses day after day!
Yep. Here we are on day two of four stalls a day and I am already complaining. Or, whining, which is a much better description. My fingers are sore, my abs hurt, my shoulder is stiff. One more day. How does RM do it every single day? My helmet is off to her.
We have four geldings in our barn, and each of them has a different style of living. I can't decided who makes the biggest mess: Bounder, Bailey, Speedy G, or Sydney.

What makes Speedy's stall difficult to clean is Speedy himself, and the two pits that he has carved at either end of his run. I refill the pits, but each day he digs them back out making pushing the wheelbarrow a bit like trying to cross the Grand Canyon. Speedy makes the job difficult because he won't get out of the way. He thinks he's helping, but he's not. He grabs the handle of the cart. He stands in the exact spot that you're trying to clean, even if just moments ago you were trying to clean a different spot. And if you inadvertently bump him with the handle of the pitchfork because he's standing on top of you, he acts as though you've aimed at him from some great distance before hurtling a spear at him! Move it, buddy!
Thankfully, RM feels exactly the same way!