Partner vs. Pet

Mel wrote a great post about the differences between horses that are partners versus pets. It really resounded with me and as I started to compose a novel-length comment on her post, I decided instead that I would write a post of my own!

As Mel notes, neither partner or pet is better than the other - and I agree. They're different and special in their own ways.

Griffin

Griffin is just like Mel's ML - a pet. He's friendly to a fault and always wants to be around me and anyone else in the field - human, horse, dog, or otherwise. Most photos I get of him involve his nose in my camera because he is constantly wanting to be RIGHT beside me.

He's got an insatiable need to please, too, unlike any horse I've ever been around. He wants to work, he loves any and all jobs I've given him (although he absolutely loves jumping the most), and wants absolutely nothing more than to provide me with The Right Answer when we're working. I routinely refer to him as "my very large dog with hooves" to my non-horse friends.

Walking toward me. Forever and always the most common photo I have of him.

When I bring Q or Stan (or both) in from the field, it is nigh impossible to not bring Griffin. He almost ALWAYS volunteers himself to come, too. He wants nothing more than to be with me. If I work other horses in the barn/barnyard, he waits by the gate for the entirety of the time I'm with the other horses. The only time this wasn't true was when he decided he could no longer bear giving riding lessons to newbies and he would NOT be caught for anything. Any time Griffin alters from his in-my-pocket demeanor, I know something is up and evaluate how to make changes to resolve the problem.

I'm a total sucker for Griffin being such a sweetheart, too, and give him ample treats from my pocket which has only reinforced his behavior through the years. #sorrynotsorry I absolutely adore Griffin, his temperament, his trust in me, and the relationship we have. I think working with him from a young age really helped hone his temperament, the trust, and the relationship.

Stan

Back in the day, Stan and I were closer than close. I had but to think a thing for him to do a thing. He was a partner and a pet and mostly my close friend with whom I could do anything. He was kind of an extension of myself. We spent 5 years apart and he was a pasture puff during that time. Now we're coming back into a relationship and I'm not quite sure how it will end up so far as the partner - pet spectrum.

Stan definitely resents being pulled away from a cushy retirement to re-enter the working world. And I don't blame him! Additionally, he's finally living with mares for the first time in a very long time, so he is quite loathe to leave his ladies to spend time with me. And that is also understandable, considering he lived in one place for 11 years and has now been plopped into a totally new environment. I've been very understanding of the herd dynamic change in his life and have not pushed any steady regimented work on him beyond about one or two rides a week - usually Lauren riding him - since he joined me on July 31. I know all too well how herd dynamics can influence a horse's behavior, and I wanted him to have time to settle in knowing I'd start anew with a schedule for him in January.

From the days we used to just hang out together before and after work was done.

While much of Stan not seeking me out in the field is due to the new herd dynamic, I can't ignore that in our time apart Stan has grown creakier with his increasing age which may be influencing how he views time with me. When I'm sore, I don't want to do anything with anyone (especially a person who instigates activities that make me sore), so I can't fault him for it either. I'm hoping that efforts to keep him working for a minimum of 20 minutes a day 3 - 4 days a week (plus supplements in the near future) will help combat this and make him a bit more willing to be a working partner for me as time goes on. I'm not at all concerned with the in-between no-man's-land we're dealing with right now because I haven't had Stan in any kind of steady work to really judge. He's only been back in my life for 5½ months. The real work is just beginning and we'll have to see where we are at in a few months. Time and miles do a lot for a relationship - and from my experience, usually for the better.

Q

Q entered my life as a partner, strictly. In fact, when I bought her, while I hoped she'd be a grand endurance mount, I wasn't even sure I'd keep her forever and ever. Our first year was one of learning one another. Q has an aloof personality which is likely due to being passed around between a minimum of five people prior to entering my life (and that was all before she turned 6!) As we moved into the second year, we were finally starting to be more than strangers, though not quite friends.

My personal relationships with a person or two resulted in me being a total shitbag to Q in 2014 and I spent 2015 rebounding from that; being overly critical (i.e., a shitbag) to a sensitive horse will leave you years of mess to clean up - learn from me and don't do it. We were on the up and up in 2016, my mess of 2014 mostly resolved except for lingering spooking. We completed a 100 last year and didn't hate one another afterward (minus that moment at mile ~44 where she spooked at a deer and dumped me...I hated her a LOT in that moment).

Q, my business partner for 100 miles

In our time together, Q's been my athletic partner far more than a pet. However, unlike Mel's relationship with Farley, her partner-horse, Q does still seek me out when we aren't working and we definitely don't hate one another after a weekend together. In fact, in times away from home, Q looks to me MORE and while not as cuddly as Grif, she wants to be with me. I become her herd of one and she seeks me out. (Food has a huge thing to do with this, I'm no dummy.) Additionally, during this time off due to the suspensory injury, Q will come over to me in the field when I fetch one of the boys and has come to the fence/gate with increased frequency to presumably check in on me.

