Winter blues

Well it is officially winter here in Arkansas.

That doesn't necessarily mean it is cold.... but wet. Very, very, very wet. I mean the you-have-to-have-scuba-gear-just-to-feed-your-horses kind of wet.

The pasture is a lake.

The arena... well... what arena?? It's more like a big, huge, and expensive mud hole.

So, sadly this means no riding. I've been averaging about one ride per week)-:

My lovely young horse is not getting much attention and he sure is sad about it. We put up a round pen so I try to get out and work him a few times a week on ground manners. But the past two weeks have been to wet to even do that.

My roommate is dating a guy who has been an athletic trainer before and came in last night with an slightly disturbing announcement. We are starting a new daily routine, working out. I just stared at her.... looked around to see if someone else was there, because I know she is not talking to me... lol. The only working out I do is riding.... sigh... not anymore.

I know its a good thing.... but I don't really have any motivation to work out. Roomie said to look at it as training so that when February comes I'll be in great riding shape. Then she added so that I can ride Romeo training level in the March show... hahaha.... me and Romeo show training level??? I'm not even sure we can do intro at the March show. I told her I was aiming for May. Now JB and I could do training level in March. Romeo and I are still working on flexing and rhythm. We still have a long way to go, especially if we are unable to ride very much over the next 2-3 months.

So, tomorrow begins the 30 day challenge. She knows the only way to get me to do this is to appeal to my competitive side. 

It's not a huge challenge... we only have to do something for 20 minutes. It can be riding, walking, or an exercise video. The goal is to make it a point to exercise everyday, then come January we will get more specific. My guess is trainer man is making us a workout schedule./-:

I love winter and cold weather but I am ready for it to not be so wet. Although I will take wet over horridly-hot-as-hell weather any day!

Yes I am still riding, just not writing lately

Sooooo.... I have been a terrible blogger over here. Not so terrible on my other blog but non-existent over here.

Sorry!!

So much to tell...... so little time.

I have been riding my roomies horse JB for the last month. Pretty much stopped riding mine. A much needed break and training time.

My roommate is an excellent teacher and JB is a terrific school master. He has been helping me develop my seat which was terrible. Also working on my hard hands learning not to ride with them.

It's amazing what happens when you have a good teacher... one is seeks to find the source of the problem not just fix all the results of that problem. I have taken lessons forever and it has very much puzzled me why my seat was so bad and how come I was riding so terribly. After weeks of teaching me and many conversations roomie and I have come to some conclusions.

First is that the trainer I have been riding with since I was little had evolved a whole lot in the lst few years (years I have not been taking lessons). When I was taking lessons as child they were a jumper barn turning dressage so the type of seat they were teaching was much different.

2nd is that unfortunately the trainers I have had always addressed my hard hands but never my seat. They did several adjustments with my leg placement to try to "fix" my hands when all this time it has been a seat issue. Thankfully my roommate has different training and is very "seat aware" she knew the first place to go was to my seat. And guess what??? I know have quieter hands and quieter legs!!! Who knew!!!!

What frustrates me is that it has taken this long to find someone who was knowledgeable and willing to find the route of the issue.

I have always had the drive to ride and compete in the sport of dressage but have always been written off as a hard rider... no natural ability.... there's no way she can learn this.

It hurts to here that these things that were said because I am a very teachable person who has always taken riding and caring for my horses seriously.

My roommate is also confused by these things because it hasn't been very long since she started teaching me.... and folks she has spent 2 evenings in that last 2 months giving me pointers (not lessons). She will tell you and tells me often that my improvement is outstanding!!! I take what she says and think on it and work on it till I get my brain and my body to do it.

My seat is sooooooo much better and I feel so much more secure on a horse. I have seen such an improvement in the way my own 2 horses respond too.

I can't wait to see where Romeo and I are come spring and can't wait to get in that show ring and prove to everyone that I have what it takes... and a stinking awesome horse to boot!!!!!

Busy, busy, busy... and some pics

Wow, so life has been crazy since bringing m horses here.

First off, Romeo will not be entered in the horse show in October. As I suspected we have a long way to go. Roomie puts it like this: "You have a freakin awesome horse but he's very green and so are you. You need to start back at the beginning. You, as a rider, have a lot to learn and having such a talented, sensitive, yet very green horse can be a bad combo.

This could be very discouraging but she offered me some hope. Sure I'm not the greatest rider and I don't have the natural feel that some of you are blessed with but I have drive and determination. I am going to do this. I will train that horse and I will be a good rider.

