Multiple Horse Serendipity

KateRose recently posed a question about being a single or a multiple horse person.

When I was younger, the thought in my mind was always "when I grow up I'm going to have horses". Always plural. I wasn't allowed to have a horse as a kid. I always rode other people's horses. And as time went on, I enjoyed this relationship by and large. It was easy. Especially once Stan and I entered one anothers' life; I got to ride him whenever I wanted.

Of the horses I've owned, none of them were *planned*. I didn't shop, I didn't pick them out from other choices, and I didn't seek them out for a certain discipline.

Orion

Orion entered my life because I really wanted *a horse of my own*. But when I realized he would never be able to do what I wanted to do (endurance and jumping), I made the decision to pass him on to someone else (seriously, he stayed at the barn I had him at but just under the care of someone else - it's still the same to this day).

Griffin fell into my lap quite by surprise and with an escape door or two. He was a project that turned into a forever horse. This blog really started to take off when I got him and began his training nearly 5 years ago.

The first day I rode Q

Q was so fun to ride the weekend I met her that I decided to buy her. I didn't think I could possibly handle two horses financially - but then my job became permanent and things were suddenly feasible. I was missing riding dearly (Griffin was too young at the time) and I knew Q would be a great second project to keep me satisfied in the saddle while Griffin grew up.

Stan was part of my life on and off from 2005 - 2011. When his owner decided to "get out of horses" a few months ago and called me to give me first choice having Stan, I COULDN'T say no. Especially because I knew I could handle the finances.

And so, I'm a multiple horse person due to serendipity.

Quite reflection with Stan years ago

After having Orion, I longed for another horse of my own so badly. I did shop and seek and look. I came close to picking up an Arabian from the Arabian Rescue Horse page on Facebook a couple times, but it didn't come to fruition. And then Griffin fell into my lap and fulfilled my desire to train and learn with an animal while also fulfilling the yearning I felt toward animal husbandry.

After a few months with Griffin, the reality that I wouldn't be able to ride for a long while really hit me hard. I browsed online for Arabians constantly. (I fortunately was not involved with any of the endurance facebook groups at the time or I'm certain I'd have ended up with a horse other than Q.) I once again came VERY CLOSE to picking up a horse from the Arabian group, but then she found a home. (Actually, the guy in charge of the page decided to keep her for his son!) Shortly after the mare I was lusting after went off the market, I met Q and made the decision to bring her home.

My loves

The balance of Q and Griffin was wonderful. I loved it. It was a great combo of riding horse, baby horse that evolved into experienced riding horse and green riding horse. When I finally parsed them into individual disciplines, the combo evolved into further perfection. I loved the mix of training two different horses in two exclusive disciplines. Certainly, there was some overlap with cross-training - as it should be for any horse - but by and large Q was endurance-focused and Griffin was more geared toward eventing/horse trials.

I did not expect to have a third horse in the equation for some time. In fact, I didn't imagine a third horse would enter the picture until I decided to breed Q years down the road! And honestly, I couldn't fathom keeping up with a training schedule for THREE HORSES. Aside from retirement, I am NOT the kind of person who can just own horses and have them sit in the field!

But then Stan happened, and I would be lying if I told you I didn't expect it to happen in some fashion. I knew deep down he'd end up with me some day. I just didn't anticipate it would be so soon!

From this past weekend!

I ran across and article yesterday about how if you think you're productive now, wait until you have kids! Well, I don't have kids and my productivity in most parts of my life hasn't altered, but my productivity with the horses sure has! When I think back on spring/early summer, I laugh thinking about how hard I found it to keep up with training two horses. Keeping up with a training schedule for two seems like child's play now. THREE is where it's at. THREE is work.

Rather, it was work. And then the Universe granted Q with proximal suspensory desmitis (sigh) and a year-long vacation before I can consider juggling work with three horses again. And so, I'm back to two schedules, but three animals. I gotta say, I'm rather grateful for Stan's recent serendipitous re-entry into my life after the bad news about Q!

Multiple horse ownership is far from easy, but I enjoy it. Times like now when I'm down one riding animal are made a lot easier knowing I still have two other horses to fulfill my riding whims and desires. It also guarantees Q will get the time off she needs. 

Horses Who Made Me: Orion

Orion

Orion was the first horse I owned.

Around my 22nd birthday, a friend of mine notified me to say that she had a friend giving away a horse. He was 7 (I think, my memory is fuzzy now) and had been a 4-H project - the girl doing the project years ago chose a to pursue breeding project and he was the result. He was a bay with chrome; a registerable (but never registered due to his lack of color) breeding stock paint horse. He hadn't been worked with much. He had been to the trainer for 30 days when he was 5, but no one had done anything with him since.

I'm a sucker for bays. I'm a sucker for some chrome on a bay horse. It sounded like he was pretty chill, too. Blank slate mostly. And free? Couldn't go wrong with that. Especially when I knew I could board him at a place (field board only) that was $45/month. I could handle that kind of expense!

And so, I went with my friend to see this horse.

They called him "Munchie". *gag* His ground manners weren't bad. He was a little clueless, but not rude. They tacked him up with minimal issue. He rode around well with minimal error. I plopped up on his back and rode him around and he listened well to me, too. I was sold on him; he didn't seem too bad for an "impulse" decision.

It would be a week or more before I could get my friends to drive up and trailer him home for me. In that week I solidified the boarding situation, gathered my tack from hither and yon to have ready for when he was home.

I schemed about what to name him in that week-long period, too. Originally, I'd settled with Gideon. I liked the ring of that name for this little horse. However, when some of my friends started chanting, "giddy up, Gideon," I realized that my name choice needed to be reviewed some more; and thus, I ended up settling with Orion - a name I'd always wanted to give a horse.

Once Orion was at his new home, I began riding him most weekends when I was home from college (mostly, I came home to ride him). My goal with him was to do endurance like I had done with Stan. I knew with time and persistent workouts that the non-Arabian thing wouldn't be an issue. I had terrain similar to what I'd worked Stan on to ride Orion on. I just needed to get out there several times a week to ride him on it.