While mostly a partner in the past, I can't help but wonder how much toward pet Q will migrate as time goes on. Slow, quiet one-on-one work builds my relationship with this mare. That is exactly the kind of work that is going to be paramount in our time together over the next many months. As with Stan, I'll have to revisit the pet-partner relationship with Q a few months down the line.

A follow up thought

I think there is great value to horses that are partners, horses that are pets, and those who can be a little bit of both. There really isn't a bad result to any option. It's absolutely personal preference. You still have a bond with that animal in some manner regardless of whether they're more in-your-pocket or strictly a business partner, per se. Personally, I enjoy a dynamic that involves aspects of both and I can honestly admit that having a horse who was strictly my partner would be more difficult for me at this point in my life. (I say "this point" because I can absolutely see where I may prefer differently one day.)

A hard working partner with unquestioning trust of a pet

However, in my reflection of my horses and how they fall on the pet-partner spectrum I am left pondering one thing in particular: the way the horse's early years were spent and how that influenced them. Let's review --

Griffin was passed around frequently for about six months (to three homes) following his weaning, but each new home was short in duration. He was too young to start under saddle so he mostly traveled around meeting new horses and eating as he was handled by different folks. He came to me at 1½ years old and has been with me ever since. It's all chronicled on this blog. And he's had a great life with me, if I do say so myself. He was started slowly and we have built a great relationship over the past five years together. Griffin trusts me implicitly as a result, which is a very big factor in our every interaction. If I ask something of him, he doesn't fret, fear, or worry, he simply tries to find the correct answer that garners the praise he seeks (be it a release of pressure, kind words, treats, etc.) and life moves forward.

Stan was with his breeder to age 4, then was gelded and brought to his next home where he stayed for 11 years before re-entering my life as my horse last year. Stan was never presented with a reason to distrust people. He was started between 3 and 4, was green when I met him, and when I was 16, I put most of the miles on him to make him go from "green" to "broke". I was never mean or pushy and Stan learned what was acceptable and what wasn't through time and miles. I learned a lot, too. Freedom to enjoy one horse in that manner at that age resulted in a lot of blind trust in Stan. And for me, blind trust was a beautiful thing at that point in my life. I didn't necessarily abuse it or push it to crazy limits by any means - and I'm grateful Stan didn't either - but not being told I couldn't do something meant that we tried a lot of things that would cause me hesitation today. A level head and some blind trust built a great relationship and a great foundation for Stan.

Q differs from both geldings. She was bred, then sold to lady #1, passed along to lady #2, then sent to the cowboy, then went on trial to lady #3, then went back to the cowboy, and then came to me. The reasons for being passed along to folks beginning with lady #1 all revolved around her being "too much horse". Mostly, she was hotter than your typical quarter horse (the most common horse in this area, see: Stan) and really needed one person to be around as she learned what was okay and not okay. She also needed that one person to be patient and not react with anger, force, or aggression (the three things that cowboy did). Her 4½ years spent with me support this wholly; the more time she's with me and the more patient, calm, and consistent I can be, the better she is and the more she trusts me and exhibits pet-like qualities instead of exclusive partner qualities. Her guarded personality has blossomed and bloomed.

Seeking me out.

And while I certainly recognize that the temperament of an animal will vary and that there are absolutely bad eggs out there, I wonder about those early years of training and how they correlate to where a horse falls on the pet-partner spectrum?

Certainly other variables factor in over time, too, like how many homes a horse has had, the quality of those homes/their people, and the horses' breeding and tendency to be hotter or quieter. But for the sake of this argument, let's assume no matter the breed, if a horse was brought up by someone knowledgeable, patient, and consistent in a training schedule, would that horse develop more on the pet side of the spectrum or the partner side of the spectrum? Does correct early training that builds more trust provide a higher frequency of horses with pet-like qualities? Or are those things purely temperament based?

Thank you Mel for providing the prompt for this thought process. Animal behavior is absolutely fascinating to me and I've really enjoyed thinking about the pet-partner spectrum as it applies to my horses and potential training of other horses.

So how about you? Where do your horses fall on the pet-partner spectrum? What kind of horse do your prefer? Do you think training plays a part in where a horse falls on this spectrum? Leave a comment below or perhaps compose your own post. I'm interested to see where this discussion goes!

Cost of the Horse Critters

Alright, Lauren, you've inspired me to suck it up and think about this and post my own.

Griffin and Q, telling & showing you how it is.