So roomie has offered to let me ride and give me pointers on one of her horses that is schoolmaster. I'm riding Dutch to work on my riding also. Better to learn and mess up on her then on Romeo. I'm not ignoring Romeo, but focusing on ground work with him and just basic walk and some trot exercises while riding. I don't want to stop riding him but I need to be cautious because I don't want to teach him bad habits. The goal is to spend most of my riding time on the 2 horses that can improve my riding. When I get on mister I focus on him.

We will be going to the show but not entering any classes. I feel very certain that this is the wisest choice for both he and I.

Second, I love.... LOVE my new place. I still feel like I'm living in a dream. Yes, my horses are in my backyard.

And I now have a barn.....

Oh and an arena too....

And yes.... those are lights.... and yes..... they do work..... and yes I do ride.... almost every night





I do believe that I now live in horse heaven(-:

Last week riding was a little slow... a lot going on and still not completely unpacked. But I did ride last Tues. First time riding them here so nothing exciting happened just an easy, laid-back ride on both of them.

Roomie and I had a rough week so Th we decided that a trail ride was a must. So we headed down the road to military training place that has hundreds of acres open to the public (except when exercises are taking place). It's literally like 10 minutes down the road. We spent about 3 hours out on the trails and let me tell you.... all of us.... horses included are completely out of shape. Oh, and we also chose a rather hot day to be out riding. Needless to say... the next day we all woke up a bit sore. Although it was a great ride.

We rode again Saturday just to keep riding. Soreness must be worked through.... right??? Toke Sunday off and rode again last night and have plans for tonight and Th and Fri and Sat night.

Yep... we're staying busy. Since I now have 3 horses to ride I think that I can count on being sore for the next few weeks. But hey, I'll be in shape(-:

I am absolutely loving this. I can't wait to see how far we have improved in a few months.

Agh the Embarrassment!!!!!

The good news is that I FINALLY have my horses at my house:-):-):-)

The bad news is that they were horrible loaders. Like... for real... embarrassing loaders.

Now Dutch... because of some bad trailer experiences is always a hard loader. Usually takes a few tries... I have to let her know that yes... you have to go in... and no I am not leaving you here.

So first we put Dutch in... after a few minutes she went in. Then I went to get Romeo... who is my perfect loader... one of those throw the lead rope over his back and say load up and up he goes.

Lol..... not yesterday. It was like he was a different horse. I have no clue what went wrong... or what the problem was. My roomie kept giving me questioning looks. I mean, he acted as if he didn't even know how to act on a lead rope!!! I was sooo embarrassed!!!!! Here is my baby horse that I have spent the past year and a half training. My first young horse, my pride and joy. The one I brag on because while I may not be the best rider I have successfully taken a hard to handle youngster and done a fabulous job teaching ground manners and the basic riding skills. Needless to say, I was mortified!! I felt like such a failure. Ya'll he was sooooooo bad!!! My roomie was saying things like... I wouldn't even ride this horse.... oh he has a nasty side to him.... wow, he's difficult.

I wanted to cry.... He really isn't that bad. He really is a sweetheart. No, he's not nasty, I swear there isn't a mean bone in his body (at least that's what I thought), I promise he knows how to lead. I have worked hard instilling all his ground work. I have taken things extremely slow with him and spent hours upon hours working on making sure he has the basics ingrained into his brain.

We finally get him loaded and then he starts to paw.... er... slam his foot on the ground. At this point I really just felt like screaming at him, or really I just might have thought about killing the darn thing. I mean really... after all I have done for and all the time we have spent together, this is how you repay me? I actually thought that the two of us had a pretty tight bond (not like Dutch and I of course, but for only a year and a half I thought we were pretty tight). Sigh.... the frustration of owning horses.

So we get to house and roomie looks at me and ask if he is going to shoot backwards... at this point I just looked at her and said, I have no clue.... that there is not my Romeo, he's in impostor so I have absolutely no clue what he is going to do.

Well, we finally get them to their pasture and they take off cantering across the new ground. Roomie watches him and her eyes light up.... now she see's why I bought him. "O, he is a pretty mover, wow look at that trot."
I smile.... yes, there is something good about him. I remember now why I put up with his crazy antics. Roomie asks of our trainer has seen him, "No, your the first to see him." She tells me that N is going to love him.