I had a lot of fun doting on Orion. Working with him and riding him whenever I wanted. A friend and I even rode to my parents house from where we kept the horses and camped in my parent's yard overnight with them - a childhood dream come true for me!

I began my journey into the world of barefoot hooves with Orion, too. His first trim was a huge learning experience for me; the trimmer did her best to explain everything to me as she went along. The trimmer took off a ton of hoof though, and he was very sore on grass, not just gravel, which in hindsight really wasn't the way to go about things. But we pushed onward all the same.

After a few months of training in one place, I had an opportunity to take Orion to a friend's place to board for a bit so I would have access to the rail trail for training. The goal was to have him there for a few weeks or so then take him back to the original place before the race happened.

I rode him multiple times out on the rail trail on my own and with some of the local 4-H kids who needed a chaperone while out riding. It was a blast.

One day in July, a little less than a month out from the LD I planned to ride Orion in, I set out to do a faster ride than I had been doing. My friend Sonya pointed out that I needed to push him some more. I'd been spending months building him to that point, it would do me well to test the waters and see if my work paid off - could he maintain more of a canter pace over the flat rail trail than just trotting with canter work interspersed?

I tried. I'd have him canter for ¼-mile to ½-mile spurts on the rail trail interspersed with trotting and walking. Just an easy rolling canter, nothing pushed. He didn't seem stressed at all from it. But then, a few miles out I noticed he was feeling off at the canter. Hmm. I walked him for while. Nothing. Okay? Trotted for awhile. Nothing. Hmm. Maybe it was just in my head. Canter. Weirdness a few strides in. Back to trot. Nothing. Canter. Something. Trot. Nothing. Walk nothing. Jump off, look at legs. Nothing. Well hmm. I kept going a bit longer in this manner. Ignorant to what could be the matter. Eventually I turned him for home though and walked the whole way.

We did 12 miles (which he excelled at despite it all) and he was tripping all over the place at the end.  I called Sonya and Angie and we free lunged him when I returned. I valued their opinions a lot and wanted to see what they thought.  He was tired, stiff, tied up in the back end, and really sore seeming. We bathed him to cool him, then bathed him with linament to cool and ease his muscles even more.  Fed him a bunch of grain/electrolytes/mineral supplement and he still was dragging. I left him with Sonya's horse (his favorite girlfriend of the 5 he had) that night.

I realized as we finished that ride that I would probably have to make a decision as to whether or not to do the race.  Ultimately I would have to decide what would be best for Orion.

The following morning Sonya updated me that he was lame on his front left and really sore all over.  Not looking good.  By the time I arrived out there that evening after work his front legs were really swollen from the knees down. Between 3 of my horse-savvy adult friends, I received a lot of really good opinions and amazing guidance on the whole issue. Additionally, they each apologized in some way for not informing me at an earlier date that he had so many conformational flaws that contributed to this happening - coupled with his not 100% health. They were all so excited that I finally had my *own* horse that they were all hesitant to squash my goals and dreams. It was a very, very sad reality that I had to begin to face - was this really the right horse for me/my goals?

I hosed him off to ease the swelling, rubbed on more linament and then hopped on him bareback, legging capris, and bare feet to ride about 2 miles at a walk on the flat to help him move and get the swelling down some more (with past mystery swellings in legs when I worked at The Pony Garage, Sonya would have me walk the horses for awhile in the round pen and the swelling would always go down).  Orion's swelling came down, but he still had a slight gimp in the front.

That cemented it for  me. I threw in the towel and quit pursuing endurance and focused on getting Orion happy and sound and healthy and fat. Things he wasn't because I'd been pushing him too much.

It really sucked at the time. And it really sucks in hindsight, too, but it is what it is.

I ended up spending a week or more cold hosing and clay poulticing his legs and wrapping them before I finally called the vet. In the time before calling the vet, I also had moved him to a third location to board - Pegasus' home. They had a small pasture (about the size of an arena) that had plenty of grass for Orion to get fat on (both previous places didn't have much at all) and it was closer to my house so I could be sure to get out every day.

The vets visit confirmed that tendons in both forelegs were definitely involved. The extent of what was involved was a bit blurry without ultrasound - which I couldn't afford at the time. We buted him and I did DMSO wraps for a week or so on his legs. I went out daily to do these things and to hand walk him so he could eat all the good grass.

The time I spent rehabbing him really gave me a lot of time to think about a lot of the things Sonya had been discussing with me. Was Orion really the horse for me? What did I really want to achieve with my riding? Where did I want to go? Was this the right horse for my goals?

Ultimately, after many teary episodes, I realized he wasn't the horse for me. I decided I would rehab him to the best of my abilities at the time and advertise him as a kids horse in the spring. He would be a great children's horse. Perhaps for 4-H or something.

But then I had a friend of a friend contact me ...interested in buying him(?!). She visited him. I ran through his rehab issues. His injury. All of his past - I basically hit all the negative points I could possibly hit. I didn't want her to be surprised at all by any of his issues. He was hurt. He was getting better. It would be a bit of a long road before he was better to ride. Despite all of that, she was still interested.

And so, I sold him at a cost to cover the most recent vet bills.

He went back to his first boarding situation in town. Back with horses he knew. It worked out really well. And his new owner loves him dearly.

Selling him wasn't a decision I made lightly. It sucked. A LOT. He was my first horse. And that was a hard obstacle to work around in my mind because I've never been the kind of person who would sell an animal they devoted time to like that.

However, the reality of it was this: I never bonded with Orion. I tried and tried. I just never *felt* things with him like I did with Stan....like I do with Griffin and Q now.

Additionally, Orion's conformation was piss poor for all the things I wanted to do - endurance and jumping. Going fast and bouncing over obstacles. He couldn't withstand that kind of wear and tear.