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The Basics
Board: $100/month/horse - this is 24/7 turnout on anywhere from 20 to 40 acres; stalls are available as is a small round pen and a paddock area. This cost includes winter hay, as well. ($200/month, $2400/year)
Hoof care: free - I do it myself
Vet care: $200/year for annual vaccines and check up etc. per horse. Now, factor in if something else happens - let's tack on an additional $400 just because (~$800 a year if nothing CRAZY happens)
Grain: ~$20/bag and I go through one every month and a half or so (~$40/three months, ~$160/year)
Training: I have no trainer. I take no lessons. Should I? Yes. But the travel that would be associated to GET to someone to gain a lesson from would be triple the lesson price - at a minimum. Training and time spent with my horses is all done by moi.
Basics Total for the Year: $3,360 (if non-crazy year with vet then $2,960)

The "Extras"
Tack: I'd estimate I drop ~$400 a year on basic things (boots, reins, etc.) Barring out purchasing a saddle or a new saddle pad, that's about all the more I'll spend. However, because I so recently purchased both a new saddle and pad, I'll add those costs $900 & $125. (typical year ~$400; big year ~$1425)
Supplements: a new edition to life. ~$30/month, $360/year
Treats: $7/2 months, $42/year
Insurance: Q is the only one insured currently because she's the only one in full work $350/year
Events: each endurance ride entry is ~$100 with the OD being $150. With only one horse in competition my costs are currently - for the event entry only - $450. Next year with two horses it will be more like $900. As is, Griffin may do up to two events this year. So for this year our total will be roughly $650
Gas: For events. For play. For traveling to and from the barn on a weekly basis. It's a huge factor when you sit and think about it. Weekly to and from the barn: ~$27 ($324/year). Add in the current events: ~$85/event ($340/year). Now add those other local-ish rides that cost me no entry but do cost gas: average ~$35/event if I stay in state ($140/year). And the couple out of state: ~$120/event ($240/year). Gas sum for year: $1044
"Extras" Total for Year: $3,871 (if not buying extra big ticket tack items $2,846)

Total cost spent on horses per year:  $7,231

(if there weren't big vet calls or tack purchases: $5,806)

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And THAT is doing it CHEAP. Roughly $7,250 a year right now for me to own and play pretty hard with two horses?! I'm only competing Q right now, but even with Griffin in competition next year my total yearly cost will be roughly $8,000. Seriously not bad all things considered. I am incredibly fortunate. 

Yes, eventually I will purchase a truck and trailer and costs will go up. And with harder play comes more risk for injury and vet costs - but that is why I insure my beasts. So if the unfortunate occurs, I don't have to worry so much about money to fix up my equine partner. I can do what is right without fretting about whether or not I'll have money to eat and live.

But money is only HALF of the equation in horse ownership. TIME is the other half.

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I have inquiring new horse owners ask me what I paid for my horses often. Q was $600. Griffin was free. I've then had numerous people say to me, "Oh. Great! I hope we can find a good horse that cheap and be as lucky as you were."

No.

I did not "get lucky" with my horses. I "got dedicated" if you have to put a label on it. I spend money (above) and time (below) and lots of sweat to have good horses. I'm flattered people think they're so good, and I'm flattered folks think I "got lucky" with them. But the truth of the matter is that luck is FAR outweighed by dedication, diligence, time, and patience.

Based on items included above in the money estimates, here is a rough estimation of my TIME spent with horses/doing horse-related things:

Hoof care: I spend about 30 minutes/horse every 2 weeks. (26 hours/year)

Vet care: Because you're present when the vet is there, not to mention you need to catch the horses and then inevitably WAIT on said vet to arrive which is always so hard to predict when they're super busy. With the frequency that I have used the vet the past two years with two horses the total is  ~8 hours/year

Errands to pick up food etc.: 35 minutes/month (7 hours/year)

Training: I'm out at the barn a minimum of 4 days a week year round. Less in the winter, but sometimes more in the summer, so saying 4 days/week/year makes it even out pretty well. The length of visits varies, but an average per week I'd say is about 7 hours. (364 hours/year)

Research on tack, supplements, training, etc.: Because you should be knowledgeable! Probably about 45 hours/year. (Wow. Thinking about how much time I do that and calculating it is kind of astounding. I think it may be higher, but I'd rather under estimate at this point.)

Travel: 40 minutes round trip to see the horses. x4 days/week. (2h:40m/week, 138h:40m/year) Travel to events this year is going to be 35 hours/year. So average total for travel is 173 hours/year.

Events: I'm currently attending 4 endurance rides/year and about 6 other "fun" rides. Time spent at these events (both riding and non) is somewhere around 332 hours/year.
 Total time spent with my horses or horse-related activities per year: 947 hours! or about 39½ DAYS nonstop.

So, you know someone who wants a horse who has spent little to no time around them? Do you think they truly understand the costs related with a horse? My approach is one of the cheapest money-wise (if you're going to actually RIDE and take your horse to fun events) and probably about average time-wise.

HORSES ARE MORE THAN "JUST" A HOBBY. Few people spend nigh on 950 hours a year on a hobby. HORSES ARE A LIFESTYLE.

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Don't forget to enter my Dublin Dog GIVEAWAY! 

 It closes on July 4th!

AERC Convention

I'm a bad blogger. I'm a good live-my-lifer though. As a result, the blog has been lacking while I've been out doing and living. All three of my blogging cohorts have posted on their AERC convention experiences already (and are linked throughout this post). Here is my much-delayed report on the weekend!

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Thursday morning, earlier than I'd have preferred, I rocketed out of my barn abode and toward the rendezvous point in Strasburg, VA to meet and pick up Saiph to then make our trek down south to Atlanta for the 2014 AERC National Convention.