Good, I needed to hear those reassuring words. After all I on the ride over I was questioning every dollar I have put into him. I chose him myself... with no real expert. I was in VA and knew no one. The vet was a dressage rider and the vet for Sweet Brier College, so she knew good horses and told me he was a a steal. I know from the hours spent with him that he has the brain and sensitivity of a Dressage horse, the athleticism for jumping and the boldness for eventing. He has the potential to be whatever I want to do. But when they act like they've never had any training you begin to question everything you've thought about them.

Tonight I am planning on a ride in the arena... not on the crazy psycho but on the trusted old friend. I think some leading time and lounging is in order for Mr. Romeo.... Oh and I've decided that I'm not going to be nice to him anymore. Apparently the sweet approach is not working.... so for now I'm going to be a bit more strict with him. I won't stand for a horse that has no ground manners.... they can be very dangerous.

An update... Finally

Well I guess its about time for an update... although there isn't much to tell. September is finally here:-) I am officially moved into my new house. The only thing missing is my horses:-( They are still at the parents. Long story short... there is drama between roomie and her ex, he has her trailer. The horses were supposed to be here last Fri but since I took off on a random roadtrip so I told her we should wait till Mon.... then the trailer still wasn't back. Oh the drama.... and I'm not a drama person. I really just want my horses here. Good news is that a friend of hers has a trailer we can borrow so the plan is to get them Fri:-) I'm praying hard that it happens. I'm ready to get to work!!!

Since the weather has been so awful I really haven't been riding. Dutch has given a few lessons so she is getting some mild work... by the way she is just plain ornery. I see that she needs some momma time. Good thing I plan on working her this fall too. I am really excited to see what the future holds with her. I know she is old... 24... but she still loves to go fast and jump. Hopefully if we work hard and be real careful she can take me to my first event in the spring. It would make my heart happy if she was the first one I rode in an event.

On to Romeo.... lets just say he is getting fat and out of shape. Not much time to ride with the move and the horrid heat. I have spent some time working with him on the ground which I believe is always a good thing to do. He is getting really good at ground tying. One thing I have noticed is that he has started to nip at me! Not sure where that came from. I never feed treats until after a work session and since he slightly food aggressive I make sure that treats are an occasional thing. He doesn't do it when I groom him... only while leading him.... strange.... I'm thinking about going back to the round pen with him, I think maybe he has forgotten who the boss is.

After talking with my roomie and her talking to an assortment of trainers. I have decided to forgo the September show. My only goal was to expose him to the atmosphere but roomie had a better idea. She is good friends with a trainer who is really good at working with young horses so we are thinking that next fri she will take me there for a lesson. One of her horses is there right now for a month of training and she wants to go check on him and why not let me tag along for a lesson:-) Great roomie huh?!

My roomie is pretty great... she is sooo excited that I am moving in. She has great horses.... a great talent for training.... and an awesome rider. She just lacks motivation. I am totally motivated... but not such a great rider... and I have a really young horse. So it looks like we are the perfect combo. I get us in the arena... she gets us great scores at shows!

So the plan is.....

Fri- move my horses and she wants to work with me on one of her horses JB. Next week we start working with Romeo every day.... and I get to slowly start conditioning Dutch. And then next Fri we take a lesson.

Oct we go to our first show... plan on doing into A & B. Sounds good to me!!!

Lots to work on

Went over to the new place to measure my bedroom on Tuesday evening and got the chance to hang out with my soon-to-be roomie and some of her friends. Of course the horses were involved and we all rode a bit. Since mine are still down the street T let me jump on her "green" Andy mare. She's a beauty but compared to Romeo she is nowhere near green...lol. T kept telling me how green she is and I just laughed and told her to wait till Romeo gets here and then we will have a green horse on the property. At least the mare knows how to yield her hind-end. The short ride on her mare showed just how out of shape I am and how desperately I need to get back in training. It has been years since I've been with a trainer and all that dressage stuff is a little foreign to my ears. It won't take long to back in the swing of things especially since it looks like there will be at least 3 designated ride nights a week. My seat has gotten extremely heavy and lazy. I think that it is because Romeo is a bucker that I ride a little tense. He is also had some bad training before me which made him a very insensitive horse. To improve in this area I am going to ride Dutch bareback in the coming weeks... she is much more sensitive to my seat and riding bareback will force me to pay close attention to her movements. I've been lazy and lost my sense for each footfall and that is a must have in dressage.

It has been unbelievably hot here. On Tues the temperature was 107, putting the heat index over 115. Today it has cooled off to about 102. Far too hot to ride while the sun is shining, we rode in the arena Tues eve with the lights, I can't wait to get over there! It looks like the temp might go below 100 this weekend and early next week so maybe Dutch and I can go out just before dusk for a quick ride soon....sigh....I'm ready for Sept to get here.