I got a crash course in so many things with Orion. I learned about saddle fit. I learned about types of  bits and how they work. I learned more intimately about the care associated with horses. Nutrition. Hoof care. And I learned so much about conformation so quickly; I learned there is a lot more to a horse than the color and behavior. I refined my training ideas. I refined so much of my earlier thinking. With a horse of my own and not someone else's I finally had that freedom. Oh boy, did I learn.

The things I learned from Orion became the floor on top of the foundational layers I'd built from all the other horses in my life prior. I had a strong base of riding and general understanding and great common sense, but the next level of things, the more intimate details involved with responsibility and care of an animal that was your own, THAT was what I gained from my experience with Orion. Invaluable. Priceless. I'm so thankful for it - even though parts of it were painful for me at the time.

And ultimately - I'm so very happy he ended up in such a wonderful home with someone who loves him unconditionally and who is the perfect match for him, and he for her. Every horse deserves to find their heart human, and every human deserves to find their heart horse. Thank you, Jordan for loving him and seeking him out. =)

Catch Up: Hard to bit

A week or so ago, I agreed to help Miss Jordan, who bought Orion from me years back (my first horse for new readers), with Orion's newly developed I-hate-the-bit routine - which could also be referred to his I-believe-I-am-the-world's-best-giraffe impression. He has no dental, skeletal, or muscular issues. This is strictly a behavioral issue. And he's not violent about not wanting his bit, he has just learned that he can evade Jordan if he thrusts his head waaayyy up high. And evading bitting is evading work in his mind.

Jordan is hands down one of the best entry-level horse people I've met. She's got really good instincts about what is right and wrong. She's not afraid to ask questions, not afraid to search for her own answers among reputable sources, and not afraid to ask for help when she's uncertain. Traits that are very admirable and that I wish more people (myself included) possessed more of.

However, she's still new to the whole owning a horse game. Newer than most new folks even. See, Jordan didn't have the luxury of growing up around horses all the time or having lessons and constant interaction like many of us (I fall into the lucky group, here). Some of the intuition around horses comes from time spent. The longer you spend focused within a certain subject matter, the more subtleties and idiosyncrasies you notice and become accustomed to that will help you better understand. Learning is never (ever ever ever  - getting back together no we-ee are never ever ever getting back together) ending.

And thus, small warning signs of Orion's developing aspirations to be the world's greatest giraffe-horse may not have been as obvious until he had truly perfected the art of giraffitude. But no worry, we know he was once capable of being a true horse and not a giraffe, so bringing him back to his roots shouldn't be impossible, right? Right.

I really had no idea where to begin with this pursuit.  I figured cookies should be involved. A head down cue perhaps? But its not like he wouldn't put his head down per se. He'd put it down. But then as soon as the bit came near - like very near on the cusp of entering his mouth - he'd go into full-on giraffe-mode. Stick his nose way up in the air and just leave it there. You take a step to counter this he takes a step to counter you. It seemed he'd turned the entire bitting process into a game.

So how did I experimentally approach this?

My goal was to evolve this game into something else entirely that he would hopefully find more fun. Cookies if he let us simply slip a finger into the corner of his mouth. Excessively. Get a finger or thumb in and just hook his cheek as you would a fish. Cookie if he dealt with it without being a giraffe. If he was a giraffe leave finger hooked until he brought the head down. He realized [relatively] quickly that we weren't going to play his game any more. He couldn't merely "escape" by being a giraffe. Within 20 minutes he let us put the bit in his mouth with zero issue.

We'd taken his evasion game and instead turned it into this fun game full of praise and cookies. The issue became a non-issue in well under an hour - versus prior it was taking an hour plus for Jordan to even put the bit in his mouth! I think the video I took for her at the end was a whole 12 seconds in length from me saying, "I'm filming" to her having the bit in his mouth. Hurrah!

I let her know she'd likely have to pursue part of the cookie game each time she was ready to put the bridle on for a week or so, but that she'd definitely be able to wean him off cookies quickly. So happy (and surprised) that the experiment went well and solved his "issue". I think he agrees, too, cookies are always a plus.

A Year in Review

Well I hope I have an audience to read this post (I'm going to act like I do), as it was more labor intensive to pull together than originally planned - but so fun to do!!!


January
I struggled through relationship battles and built a lot of character along the way.  Found the time to play with some bears get into the field to visit bear dens for my thesis project and made a new friend in the process.  I skied with Nat'l Ski Patrol for the first time and fell in love & made a heaping load of deer jerky on my own for the first time.  Oh, and was featured in a friend's hobby video climbing.

February
I tried to make the most of the crappy weather.  Enjoyed a few little road trips along the way.  Kept on my pursuit of graduate opportunities, and got a random text about a free horse.  I decided what-the-hell-why-not and said yes to going to see him to make a decision.  The day before my birthday I had agreed to bring Gideon Orion into my life.

March
Moved Orion to my home town earlier than anticipated due to appalling conditions at the originally-planned barn (stalls not mucked out in > 4 mo.!).  I interviewed for my current job - my first real interview experience full of thought-provoking questions.  The weather started to warm and I went to DC to see some cherry blossoms.

April
Crunch time came into play as I hurried to complete my thesis and study for upcoming exams.  Second semester senior year of undergrad was not the time for me to begin procrastinating - but it happened.  I ate way too many ramps and loved every moment of it.  On my weekends I made it hope to begin Orion's endurance training with some trail rides.  He got all vaccinated up and we had a lesson with an accomplished equestrian where Orion learned new concepts VERY quickly.  I got the job offer and accepted it!

May
I graduated from college!  ...and might have gone to my big graduation ceremony more hungover than I'd ever been in my life.  Seriously, don't head to the restroom while folks are ordering your drink for you and tell them, "Whatever you're getting!"  I returned to a glass FULL of Maker's Mark.  Yeah, I promptly ordered a ginger-ale.  My friend's foal was born, a beautiful filly with lots of chrome.  The New River Rendezvous was in full swing and I chose to volunteer; I had an absolute blast connecting with folks new and old and groovin' to Freekbass.  Orion's training was in full swing with daily trail rides or pampering on his off days.  I began the pursuit of starting a 3 year old horse who had no socialization other than his mother whom he'd never been away from - this pursuit would end in August after many failed requests to get his owners to socialize him and remove his mother from the situation.  Oh, and I survived the first rapture.