The morning drive across WV into VA was beautiful. The rising sun kissed the mountains one by
one, promising to melt the snow by weekend end. The drive was relatively uneventful, until my 13 year old 4Runner's gas gauge decided to scare me good in the middle of nowhere with the sudden illumination of my "get gas now or you're screwed" light.

I sent quick panic texts to Saiph and her husband Charles so that if I did run out of gas they would know about where I was to come rescue me. Moments after sending these, I saw that there was a BP gas station in 1½ miles. WHEW.

I put 4 gallons (a true ¼-tank for my car) into the tank and used a red Sharpie to mark where the new, true ¼-tank mark was for future reference and continued on toward Strasburg.

The pass-off of Saiph from Charles to me went pretty smoothly. We traded her things from his car to mine, and I whisked her away from him victoriously. ...okay, okay, so it wasn't quite like that but if he reads this I know he'll laugh. ;-)

Saiph and I proceeded to spend the next solid ~10 hours talking. Fastest road trip ever - or so it seemed. Good company makes everything better.

We stayed with one of my old coworkers - KC - who, fortunately for us, lives in Atlanta. Right after we arrived he shuttled us to a diner that served homestyle-cooked southern goodness. I got chicken pot pie, fried green tomatoes, and black eyed peas. NOM. But as much nom as it was, it still didn't have much on my mom's cooking of the same things (she's from SC).

After dinner, we all crashed in anticipation of waking up bright and early - my friend for work, and Saiph and I for the convention. However, before heading to bed Saiph and I printed off a photo of our other sadly-absent-from-AERC-Convention-attendence blogger friend, Karen. We were sad she couldn't be in attendance, so we decided we'd take her along on our adventures the best we could!

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Because the first day was a business day (Friday) we woke early enough to beat rush hour traffic so we wouldn't miss the first speaker of the day. Mission accomplished. The drive took 30 minutes and we experienced no traffic! Zing!

Once we'd arrived at the convention venue and parked, we were able to snag the tail end of the International Rider "debate" where folks were taking turns discussing opinions and views on the whole FEI debacle that has been unraveling the past year or so. While I don't understand all of the finer points of the debate, I can say that I was impressed with the views each person expressed. Everyone was well-spoken. It was really cool to see folks I've only read about or seen in photos in Endurance News in the flesh - from international coaches and riders to recent winners of the Tevis. Its a strange sensation to recognize someone's face or name and wonder how you know them, and then realize that you don't really know them, but you've learned of their infamy through the endurance community!

Saiph and I quietly excused ourselves from the debate after 20 minutes or so. It was starting to go
over our heads and I didn't care to experience any mental anguish over it. If I were deeper into it all, I may have stayed. As it is, I'm really just starting to get involved in the sport after years of lusting toward it!

Saiph and I slipped downstairs to browse the tack swap and trade show, AKA browse around and temp ourselves to spend money we really didn't need to spend.

Heading to the tack swap we passed by the Renegade booth where we both got distracted meeting Ashley and Mel IRL. Finally! And, *surprise* blogger meet with Caitlin who was also at the Renegade booth!

Visiting the tack swap with Karen!

We all stood around catching up and chatting about horses, hoof boots, and endurance - because seriously, what else would we talk about?!

When the Renegade booth started getting busy with new folks inquiring about the product, Saiph and I excused ourselves to go browse swiftly spend money on our horses.

There weren't a ton of vendors, but Saiph and I managed to spend enough money between the Distance Depot and the tack swap that was going on without having other possible sources to temp money from our wallets.

I was particularly behaved all weekend, only purchasing a few select things that were on a list of things to find. Syringes for dosing electrolytes (3 for a total of $5), a breast plate in lime green for Griffin (a score at $40), and a full sheepskin cover for my Ansur (no deal on this sadly, but nice to finally obtain and not have to pay any shipping costs). The only unanticipated purchase was a second saddle for Mike.

Mike's new saddle

Saiph and I were strolling through the tack swap when I noticed an Ansur saddle. I thought, "OH! Bet it's like $1200," as most of the used Ansurs I've found are right around that dollar amount. I was very surprised to read a $500 price tag! I called Mike immediately and asked how interested he was in getting a second saddle. He'd ridden in my Ansur before and was really enjoying it. This saddle was very similar and should fit him well. My push for him to get it is because I know it is something that works well for Q - who he has been riding frequently (I'd like to use my Ansur on Griffin eventually, too). His stock saddle is so heavy and just doesn't work well on Q because it always manages to eject whatever saddle pad we use with it. Something about saddle fit and Q's movement is a tricky combination. Mike agreed that it was a good option after I assured him we could sell it with little problem if he decided later he didn't want it. I bought it right then and stuffed it away in the car.