Sad news:-(

So some news today.... my current landlord won't let me get out of Aug rent. Even though my lease has been up for a month he is still wanting the full 30 day notice....sigh.... so no moving to horsey heaven yet. On a positive note it gives me plenty of time to  sort through everything and throw some things away.

On a riding note... it's been HOT and I mean really, really hot!!! So combine that with me working 11 hour days this week... yes 11 hours... it sucks. The only good part about working this much is that since I work down the street from my parents house I get to see, feed, and kiss my sweet horses noses every day:-) Although seeing them and not being able ride kinda sticks. Dutch is very okay with seeing me and not having to work. She will never admit that she actually enjoys riding. Except I think that might be a possibility when we move as she will have her very own jump course, and she LOVES to jump.

Mr. Romeo is very different... He LOVES to be ridden, groomed, talked to, starred at, anything that means he is the center of attention. He does not enjoy seeing me for a mere 10 minutes. He is actually getting kinda mad at me and no longer comes over and sticks his nose in my face when I ask for kisses (usually he begs for a kiss). It makes me sad that I can't get out there, yet all these extra hours are paying for the much-more-costly-then-expected vet bill I got earlier this week. It is also paying for new breeches, warming, and the new supplements that doc said to put Dutch on. Somethings are more important then exercising them, and I keep having to remind myself of that.

Here is the plan for the next few months. I'm posting it here so that I have it in writing and for some accountability.

August- packing and moving all my stuff, finish paying off my current hay bill to my dad (my gracious dad pays me in hay for doing yard work... I think its a great deal and that I get the better end of it). Riding is not the priority this month. Although I am still aiming for the Sept show it will be his first time out so really our goal is to just stay in the ring and make it through the day with no serious tantrums. Riding goals will continue to be focused on relaxation and to stop the bucking. I'll continue to lounge him over cavalleti's and a small jump.

September- settling in to the new place for all of us. Letting the horses adjust to new herd members, new environment, and a heavier work load. Since I'll have a roomie to ride with and she is already scheduled ride nights on T and Th with some other dressage friends training will be in full swing. I will finally have someone to critique me!!!! And I plan on having at least 1 lesson with a trainer each month throughout the winter months. There is a show in Oct that will be the 2nd for us and the last for the year. Depending on how Sept goes will determine our goals. I will def be hoping that we can take that one more serious. My desire is to only show intro in these 2 and by spring be ready for training level.

So there it is. That's the plan, I'm going to try and not be too hard on myself for not riding much this month. August is the hottest month in AR and Romeo doesn't do well in the heat and it's not good to try and fight with him at this stage in the training. Plus I MUST do a thorough job of cleaning and packing. Most of it will go into storage and I need to just get rid of a lot of it. So next week begins a long month of cleaning, packing, and moving with very little time for the horses.... a small sacrifice so that in the end I have more time to spend with them.

Moving!!!!!

I'm moving!!!!!! And I get to take my babies with me!!!!!!

The long awaited dream once again having my horses in my backyard will soon come true. I've been looking for a way to increase income and decrease spending. One of the ways to decrease spending is to find a new place to live that is much cheaper. I girl down the street from parents has a room for rent. The plus is that she owns 10 acres:-) but wait.... it gets even better... she has a barn! and a wash rack! and her mudroom is her tack room:-) but wait... there's more.... OMG its the best thing about this place.... it has an arena!!! Not one but 2!!! it has a dressage arena and a jump arena!!! Plus lights.. so I can ride at night in this horrid heat and in the evenings in the winter.

I think I've died and gone to heaven:-) Another great thing about it is that this girl is really good friends with a girl who does eventing. She, of course, has to travel out of state to event but Tif says they always have an open spot in the trailer:-) It just keeps getting better doesn't it. That big ol talented dumbbutt of mine might actually get to event!!! I'm one happy momma!!! The pasture isn't perfect but with them being right there I can feed twice a day and its only minutes away from dad's pasture so worse comes to worse the mare goes there every few weeks to eat up the grass there. In fact it's close enough to throw into the summer rotation. I am very, very excited about the possibilities that lie ahead for us with this opportunity.

The dog and the cat get to come too:-) The downside is that I will no longer have my own place:( and that I will have a roommate. I don't mind having a roommate and since Tif and I have just met I think that it will be just fine, but living with another person can be quite frustrating at times, however the fact that we are both horse people should make things easier on us.