June
I started my semi-big-girl job.  Semi because its only "temporary".  Had my first riding lesson in YEARS.  Continued Orion's training and noted his increasing endurance skill.  Began my lessons about natural hoof care.  Started my 6 month OEC training course for Nat'l Ski Patrol.

July
Orion pulled up lame right at the beginning of the month.  What was originally deigned as a minor issue quickly resolved itself into a huge problem.  I tossed in the towel for the endurance race and began intensive rehab on the poor boy.  Most. Spoiled. Horse.  I found time to have some incredible weekend adventures jet skiing and hiking which led to a great new friendship full of deep conversation.  I reflected on what I liked and didn't like about my life and my actions and put them into words so I could begin to rectify them.

August
I volunteered and scribed for veterinarians at the endurance race and learned a TON.  I fell in love with the sport all over again and even harder than I thought possible.  Without even advertising Orion as "for sale", I was contacted with a request to buy him.  I'd planned on rehabbing him and selling in spring 2012 (as I'd realized he would never stand up to the equine pursuits my heart longs for), but figured I'd let her see him anyway.  Despite noting all of his negative points during the pre-purchase observations, Jordan was still interested and bought him (& he's fat, sassy, and super happy with her and her with him - it really is the perfect match!). I went to a semi-luxurious week of training for work and gained weight in the process, oh well.    Brought Stanley horse back into my life.  Survived the earthquake.

September
As the seasons began to change I tried to get out with the dog and with equine partners as much as possible and enjoy the weather.  I enjoyed a change of pace at work with the opportunity to spend two weeks out of the office in the field - one of which involved the planting of 433 trees!  I [finally] found a helmet for riding that didn't give me headache/neckache/make me throw it off within moments of wearing it.  Now I'm finally a responsible equestrian for the first time in 3 [fortunate] years of not wearing one.

October
With autumn in full swing I pursued the outdoors as much as I was able and enjoyed some festivals along the way.  Took a couple formal jumping lessons.  And most notably, went to Cape May, NJ to trap and band raptors!  Best experience ever with one of my favorite people ever!  Oh, and I survived the second rapture.

November
I got crafty after joining Pinterest.  I geared up for winter with some warm new boots, played with some puppies, watched all of Heartland, started playing around with jumps on Stan, and got stuck on horseback amidst a bunch of angry re-routed Sunday traffic due to some crazy guy running amok with a high-powered rifle.  I decided at the end of the month to commit to a year of yoga - every day.

December
Completed my OEC training, passed the test, and became a Nat'l Ski Patroller.  Welcomed what little snow has arrived with exuberance and played in it with my snow dog.  Continued equine pursuits despite the snow, celebrated a year of blogging, noted my progress with yoga, and reflected on resolutions old and new.

Sold.

He’s got speed.  He can boogie.  And I’ve watched him develop from this awkward horse that didn’t know quite what running meant to a horse that truly enjoyed going fast.  It takes very little encouragement in the form of a smooching noise to get him to pop up into a canter.  More smooching and he’ll push into a gallop.  He loves the woods the best for all of this.

I can tell with all of his rehab for his injury that he truly appreciates what I’m doing to make him feel better.  Its noticeable how much better he feels. 

I’ve tried to bond with Orion.  I care a lot about him.  Evident in my efforts to help him out.  And that’s why I’ve had such a hard time thinking about letting him go.  I’ve put so much effort into him. He’s been mine.  My first horse.  But not what I’d planned on at all.  Sooooo many bumps in the road with him.  I’ve learned a ton taking care of him.  I’ve dealt with many of his issues before in other horses, but not so directly.  When I worked at a boarding facility for a year or so I saw a lot of different horse issues.  But dealing with them head on like I have had to do with Orion has been different.  Its been good.

I know he has the opportunity to mold into an amazing horse.  I have in my minds-eye exactly how he’ll look when he’s fat and healthy.  When his topline looks better, when his stomach barrels out away from his ribs some more.  When he looks like the image of health.   

But one thing is certain; I’ve had enough people tell me now that his conformation isn’t very conducive for endurance riding.  And that is where my heart lies.  He’ll probably be a great trail horse for this and that and whatever.  But for where my heart lies, nope.  And, also as people have pointed out, why should I pump so much money into a horse that is a toss up?  I should pump money into a sure thing if I’m going to do it at all.

And so, I sold him to a very sweet girl (another redhead, score! –haha), and I know he will have a perfect life with her, and she will love the poo out of him!  Jordan taking Orion is the best option.  And I know he’ll bond with her.  And he will be with his friends again.  He will be spoiled silly.   He’ll get to move slow like he needs with his rehab –  as she has big plans for a lot of fun groundwork to build a bond with him.  His recovery will be solid and shouldn’t falter.  Its really the best option for everyone.  Jordan gets her first equine companion – a dream for her like it has been for me.  He gets the life he wants and deserves (if a horse could really want something).  And I get a burden off my shoulders and have lots of doors opened [again] for me to go to grad school out of state, travel, learn, live.

Ultimately, I feel this sense of emotional attachment, and I hate giving up and getting rid of something I’d thought I would devote myself to for a long time – its just so hard giving up on something I'd wanted for so long.   But, what I wanted for so long and what I got are two very distinctly different things.  I guess I'll always feel a tug for Orion because he's my very first horse. 

The news that I probably won’t have my job after September 30, I have a lot of things to mull over. 

This morning boss-lady says, "Can I talk to you for a second?"  I get up and follow her to her office not knowing what to expect only to hear these words, "We've been working 'behind the scenes' and I can say with certainty that we have funding to keep your position on through December 31st of this year, do you accept?"  To which I immediately responded, "Hot diggity!"  I'd just been mope-ily searching for jobs online.  No more!!

I plan on sticking around until my Nat’l Ski Patrol training (OEC and on-the-hill work) is over.  I may look into the feasibility of being a pro-patroller this winter to make money if my position isn't extended a second time.  We will see.  That would still be a big commute every day.  I need to save up.

