The greater Toronto area might have broken a fifty year record for heat yesterday. Certainly the young man who came to the arena to deliver hundreds of bags of shavings was struggling with the high humidity and temperature.

When I heard the trunk coming up the driveway I rode Zelador to the arena door. I’d just gotten on and was hoping I wouldn’t have to get off. The man with the truck noticed me and we talked. I pointed out that Zelador is a young horse and if the man would do his work without making loud unexpected noises, the horse would do OK.

I turned Zelador from the door and headed back into the arena. The young man began moving the shavings. He had a trolley and I remembered Beverley mentioning that she’d used it to transport five or more bags. It was hard work and she was glad she didn’t do it for a living. She’d voiced her opinion one pleasant evening when the temperature was 15 degrees, not 32 plus.

The arena was resplendent with the platform, the pedestal, the big horse ball and the garrocha pole. I’d set them up so that we could be entertained while doing walk work on this hot, sticky Monday. Zelador and I were pushing the ball when I noticed the young man looking at us and smiling. A bit later Zelador got the best of me and stepped up onto the platform. I’d been attempting to steer him around it. (Zelador always enjoys these small victories.) Of course his hooves made a big hollow sound on the wood and, sure enough, there was that smile again.

I looked at the man and said, “If you’d like to see him do his bow, let me know when you’re done.”

Several minutes later Zelador did a sensational bow and STAYED in the bow until I asked him to stand. The show-off in me took over and I asked if the man would like to see the box. Before he could answer Zelador had the box open and was swinging the big pink bunny around. I was on a roll. I fetched the bells and Zelador played with them.

The young man placed the final stack of shavings in the arena. As he to his truck he was standing a bit straighter, not looking so beaten down by the heat and smiling.