So basically I and my 4 pets will get to live here and pay less then what I am currently paying for just me and the smaller pets:-) Very much an answer to prayer and I am so thankful that He has directed my path here!!!!

Bad news is that with this sudden decision to move there will no time for riding till everything is packed up and moved:( Oh well I guess the price to pay is a small one.. soon we will all be together and I can kiss noses every morning and night!!:-)

Finally back in the saddle

Well... the busy day finally came to an end and now I'm relaxing at work and found some time to share about the adventure.

First off... the lesson went great. I LOVE teaching. Maybe, just maybe, someday I can have own barn with a few dedicated students:-) My student (we'll call her Ace) did very well. She is so eager to learn and had already purchased riding boots and is working on getting some breeches. I'm so proud of her, she's mowing lawns so buy it all herself.

Since yesterday's lesson was the first we spent most if it on the ground. I always start there, no matter there experience. These are my horses and I make sure my student is familiar with my rules. Safety first, always!! She is a quick learner and even managed to get the bridle on with no help. Since she has ridden before, and on Dutch a few times, I saddled up Romeo and we went for a short stroll in the pasture together. I think I'm going to alternate riding with her and standing on the ground. Dutch does better when I am not on the ground, she tends to follow me rather then listen to her rider. While I want Ace to learn to take charge, that shouldn't be the complete focus of the lesson. Plus riding with her, I can show her rather then just tell her how to do things.

I plan on spending the next few weeks just letting her ride, making sure she has the basic seat down but more importantly confidence and brakes!

Romeo did great!! No bucking or rearing... yeah!!!! I'm working on developing a relaxed horse... a youngster is hard... he can often be what I describe as wiggly. It sometimes feels like riding a snake as he gets unsure of himself and when he tenses up he becomes unbalanced. He does this both under saddle and on the lounge line so I'm working on taking slow, steady, and encouraging steps with him. He is eager to learn which makes him fairly easy to work with. I need to call my trainer up and set up a lesson. There is a schooling show down the street at my trainers stable the second weekend in September,. I am aiming to get him there. It will be his first show so I'm kinda nervous/excited to see how he does.

Busy, Busy day ahead

So I guess when it rains, it pours... right?? Isn't that how the old saying goes?? Well this morning I woke up with a slightly busy schedule and as the day goes by it just gets busier. Strider, the faithful canine companion of mine, has had a vet appointment schedule for tomorrow for awhile. Maximus, the trusty barn cat, got thrown in on the same day to get fixed (so we keep down the stray cat population). So cat has to be dropped off in morning and picked up in afternoon when dog goes in.

Meanwhile....

Last week the farrier was supposed to come, however, met a farrier that will do a trim for half the cost so I canceled the old one and decided to give this guy a try and so he is coming in the morning. I'm kinda picky about who does their feet and I have used my current one off and on for over 10 years. He's kinda grumpy and can be very rude however he knows his stuff and is gentle with my "kids" and that my friends is VERY important. I had one hit my sweet ol' mare with a rasp for just shifting her weight while trimming and I told him to get lost. I, and ONLY I can discipline my horses that sharply. I don't usually go with new guys but in the recent years I have picked up the skill of trimming, thanks to a fantastic farrier in VA who was willing to teach me, so I know what to look for in a good trim. With my current back issues it's worth the money to pay someone to do it.

So after dropping Mr. Max off at 7:30 I am hoping to sneak in a ride on Mr. Romeo (so far so good with the muscle bruise so I'm getting back in the saddle(: ) before new farrier comes at 9. That's a lot of things to have to do so early for this non-morning person.

To make things even more complicated I have my first lesson scheduled for the morning right after the farrier comes and then the vet! Yes, I am crazy for scheduling all this. The thing is next week I work all week then I start a new job that is further away from the horses and the vet can only come on Wed and I will work every Wed.... so needless to say it's either tom or never.