Once spring rolls around though, NSP training will be over.  And I’m thinking harder every day about moving out to Oregon.  I’m already enrolled in the Graduate school out there.  I could take classes on-campus.  I could find a job out there with FWS or FS or BLM or NPS or something.  I could volunteer on University projects until an opening for a MS opened with a professor – and until then I will also actively pursue gaining my own funding for graduate school (a quest in itself).

Doors are open.  I can go wherever I choose.  This road or that.  I know one thing for certain – its time I get out of my home state for awhile.  WV has grown on me, and I’m happy here, but I need to explore and get a taste of somewhere else.  Its scary, but I really need to do it. 

Changes

A photo collage collection of the changes in Orion from February until the present.  Little horse has really come a long way.  *cue cheesy recollection music*

Stepping stones

Well, I got the official, “Oh, by the way, we don’t have guaranteed funding for you to keep you on for a year like you thought.  So chances are good that you’ll be done at the end of September.”  Brilliant.

Honestly, maybe it’s a good thing?  I’d have more chances to get out and get more experience.  But hot damn is the money good at this job!  The work isn’t what I’d expected; but I’m learning SO much.  Its definitely been a valuable experience.  And I really don’t know what I’ll do if it ends when I wasn’t expecting it to…  Save, save, save until I find out for certain, I guess.

Maybe I’ll go back to Morgantown and find a temporary job until Nat’l Ski Patrol training is over.  I’m locked in to remaining in this area until I finish that.  And I’m completely okay with that.  Its something I really want to do – something I’ve always wanted to do.  And I’m really excited about it.  But it would be a lot easier for me to find a temporary job in Morgantown than it would be in Elkins.  Probably not doing anything spectacular, but a job is a job.  And if its something I could do and not be miserable doing that paid well – that would make me happy.  And while its nice not having to pay for housing currently, I know I could probably find a cheap room somewhere at a friend’s in the mean time (4 or 5 months).

Bbbllaaaaahhh!  I have so much confusion about my life and what I should do, what I could do, what I want to do.  I hate not knowing.  But opportunities present themselves if you keep your eyes open for them.  I’m sure something will come along for me.

 I don't know what I want.  Its like I need to cross a pond on stepping stones to not risk falling in.  Not all of the stones are visible; one is near, one is far, a couple in the middle I can see for certain.  Others are just under the surface, visible but not certain - I could slip on them.  Others yet are completely out of site.  But I can see some of them.  I have some idea of where I'm going and how I'm getting there.  I definitely have goals to work toward.  These things are important.

If I had unlimited resources what would I do?

-          Endurance train and race horses; travel; learn.  Do endurance around the world.  Put it all together into one giant amazing race piece by piece, one place at a time.

Orion update: He is doing a lot better after only a day of treatment.  The support in the thick bandaging is really helping him out and he's moving a lot better.  The medication and DMSO are really helping combat the inflammation finally.  Its dissipating a lot.  He's moving happier already.   Definitely on the mend and doing so well!  Its so encouraging.  Got him in some Ric Redden shoe/boots, too, to elevate his heels.  The angle is taking pressure off the injury even more and he's a lot happier.  The vet and I both feel that his recovery is going well and he's lined up to be a-okay as long as we take things slow!

Update brigade

Equine updates:

Pegasus does beautifully when he has a tie-down on, without it he throws his head allllll over and nearly bashes me in the face.  Its rather impressive.  He hasn’t reared up yet, but as his mother is known for it, I’d like to not take my chances.  Little horse has an unnaturally high head carriage as is, so hopefully with the aid of the tie down for now, he will learn to keep it lower and those urges to throw it up and around and all which-a-ways will end.

He responded well with the beautiful new hand-tied rope halter/bridle I ordered (viewed in photos of me on Pegasus).  I love, love, love how it turned out.  The craftsmanship is absolutely beautiful!!  And if snot-face responds to it, that says something because he has forcefully resisted most bits and another hackamore-type bridle I have tried on him.  Not to say he won’t respond, but it takes a ton of encouragement; he digressed in the two week hiatus I took from riding him.  He’s getting back to it though and will be better in no time.

Orion is still lame.  Still swollen.  Still ouchy.  BUT, he is closer to home now!  He now lives with Pegasus and Gracie – a brief 4 minute drive from my house!  Sure beats 20+ minutes!!  I have time again in my life to do things that are non-horse if I so choose. 

Right now Orion is separate from the other two and will probably remain so for awhile while everyone gets used to each other.  They are installing a gate into one fence line to allow him access to grass in the orchard.  Its all grass and not much clover or otherwise, so as long as he doesn’t colic from it, we’ll be good.  Time to get fat and sassy!

UNICORN!

I consulted my friend and equine vet and she came out this afternoon to see him.  Digital flexor definitely has some issues and probably other tendon/ligaments also.  We're doing DMSO sweat wraps and bute for the next five days barring and sort of reaction.  The wraps will continue for awhile longer.  I finally feel like we're getting somewhere.  Going to add some sort of shoe with a heel to it to help take more pressure off his tendons.  His splayed-foot posture that has developed is definitely due to the pain he's dealing with.  Super slopey pasterns and splayed feet are his way of compensating.  He did trot on lead line (he's never done this) today when she blocked out his feet and back of fetlocks (numbed them up) to determine where the pain was located.  He liked not feeling the pain!

Real world updates:

Last two weeks I’ve been lucky enough to get out of the damn air-conditioned office and into the field (right in the midst of this wonderful heat, lucky me).  All trips have been in concordance with EPA, US Army Corps of Engineers, and DEP.  Last week’s visits were to Marcellus Shale sites.  Oh. My. Goodness.  If you’re not from the Northeast, I’m not sure how much you may or may not have heard about Marcellus Shale drilling.  There is a documentary that came out a couple years ago – which I have yet to see – that is called Gasland.  It tells of all the mal-effects of hydro-fracking, the favored process for extracting natural gas.  And, as with all documentaries, it sways the viewer into disliking this new industry.  Marcellus may be good for the economy, jobs, etc., but it seems that there isn’t a great amount of long-term knowledge about the effects of Marcellus on the land.  

