Fall Fridays & Filthy Saddles

It’s Friday. Again. The kids are out of school for yet another teacher’s institute, which around here translates to “barn work disguised as character building.” Saddles are getting scrubbed, bits are soaking, and the smell of leather cleaner has officially taken over the air. It’s been a long time coming — everything’s been dusty, crusty, and borderline offensive to the nose.

Illinois has finally surrendered to autumn. The leaves are gold, the mornings bite a little, and hoodies have replaced tank tops. Walking the dogs now means sweatpants and a coat. Lessons call for vests and gloves. I complain every time the wind cuts through, but the truth is… I love it. The air feels cleaner. The world feels slower. It’s that in-between season — where everything is dying and alive at the same time.

Samhain’s creeping closer, too. My favorite time. The veil’s thin, the air smells like smoke and change, and the world feels electric in its own quiet way.

I haven’t made it to the soup-and-crockpot stage yet, but it’s coming. For now, all eyes are on the last IJRA rodeo of the season — the Halloween one. Trailer-o-Treating. Costumes. And the one weekend parents are officially allowed to have a little too much fun after hours. It’s always the best kind of chaos.

The kids have been putting in the work. Lots of bareback riding lately — learning how a horse feels underneath them instead of just steering from above. Weight shifts. Hips. Legs. The tiny stuff that changes everything. They hate it and love it at the same time, which is exactly how I know it’s working. The soreness fades, but the balance stays. All in prep for my favorite kind of torture: No Stirrup November.

They’ll groan, I’ll laugh, and by December 1st they’ll all be stronger, smoother, and tougher for it.

As for me — I haven’t bought costumes. I’ve already seen Christmas trees in stores, and it made me want to walk right back out. Do rodeo entry fees count as gifts for six-year-olds? What about clothes and makeup for an eleven-year-old? Didn’t think so.

And while I’m over here pretending I have it all together… something big’s brewing. Change. Growth. A new chapter that feels both terrifying and right.

Stay tuned — the next season’s about to begin.