So about the vet.... kiddos are getting their annual shots and blood drawn. I am also looking for some tips on how to decrease the scar tissue on Romeo's back leg. I should get some pics up here so that I can get advice. He's had the scar on his left hind since he was 2, sliced his leg open, so I'm told. This big ugly growth grows out of it and I have to keep it trimmed back. Also going to ask about the best weight gain product for Dutch. She usually gets nice and plump in the summer months which allows her plenty of fat for winter, the past few summers she hasn't gained enough to make it through winter still looking fine. She's an easy keeper as long as there is grass.. Dutch will not survive off of hay and grain... she must have grass. However, I like to think it's her age finally catching up to her but she is not gaining enough weight this summer, and the grass in plentiful. Romeo actually has a great summer belly on him which is very unusual, he's the hard keeper. Her teeth were floated by an equine dentist just last year so I don't think that is the problem although I am getting both floated tom. She has also been wormed recently so I know that's not the issue. I think a good supplement will cure the problem but I like to double check with the vet before adding such things to her diet.

So I'll let you know how the crazy day ends up and what the vet says. Looking forward to getting back in the saddle and very excited about my lesson (:

A week of no riding

Doesn't this background make you want to saddle up and go for a long ride and gallop through some tall grass... it does for me. I love training and competing but there is something magical about a good long ride in a wide open field on your trusted old friend that just about makes life seem perfect. That's exactly what I am longing to do... but can't.

A few weeks ago I wrote over at my blog about the recent fall I had on that wild youngster of mine... you can read it here. That fall left me pretty beat up, but the bruise on my arm was almost gone and my back was feeling much better so last Sat I saddled up Mr Romeo (after doing thorough ground work and making sure some of the wild energy was already released) and worked him for a bit. Everything went great, mister was an angel and the lesson was very productive. However later that night my lower back was in an enormous amount of pain. This was quite puzzling to me. I have lower back problems, due to a fall many years ago, I have had 2 rounds of pt and am now able to manage it well. In fact, riding makes it better and I always feel better after a ride, so needless to say this pain was troublesome.

As it turns out I suffered a deep muscle bruise on my lower back from the fall. By the way... those things hurt.... really badly!! Much worse then a broken arm. Kinda wishing that was my injury. So far I have not found anything that helps speed up the healing process for a deep muscle bruise, everything I read just says rest. That is the one thing I hate to do. I am one who always pushes through pain and ignores it. However, doing that with a deep muscle bruise will actually make it worse and there are  some serious things that can happen if you don't care for it. So..... all week I have watched my beauties from afar dreaming of the day I  can get back out there.

To top it off... the usual 100 degree weather we have in July was in the low 90's all last week and part of this week. Now that I am finally starting to feel better the temp shoots back up. Go figure :-p Sigh... yes, I'm pouting. The latter part of this week has been relatively pain free so that's a good sign. I've taken it easy and rested a whole lot. My goal is to ride early Wed morning. We'll see if I can.

Dutchess

I live in Arkansas... not a bad state if you like high humidity, extremely hot temps, and a never-ending supply of bugs. QH's are def the state breed, along with a high population of idk-where-he-came-from breeds too. The everyone almost everyone here rides western, and even that discipline is limited to backyard rodeos. AQHA doesn't even have shows here in this state. See how I have been crippled from the beginning. Thankfully my parents choose the right barn for this horse-obsessed little girl to take lessons at. My Mimi, graciously paid for 2 lessons a month for many, many years. Those 2 days were the highlight of my month.

I took lessons at a little stable just down the street. When I was 12, Dutchess entered the picture. The happiest day of my life(: Little did I know just what I was in store for. She was a little QH, nothing special at the time, 15h with a full-blown boss mare attitude. A mare, not exactly the best choice for a first horse. She was moody, opinionated, stubborn, ornery, and just plain mean. I wouldn't go back and change it for anything. Through her I learned to be a horse trainer, and a real rider.

She came to me with 2 gaits: walk and run. I assume she was a barrel horse, not just because of her 2 gaits but because she could spin on a dime. She was good at it and often used it to dump me. She disliked people, disliked being ridden, yet loved to run and preferred living in a pasture by herself (and still does). It took years and a few other horses before her and I would become friends.

Friends we are and forever will be. She is my trusted old mare, knows my deepest secrets, and I like to think she would do anything for me, as I would for her. There's no place that I would fear to go on her, nothing I won't try, and always the pick when a quiet ride is needed.

First post

So I've been blogging for a few months now and I am thoroughly enjoying it. My first blog found here has been very therapeutic and refreshing. One thing I have discovered is that I love talking about my horses... however the average person does not understand just how a horse person operates. My first blog is meant more as a spiritual journey blog and so writing about my adventures with Romeo and Dutch just don't seem to fit over there. So I'm starting this blog to focus solely on them. I am also hoping that it encourages me to be more consistent in training them.

I will of course be posting pics and info on both of my current horses as well as some pics of some other horses that have been a part of my journey.