I love these kids!  Noah, Leana, and Nonee

The Marcellus industry has begun to take over West Virginia.  They boast the availability of hundreds and thousands of jobs; quote that they have filled restaurants and motels again; that this industry will provide so much for the state and the country.  But what they don’t talk about is how they swindle farmers out of their land.  How some of them avoid following recommendations by the Corps, EPA, or DEP when they install well-pads and pipelines.  How they are fragmenting the forest and causing sedimentation to injure streams.  What I saw last week was not pretty and it really woke me up.

The people I met who are working for the companies were wonderful.  They recognized their mistakes and were striving to rectify them in the best ways possible.  They were good-ol’-country boys doing what they could to make a living for themselves and their families.  They were genuine and likeable – or perhaps that is the very ploy they use to get what they want.  The jury is out on that for me.

Bottom line, Marcellus Shale is in a gold-rush mentality right now and there just aren’t enough solid regulations about all of it.  I think its too-much too-fast.  Shale-ionaires are out to make their money wham-bam quick before us hillbillies realize what happened.  Time will tell.  My eyes have certainly been opened on the subject and I will be taking a keen interest in it from now on out.

This is one of my favorite places in all the world (taken on Spruce Knob; WV's highest point at 4863 ft.)

 Let me say though, watching those men maneuver those big, yellow machines (because I don’t really know what they’re all called) was FREAKING AWESOME!  Sooo much skill.  I was mesmerized.  DEP, EPA, my partner, and the Corps were busy discussing permitting issues with a stream crossing (through an endangered mussel stream) and I was gaping at the skill at which these men got those machines off the trucks and how they could drive them up one of the STEEPEST, muddiest embankments I’ve ever witnessed.  Holy moly!  And Chevy trucks, too!  Chevy could definitely make a commercial, haha!

Yesterday my field visit involved a good ol’ coal mine and some sliiiiccckk talkin’ fellas who wanted to make it happen.  All the agencies met with the company about a proposed mine site and then we visited the site to see issues with streams and wetlands and to see what they propose to do to rectify the issues.  It was really interesting and not all bad.  Going to be a lot of work, but in the long run, I think it will be good.  One thing though – if you’re going to attempt to persuade a group of state and government agencies to give you a permit and YOU are the one doing a lot of the sweet talking, please dress and talk the part!  Crocs, camo shorts, and a surf-company t-shirt, using “was” instead of “is”, and other common stereotypical mistakes that the culture in this area tends to make = not impressive or professional.  That kind of demeanor may get landowners to allow you onto their property, but it doesn’t do much in the way of impressing your professional audience of your ability to perform your duties… or maybe that’s just me.

Personal updates:

Well, me-time is minimal these days.  My work schedule has me working 9 hours Mondays – Thursdays each week, with one 8 hour Friday and the other one off every two week period.  I chose this for myself, and I like it, but it makes evening down time hard right now.  Since Orion is closer, that should make things better.  But my marathon month of being super busy every weekend is still in full swing.  Once the endurance race is over (this weekend; I'm volunteering) I should have a little more time to sit down and do other things.  My desk and dresser top are cluttered with random items that I chuck there as I come and go.  It wouldn’t take more than an hour (max) to clear all this up, but I just can’t seem to find the time!

I feel as if I haven’t seen enough of Kenai lately, too.  Its really sad.  But with the heat situation as of late, and my busy schedule, its hard to keep him included without being concerned for heat stroke.  His coat has REALLY thinned out, but he just drools and bubbles if he becomes exerted.  So I don’t know.  For now I’m just keeping him inside most of the day.  It will be cool again soon.

I do have three pleasure books to start on though.  One that my boss lent me about the Arctic because he thinks I’ll enjoy it, and two others I ordered from Amazon because I’ve wanted to read them for awhile.  They give me something to look forward to; something to get lost in.

I go to training at the National Conservation Training Center in two weeks.  While I will have classes during the day the evenings I will have off to just veg out in my super sweet room - just me - in the lodge.  I plan on taking yarn to knit and books to read.  Going to be nice to kind of have a getaway.

Nat'l Ski Patrol training started this past weekend!  Flipping SWEET.  I'm super excited for it to continue.  I excel at this kind of thing.  I don't have to think too hard about a lot of it; its stuff I've delved into before because I'm interested in it.  Its all so much fun and I"m learning a ton already.  It'll make snow season seem not-so-bad for once.  

Lately I've been a pessimist about a lot of things; dwelling on the negative and not focusing on the positive.  I'm making a point daily to get out of this habit.  I'm a work in progress; I'm getting there.

**And obviously picture content doesn't match the written content for this post.  These photos are from two weekends ago.  All pictures in this post by this guy.  I beat him over the head with a rock pestered the crap out of him to get them to me in a quick manner.  Thanks for that.

Picture previews

I promise I will actually WRITE a blog entry this week...   Photos are just SO much easier and less time consuming.  Work has been busy; things with Orion are improving; life is moving along well enough; I need to find a little more me-time in the evenings to relax [and blog].

Real quick...*update*

Does anyone have recommendations about stretching or massage techniques for horses?  Been looking at books and wondered which would be the best.  Gotta get Orion feeling better.

Out to wrap and poultice his legs this afternoon!

Updates later...

**

The swelling in both his legs has gone down considerably.  Still there, but not so bad.  You can't really notice it from a distance like you could before.  His left is more swollen than his right.  I'm optimistic that the inflammation will be gone within a week!  I just hope he can get moving a little better this week.  Suzanne is going to cast his feet on Monday to finally banish the thrush and aid him with sole growth.  I think if he can finally get some nice feet under him he'll be a lot more comfortable and a lot of things will change for him at once.