After the buying spree, Saiph and I settled into lectures for the rest of our stay. We went to one on shoeing for specific needs first. I didn't glean new information from the lecture at all. I was encouraged that the knowledge I have developed in the past two years is accurate though! It was also refreshing to hear a farrier discuss the importance of balance in the hoof; how balance and the shape of the hoof can place stress on other parts of the leg if not properly balanced. He also waxed and waned a fair bit on how you have to watch a horse's way of going before you can decide how the hoof should be trimmed/shoed. He noted that there isn't a PERFECT hoof for all horses. I was so happy to hear him say this because I know multiple hoof professionals who have ONE image of how a hoof should be and strive to put ALL of their client's hooves into that shape no matter how it may affect the horse later. It frustrates and disgusts me and is part of the reason I choose to do my own horses' feet.

After the shoeing lecture, Saiph and I opted out of the colic lecture (Mel's review here) to go eat lunch. Such hunger. So starving. We bopped by the Renegade booth to see if Mel or Ashley wanted us to pick up anything (Ashley did; Mel was at the colic lecture) and we bopped out to find food.

We ended up at a pretty awesome - albeit sketchy as hell! - Mexican place. Lunch was $4.99 for quite a bit of food. Saiph and I ended up eating + margarita-ing for <$10/each! #winning

After lunch we headed back to the convention for a lecture on the management of heat stress in endurance horses. Thanks to Mel's copious posts on this topic, I wasn't inundated or overwhelmed by the amount of information presented. Here is Mel's review on the lecture.

With lectures wrapped up for the day, we headed across the street to Ruby Tuesday for dinner with our group of mostly-bloggers.

It was a hoot getting to sit and eat and drink with these ladies. We had so. much. fun. Of course, the conversation was all horse-related somehow. Much laughter. Much sillyness. How I wish we all lived closer!!

Me, Mel, Caitlin, Saiph, Ashley

After dinner, Saiph and I traversed across town to KC's again to meet up with him, his fianceé and three of their friends for some casual drinks, board games, and conversation at the apartment. No one was in a great hurry to go to bed since we were all sleeping in the following morning.

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Saturday morning was blissful. Waking when my circadian rhythm dictated I should and not when an obnoxious alarm wanted me to.

KC and his fianceé made us all breakfast before headed out on a hiking trip in north GA. Once they'd departed, Saiph and I took a stroll in the beautiful 70°F weather along the Chattahoochee River Trail that we were able to access from KC's apartment. Mmmm, sun!

We mosied across town for a couple more lectures at the convention around noon. The first lecture we attended was about chest and groin injuries in our equine athletes. IT. WAS. AWESOME. The presenter didn't dumb-down the presentation at all from what he'd presented at the veterinary CE earlier at the convention. He was incredibly well-spoken, his lecture was supported by slides instead of narrated on the slides, he had a variety of media (text, photo, video) to supplement his lecture, and he answered questions the audience posed throughout the presentation with succinct tact and professionalism. (I am VERY particular about what makes a good presenter/presentation and this guy was perfect.) I learned quite a bit in the brief hour and a half that he spoke. The time FLEW by. He was so well-versed on his subject matter and it really showed. (I will link Mel's review to this lecture when she posts it.)

We had planned to attend the following lecture on recent research in endurance, but we got to it a little late and realized what was being discussed was quite over our heads! Knowing Mel was present to update us on what we missed - and in a format we'd probably understand better (thanks, Mel!) - we slipped out.

We were then presented with a bit of a conundrum: it wasn't quite 4p and we had nothing else planned for the day (no awards banquet for us). We couldn't drive home because Charles couldn't meet Saiph until 9a at the earliest. We didn't really feel like exploring Atlanta more and spending more money. Hmm... I racked my brain for friends and family that lay between us and our morning destination, wondering if we could get half-way or more to make the following day easier (11½ hours total driving for me; a ½-hour shorter for Saiph). I made a quick call to my aunt and uncle to see if we could crash there that night. They welcomed the visit, happy to be able to see me and meet my friend - even if for a brief stay.

Saiph and I rocketed back to KC's, packed our bags lightning-quick, and headed 4 hours north into NC. We chatted for an hour or so with my aunt and uncle when we arrived before finally crashing to gain a few hours sleep.

We woke early around 5a (which seemed like 4a because of Daylight Savings), packed up, loaded up, ate a small breakfast, and got onto the road.

The hours between NC and Strasburg FLEW by. You'd think after spending an already-inordinate amount of time together we'd have run out of things to talk about....but we hadn't. We realized afterward that we talked for a minimum of 24 hours straight on this trip. That's a TON of talking. We didn't listen to the radio at all. We talked. We talked. We talked. About horses, family, life, love, and everything in between. It was a lot of fun.

We made it to Strasburg around 11a to meet Charles. I said my goodbyes (happily because I'd be seeing them in 2 weeks - this weekend upcoming!) and I rocketed west toward home.

2-pointing on the grey pony; Q and Mike behind

Once home (around 2p), I hugged Mike hello, and we zipped out to the barn to ride for awhile. I had no ride plan this day aside from gaining some time on the rail trail - the asphalt section in particular - to get some trimming done the natural way. We ended up riding 10 miles (only a mile on the asphalt)! Mike on Q, I on Griffin.

