Formally introducing Stanley

 

I love this horse more than most people (as I believe I have previously stated).  We began our relationship in the spring of 2006 and were pretty hot and heavy for two years until college really bogged me down, ownership of him became a little weird, and then I got really busy, and then I got Orion.  Now with Orion off with his new mom I have a void in my life that is bigger than it has ever been.  The responsibility and joy of horse ownership really threw me down the rabbit hole of horse craziness deeper than I’d ever been before.

 

I miss the daily husbandry of caring for an equine companion.  It was one of my favorite things.  In fact, I almost like that part of horse ownership better than getting to ride all the time!  So, Stan and I are reunited again.

We still have a strong bond.  Perhaps stronger due to our time apart.  As much as he pretends he doesn’t want to do anything and trots off in the field when I arrive, he doesn’t really mean it.  Its more of this show for his friends so he can uphold his “cool” status.  ‘Cause he is boss gelding, don’t y’know.

 Big boy has put on a couple hundred pounds since our endurance days.  He’s quite plump and very sassy about it.  I will make a point of getting some video of him long lining this weekend upcoming.  Wish I had this past weekend. Oh. My. Goodness.  His head carriage, his gliding, floating gaits, he looked like a dressage horse.  Gah-juss.  I was beside myself watching him.  I can’t wait to jump on and cruise around the trails on him soon.

  

Big ol' Appendix QH.  Close to 16hh.  He's a little parrot mouthed, but that's minor.  He hates the show ring - unless there are jumps in it, loves the trails, and excels at endurance (completed our 1st [and only] 30 mile limited distance with a time of 4 hr. 15 min.).

Our bond riding is even stronger than our ground work bond.  He’s that horse that reads your mind or mine anyway.  I know for a fact he doesn’t ride like that for anyone else – at least those I’ve observed. 

In actuality I know he’s just hypersensitive to the little cues my body gives that I am unaware of when I want to speed up, slow down, take this left or that right.  He’s got it.  He knows.  Not saying he’s not without his acting-up moments, ‘cause he’s got them, but they’re few and far between.  His main triggers are school buses and white geese.  That’s about it.  He’s brilliant.

 

And I love him.

And you will, too.  ‘Cause I can nearly guarantee his presence in the blogosphere is going to increase greatly in the upcoming months.