Forelegs poulticed and wrapped; hinds wrapped just for bug protection; fly mask on face; hot pink SWAT on open wounds to ward off flies - on his rear where the other horses bit the ever-loving shit out of him.  Bleeding in four places!!  Poor broken horse.  =(

And oh my goodness, is this the buggiest summer or what?!  I'm finding myself with more mosquito bites than I ever have in WV before.  They're usually not bad at all!  Going out with the horses things are 10x worse though.  Poor horses...granted I'd rather be a horse than a cow or deer dealing with flies!  A mane and long swooshing tail are far better weapons than those that other animals have.  I do a funky little dance constantly while outside anywhere near the woods or horses as I swing my arms ape-like through the air to ward off insects.  Slapping my arms, legs, etc. in time, too.  Its just glorious.

But it has been a beautiful few days.  WV is super duper green right now.  I'm thinking I'll have to do a post on just all the green around me here in a few days or so.  Green and lush and fluffy with bright blue skies.  WV, you're so pretty right now, I just wish you would ixnay on the humidity for a long while!

Hope your weekend is relaxing, too.

Updates on the poor boy

Lame.  Still swollen.  And a month of no-riding vacation starts today.

But he's so damn gorgeous!

 
Krystin Dennis came today and did his teeth to put him on the right track getting balanced out and all fat'n'sassy.  I didn't understand everything she told me - as I JUST found out about her and read her website a few hours prior to going out - but I trust her.  She's got some pretty bomber credentials.  And Suzanne trusts her.  And Suzanne always does her homework real well. 

So he's got to be feeling better!  Suzanne is going to cast his feet next week to help cure his thrush and grow some sole.  His legs - still swollen - are wrapped and poulticed.  We'll be doing some hand-walking and ground work for the next month.  I really hope and pray (and hope and pray some more for good measure) that he doesn't have some other serious issue.  I'm getting very concerned.  I just don't know what I'd do with a horse I couldn't ride...  Pushing those thoughts aside for now.

Its nice to have my evenings a little more freer.  Not having to cram in this huge, long rides is nice.  I'm feeling a little more rested.  Its rather pleasant.  Hopefully a lazy weekend will rejuvenate me completely.  Another off-the-grid weekend of minimal texting/internet/social networking.  Bring it.

Throwing in the towel

Welp, no endurance race for me. 

Orion has been half-assed gimping at random times for the past couple rides.  Last night it came to a head.  We did 12 miles (which he excelled at despite it all) and he was tripping all over the place at the end.  I called Sonya and Angie and we free lunged him when I returned.  I value their opinions a lot and wanted to see what they thought.  He was tired, stiff, tied up in the back end, and really sore seeming.  We bathed him to cool him, then bathed him with linament to cool and ease his muscles even more.  Fed him a bunch of grain/electrolytes/mineral supplement and he still was dragging.  I left him with Sonya's horse (his favorite girlfriend of the 5 he has) last night. 

I realized as we were finishing the ride last night that I would probably have to make a decision as to whether or not to do the race.  Ultimately I would have to decide what would be best for Orion.

This morning Sonya updated me that he was lame on his front left and really sore all over.  Not looking good.  By the time I arrived out there this evening his front legs were really swollen from the knees down.  Suzanne came over tonight, too.  Between Angie, Sonya, and Suzanne I've got a lot of really good opinions and amazing guidance on this whole issue.  I hosed him off to ease the swelling, rubbed on more linament and then hopped on him bareback, legging capris, and bare feet to ride about 2 miles at a walk to help him move and get the swelling down some more.  It came down, but he still had a slight gimp in the front.

So it sucks.  A lot.  But its the right decision to make.  Its best for him.  Sure, I could cushion his boots, wrap his legs for support, beef up his feed/minerals/electrolytes/etc., but our workouts are still bumping up to 12 miles and beyond per day.  Being not 100% and pushing so hard would NOT be good for him.  This is the right decision.

I hate throwing in the towel on something I devoted so much time and effort into.  But not hurting Orion is the most important thing.  I had an offer to ride someone else's horse and do the race, but I think I would rather volunteer my time to help with the race now that I can't race.  Orion has more time to get fat and sassy; I have more time to ride with Suzanne's kids; I have more time to learn barefoot trimming properly; Orion has more time to get his feet all sorted out for good.  Little man needs to put on 100 lbs at least.  Without super hard riding 5 or 6 days a week he has a better opportunity to do this.  I just hope and pray there isn't a more serious underlying issue that is causing the issues he has!

So that's it, my big news, big disappointment, big trying-to-find-the-silver-lining.  Thinking positive, baby, its all I can do.

Mondays

Such an awful case of the Mondays.  I keep encouraging myself that today WILL be a good day, but I don’t know.  I’m just not in it; not with it.  And its mornings like this that make me wonder is this really what I want to be doing with my life?  Maybe I’d be happier with something else outdoors related, more parks & recreation?  But then I wonder if I would be selling myself short to do something like that instead of this?  Because its just when I’m stretched and pushed that I get frustrated, but a good job should stretch and push you.  Being able to settle in and get comfortable wouldn’t be as fun.  I sure am having difficulties currently though.

I think a big part of that is that this is the first summer that I don’t have that light at the end of the tunnel; that light that means come August, I’ll be released from the real world to run back to the sanctuary of college.  The security of my studies and friends and all that is normal and comfortable.  That won’t be happening this year and its beyond foreign to me.  And it scares me – a lot.  I’m trying to come to terms with it, but its hard.

I’m trying each day, especially weekends, to learn how to BE.  To be in the moment, to appreciate the present and not look too far forward or backward.  To not become too worried with things I can’t change.  Some book or movie or something I came across lately had this line from a character, “If I won’t be worrying about it on my death bed, why should I worry about it now?”  It’s a little extreme, yes, but it has merit.  I worry a lot, not so much lately as I used to, but still a bit more than I should.  I need to let more go.  Move on, just BE.

Weekends have been easy.  I’m limiting my cell phone usage on weekends.  Not texting or calling.  My social networking online has been minimal, too.  I’m just embracing the here-and-now on the weekends.  So pleasant.