Both horses did SO well; I think they were happy to be out on a FLAT trail with easy footing and no snow for once! In fact, neither horse was very sweaty when we'd finished - though that may be in part to the 2 mile cool-down. (I'm not sure I've stated before, but I have to travel 2 miles (one-way) to reach the rail trail. So whenever I post the mileage total for these rides that is always included in the total; if you subtract 4 miles from the ride you'll know how many miles the horses *actually* were in focused work and not a warm-up or cool-down period.)

Q only spooked in her evilest of ways a time or two, and Griffin was the BOMB for his first time out on the rail trail! He was afraid of graffiti and one rootball on an upturned tree, but beyond that he was so game for everything. Through tracking with Endomondo, I was able to discover that he has a very solid 7-8 mph trot. YAY. The perfect end to an incredible weekend!

Horses Who Made Me: Demo

Demo (dee-mOH)

Demo was the first horse I spent longer than a few lessons getting to know. He was an Arab X of some sort; he initiated my love of the Arabian breed.

I began my adventures with Demo when I was in 3rd grade. My mother somehow got wind of a girl in a neighboring county who was offering lessons. Phoebe and her family lived on a beautiful piece of land about 45 minutes from my home. It was very rural with plenty of room for trail riding on abandoned strip mines and through the forest. They also had a ring, which in my memory is huge, but likely isn't as large as I remember.

Phoebe's family was very large and they always had several exchange students living with them. They had 3 horses, a multitude of dogs and cats, some reptiles, a pond with fish and amphibians, a huge garden, and a pottery studio where her mom worked. Needless to say, my weekly visits to their home were full of more than just horses. My mom was even able to include my little brother in our visits, as he took pottery lessons while Phoebe and I would ride.

My first forays with Demo began in the way of a 3-day mini-camp with two other girls who lived a few miles away from Phoebe.

We were all introduced to the horses, introduced to the proper etiquette of how you should behave around large animals, and then took turns receiving a lessons on Demo. (I can distinctly remember having to take my index finger and waggle it at Demo's nose while saying - with emphasis - "I'm the boss, buster!") We all helped to give Demo a bath (the big grey gelding standing blissfully ground tied in the hot summer weather as the four of us lathered him up and rinsed him down) and then, the highlight of those three days, we went on a "trail ride" up Phoebe's long driveway (at least a mile one-way) riding bareback and double on Demo and their other horse Ebony.

Superior concentration. Turtles on my shirt. Classy.
Also? I still own those boots somewhere. Yes, my foot has not  grown since I was in 4th grade.

Phoebe's rapport with me over this brief period, coupled with my ecstatic joy of riding, led to my mom setting up continued riding days for the fall.

Phoebe went to school in my county instead of hers. The high school was across the street from my elementary school. Once a week, mom would pick Phoebe up, give her a snack, and they would wait for my brother and I to be released from school (a 45 minute delay). Once released, we'd all head to Phoebe's.

In the beginning, I would receive a lesson in the ring. However, within a few visits Phoebe and I were heading out on trail rides together.

That big grey gelding was always a sweetheart with me. I imagine I must have been dreadful with my beginners hands and seat, but my small frame couldn't do too much harm to him, so he put up with me - the over-large fly perched upon his back for hours at a time.

Phoebe, and Demo, taught me to fend for myself and make my own decisions while riding. Phoebe loved to run. Her favorite ride, Ebony, was as stubborn as they come. He would buck and rear and bite and throw an ever-loving fit almost every single time we were out. She always rode him bareback, too, despite all of this!

Phoebe and Ebony would always lead our rides. Demo followed along behind them with me. Phoebe would always ask or - at a minimum - warn me when she planned to set off at a canter or gallop - girl loved to run. As a then 4th grader, I was still intimidated by anything faster than a trot! It was up to me to keep Demo to a trot as Ebony and Phoebe shot away down the trail for a hundred yards or so.

Demo always listened.

A sweetheart of a horse.

Hours and hours on the trail with Demo, always following the fearless Phoebe, really taught me to ride. I learned to dodge branches while in the saddle, to direct Demo around sticky places, and to pick my speed as I desired. I learned to make decisions and take control of what was going on.

Nothing can replace these lessons. Nothing. The time I spent with Demo and Phoebe built the huge foundation upon which all of my riding is built upon. Practical experience outside of a controlled environment is like nothing else.

I will forever be grateful to that big grey gelding and his gentle nature with me no matter what we got ourselves into (and we did get lost a time or two!). Phoebe, as well. The time she spent with me was integral to the horseperson I have become.

And now have a myriad of pictures from my phone that I took of pictures from the past:

Phoebe on the ever-challenging Ebony

Phoebe's mom making sure we're all ready to go. Don't ask what the hell I'm doing with my heels...I don't even know.

Off we go! On one of our many trail ride adventures. Note the many dogs.

Phoebe and I. This photo meant SO much to me as a kid. I looked up to her
more than just about anyone.

The trail ride during the mini-day camp. We rode double and traded who got to "steer" the horse.

Demo was blissed out.

Happy girls; happy horse.

On the forehand much? Haha. It was all I could do to ride that trot at the time!

Horses Who Made Me: Rocky

Traci at Fly On Over started a series chronicling her past with horses and how it got her to where she is now. I think this idea is brilliant. I'd thought for awhile about some sort of series, but was never able to sell myself on a good topic.

Until now.

Each Tuesday for the next several weeks I'll post - in chronological order - about horses who have made me the rider I am. The lessons I've learned from them are great and small, but all influenced me in some way to better myself as a rider and an equestrian.

Rocky
Rocky was the first horse I have memory of doing a significant ride on.

He was the horse of a local farrier with whom my parents were friends with. I would learn - much later in life - that my parents had discussed the possibility of buying a horse for me with this gentleman.

Rocky's owner led me on Rocky up a trail through the woods on his property. I was on the lead line throughout this portion of our adventure. We wound up a mountain side on a 4-wheeler trail for a time, and then back-tracked back down the mountain to the field where we'd begun. The whole time he talked to me about horse things and riding. Minor instruction was given here and there.

In this field, the lead line was unclipped and Rocky was left to follow his owner through the field at a pace of my choosing.

While the memory is fuzzy, I can remember having a little difficulty in the beginning of my new freedom on this horse. He wanted to eat and I wanted him to go. He finally chose to follow his owner back to the barn, not due to my efforts.

I remember him trotting some. I remember the thrill of that.

This was one of only a very few times I got to ride this pony, but I will always remember that first taste of freedom riding a horse under my own volition and not under the direction of someone else.

That moment, however brief, was the last pebble that tripped me into falling the rabbit hole of loving horses and riding. I've been here ever since.

Finally, A Christmas Surprise Story

K lives on a neighboring property to where I keep my horses. As a result, she's essentially got horses in her backyard, though none of her own. A young (13) horse-lover with no outlet, she gave all of the horses names of her own since she didn't know their real names, and often fed them carrots and apples from the fence line that shared a property edge with her home.

Her parents began questing for her to receive lessons last year. They'd asked another of my friends, but her schedule was busier than my own. Their request died off with the onslaught of holidays and other activities that exist in life.

By the following summer though (August of this year), they were interested again in pursuing the option of getting lessons for K. K's mom, L, works with my neighbor who runs a Friesian sporthorse breeding program. My neighbor, J, had just received one of her sporthorse mares back from a former buyer who was going through a rough time. The mare had extensive training and would be great for a beginner to learn on. J asked me to come see what I thought of the mare and meet K and L to see if I would be a good match to teach K the beginnings of horseback riding.

Everything went swimmingly. K and L and I all got along well, I rode and assessed the mare and was very pleased with her. K would have the option to receive lessons on that mare at J's or on Q at my barn.

Things became very tricky with scheduling, however, and it was well over a month before we found a time in everyone's schedules to give a lesson. K is as busy or busier than I was at her age, her mom has a job that involves 12 and 24 hour shifts, I have my chaotic life that you're all familiar with.

The few days we did find to schedule in the beginning were rained out! We just couldn't catch a break!

Finally, frustrated about cancellations due to weather, the dwindling daylight that comes with autumn, and difficulties with scheduling, we opted to just do lessons on Q since it was so close to their house. (My apartment and J's are about 15 minutes away from where I keep my horses/where K and L live.)

Despite having never ridden a horse in a capacity beyond a pony ride in her life, it was obvious during the first lesson that K was a born natural rider. She has a beautifully balanced seat that immediately put my drills to test her balance in the saddle to shame.

The biggest things we've been focusing on through our sporadically scheduled lessons over the past few months have been keeping her hands quiet, her eyes up, and her heels down. As a dancer most of her life, pointing her toes up and heels down is very unnatural and uncomfortable for her right now! the other two points will improve with extended time in the saddle.

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K also has a great understanding of how to interact with horses on the ground. I have to instruct only a little before she's demonstrating concepts to me in a proper and safe way. Due to bouts with scratches the past two years, Q isn't always perfect about letting someone pick out her feet because she's associated so much bad with having them handled in a certain way. (I have very different cues with her to let her know I'm just wanting to pick her feet or trim them and not smother them with salves and cremes to treat the ouchy scratches.) As a result, I taught K the importance of picking out hooves with Griffin. She picked up what I remember to be a kind of tricky practice as a kid, very quickly. And Griffin was a doll about it.

K's asked me a few times in most recent lessons, "Will I ever be able to ride Griffin?" To which I smile because of her interest, and only respond, "I hope so, but it may be awhile! He's an unpredictable youngster right now and I'd hate to see you hit the ground because of his antics!"

Fortunately, she and Q have developed a quiet understanding. They had a rough beginning (unsteady, sloppy beginners hands with Q's sensitive mouth led to a very angry Q-mare), but once I swapped out a bit and bridle for the halter-bridle I tied, things have gone swimmingly. Walking, trotting, circles, reverse, backing. Really beautiful work between the two of them. A relaxed and attentive Q-mare, and a very happy, smiling 13 year old.