The work week is a little harder because I welcome all distractions. I’m not committed to this whole thing yet.  It scares me.  But I’m trying.  And I’ve come a long way in a month, I really have.  I hit the ground running with this job.  Its not the position I anticipated having, and so I’ve struggled.  But I’m adapting.  And its only a year, right?  Granted a year is a long time, yet so little in the grand scheme of things. 

Orion’s training for the race (in 27 days) is hard to fit in lately.  Its wearing me down to put in the mileage I need to put in.  Rewarding to see him excelling so much though.  So rewarding.  But I need to pick up the pace still.  I’m just so exhausted from fitting in everything.  But I’m not someone to give up something I’ve started and have gotten so far into.  And I love riding, I do.  Its just hard currently to fit in the mileage and eat – since evidence last week points out that I am not capable of rough riding on a full stomach, ha.  But little man has found his stride, he’s kicking some butt on timings/mileage thus accomplished.  Great to see him excelling.

Here’s to hoping I find my stride, too.

Factoid blippits

• ·         1812 Overture & Stars and Stripes Forever + fireworks + being at one of America’s most notable battlefields of all time [Antietam] makes for a memorable holiday experience

 

• ·         Chuck E Cheese isn’t quite as fun as it used to be, but still quite enjoyable as a 20-something
• ·         The percentage of people near to me who are truly in-touch with reality is strikingly low
• ·         750mL of bubbly can be consumed in a few short hours by one person
• ·         Sushi & extreme holiday-sale shopping can combat all evils (hurrah for NY&Co & Banana Republic)
• ·         Artsing and craftsing my own horse tack is possible

  

  nom nom-ing on some alfalfa

• ·         More pros added to the Liz-shouldn’t-have-kids category – don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy playing with most children, but too many drive me mad; I like rescuing their parents for a brief stint and being able to return said children later.  However there are three kids entwined in my life right now that I love to death
• ·         My horse thinks he is a mountain goat
• ·         Wood thrush calls are completely magical (http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/683/_/Wood_Thrush.aspx
• ·         A misty woodland dusk ride alone with my horse restores all happiness and calms all stress
•  ·        Chip, our not-really pet Eastern box turtle is back for the ump-teenth year in a row to lay her eggs again
  
• Orion is capable of cantering for 4 straight miles and being barely out of breath!  Hurrah!
• Throwing up while on horseback is possible - I don't suggest chugging Sprite, Gatorade, or eating two sandwiches prior to doing hard riding (lol)
• Blogger --> Google blogs?  Blogger is so much more fun to say though....
• Construction. SUCKS.
• Found my niche at work; bring it on!  So happy to be busy at work.  =)
• But weekends are still the best - this one begins my off the grid weekends followed by only photos or nothing

pow pow pow (firework noises)

First and foremost, my equine update:

Training is going well for the endurance race.  My new goal for the race is to finish in the same time (or less) that I did on Stan in 2007.  I don’t know if it’s a good time or a bad time or whatever, but I know how we raced before and I know I’m capable – and Orion is capable – of doing that same pace.  Orion is a lot like Stan in his temperament and attitude about doing things.  He is cranky – though not as much as Stan – in a ring, alert in the woods, and more fun to ride alone than with other horses.  Both horses are capable of being boogie-masters and running crazy fast, but won’t unless requested.  Both are super mellow around people and most random things (I haven’t found Orion’s kryptonite yet, Stan’s were big yellow school busses and white geese).  The similarities between the two horses are very interesting to me.  The differences only exist with their past history and with body type.  Orion is a work in progress while Stan was great from day one.  Ah well, time will tell with Orion.

Orion's training stats thus far:

• Average paced trot mile: ~09:45
• Slow canter mile: ~04:10
• Fast canter mile: ~03:25

I'm uncertain as to if the canter times are good or not, I just timed him on those just because I was curious.  We trot/canter every other mile.  I timed three of the four trot miles today (technical difficulty for the other) and they were all within ± 00:10 of each other.  Go Orion for consistency.  He really is trying so hard for me.  And I'm really proud of him.  Such a great little horse.  Just wish his un-balance with himself as I get him fixed up and evened out body-wise didn't make him so hard to ride.  I can't keep up with his changing gait as he figured himself out and feels better.  I ride awful for it and I know it is hard on him to keep up with me trying to keep up with him.  (Because those weren't the two most confusing sentences ever...tough.)  All I can do is keep trying.  Sorry, little man.

Segue into other life matters....  

Now that I’m a full-fledged real-worlder for the next year I have $$ to pay for things.  So I treated myself to some new kicks!

 

I love them.  Apparently I’m a “hipster” for buying Tom’s, but whatever.  They’re SO comfortable!  I love them and am considering getting another pair in a light grey.  They’re great shoes for work.  Much like my moccasins but a little more summer-oriented.

Upon discovery from a native Californian that it’s a hell of a lot prettier out there in the spring instead of the fall I’ve decided to push my west coast trip to April-ish.  I’ll have definite funds by then, more annual leave accumulated, and a probable decision made on what my next steps will be upon the completion of this job.  It makes more sense to go later in the spring than this fall.  And besides, I’m such a photography junkie when it comes to the outdoors and places I haven’t been before that the prettier it is, the better!

This weekend I’m headed to Antietam battlefields for the big 4^th celebration there.  Symphony music choreographed with fireworks display?  Yes, thanks, I’ll take that.  Expect lots of firework photos to follow!  And some proud-to-be-an-American photos chock-full of rich American fought-for-this-land-and-won-it kind of things.  The its-my-birthday-b*tches celebration.  Hurrah for the big 235!

Orion’s weekend will be semi exciting, too, despite my absence.  My friend Sonya is taking him to trail ride at Spruce Knob (WV’s highest point @ 4863ft.).  Sweet deal for me, and Orion, though he probably won’t admit it to anyone.  Spruce Knob and the Dolly Sods Wilderness are my two biggest dreams as far as riding in WV goes.  My horse will do one before I get a chance to, go figure.  Haha.

I wish you and yours a great long weekend!