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It was with excitement that I received a text from K's mom, L, at the beginning of December which read: "SHHHH! BIG SURPRISE! We want to get K a horse for Christmas! Do you think you could help us find one? Call me later."

And with that, a flurry of searching began. The budget I was given to work with didn't allow for much wiggle room and concerned me greatly. L wanted to "get lucky" as I had with Q and Griffin, I cautioned that I'd only "gotten lucky" with them because I'd put hours and hours (and months and soon years(!)) of work into them). All of my immediate options I had in mind for a horse fell through. J's searching turned up nothing, as well.

Then, as a last ditch effort, I searched the WV Tack & Trade Facebook group for horses. NOT my first choice, obviously. People in this group routinely advertise in false and idiotic ways. While some of the animals are really flip-worthy for someone with training capabilities, finding a horse that would be patient and tolerant of a beginner isn't simple to do - especially with the budget I had to work with!

But there was one. "11 yo, registered APHA gelding. 15.3 hands, well broke. suitable to be finished in any area. Very soft and easy to ride."

 

 

While not a horse I'd chose for myself, he didn't appear to have any glaring faults from the few photos provided. So far, seemed like a potential option (and our only option!) for a horse for K.

I was going to be out of town for my primary job during the week and out of town every weekend with my second job, so I passed the contact info, ad, and photos along to J to pursue.

J's very accustomed to the wheeling and dealing associated with buying horses from her breeding facility. She's also got a good eye for obvious flaws both physically and behaviorally from having the facility she has. She and I have been a perfect team in this endeavor!

J and L were able to get out to see the horse a few weekends ago. He's got a foundation of Clinton Anderson-based training. J said he had a really kind eye and was pretty well behaved the whole time. His only issue that she noted was shuffling back and forth as his rider mounted. I told her that issue would be fairly simple to resolve. I was still a bit nervous about the whole thing since I hadn't gone myself to see the horse and look for other potential problems he may pose for a beginner rider, but I put trust in J and L and their observations. I gave them my two cents on what they'd provided me to work with and left the ultimate decision with L.

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The gentleman selling the horse ended up dropping him off for free later the next week. This startled me and scared me a little (I have such little trust in people!), but I tried to just assume he really didn't want to feed another mouth through winter.

 It was another 2 days before I could get to the barn to assess the horse. When I arrived, I found a very sassy Q-mare chasing his painted ass around to keep him away from "her" friends. She's never been so adamantly against another boy before. I had to laugh.

The paint, "Gunner" for now, wouldn't let me near him. Great, I thought, issue number 1, doesn't want to be caught. Ugh. So I left him and took my two up to the barn to play with for a few hours with my friend Barbara who was visiting my horses for the first time. We played around for awhile, me showing her how I've trained them (methods new to her as she's been so disconnected from horses in recent years as she's traveled the world pursuing her passion for various ethnic music and dance).

Once Barbara left to attend to other errands, I tried again at catching Gunner. After a short 10 minutes of advance and retreat, pressure on pressure off, avoiding direct eye contact and talking softly, he and I came to an understanding and he finally let me approach and halter him. Perfect timing because L had showed up.

I began my silent assessment of Gunner immediately after haltering him. He led well, not up on top of me, nicely behind in his "box" as Mel would say ;-). If I stopped and asked him to back off me, he did. Going through the gate he yielded his hindquarters around so I could close it after him. He was a little snorty about the tractor and random equipment in odd places due to winter maintenance activities, but nothing that caused me alarm.

I tied him in the barn and L and I groomed him awhile. He was very polite about his space vs. our space the whole time. Gunner hardly flicked an ear when we put a step stool beside him to stand on to groom his back as K will have to do since he is so much taller than her (she's probably only 5' or 5'1"). Good boy! I was really pleased with this.

I had brought the electric clippers to re-clip and touch up Q's legs for scratches prevention, so I took the time to see how Gunner would respond to those, as well. He was VERY alarmed at first. Not a happy camper. With 5 minutes of patience and treats though, we had him accepting them. I was even able to clip a small bridle path on him. GOOD BOY.

Overall, I give him an A+ on his ground manners. Great disposition on the ground for a beginner to work around. I did forget to mess much with his feet other than noting that they're in pretty good condition, though will need a maintenance trim soon.

L left after the grooming session to go home and take care of a sick K. :-(

I took Gunner into the round pen after she left to see how much of this "Clinton Anderson" he knew. This is where things started to change with his behavior. I smacked the ground with the end of the lunge whip and gestured for him to move out in a counter clockwise direction. He balked violently in surprise and fear, and rushed to the gate where he considered trying to jump out. I backed off, redirected my body language, and with some effort got him to move out and in a clockwise direction.

His trot was strung out and frantic. The whites of his eyes showed as he watched me closely in fear of what I might do next. Other than gesturing to keep him moving past the gate he wanted to halt at, I softened all of my language to try to calm him.

It greatly saddened me to come across yet another (Q being the first) horse who's first cowboy trainer took what they'd "learned" from a natural horsemanship practitioner and used it in a manner to scare the horse into submission. I think Gunner will bounce back from this better than Q because his demeanor is different, but all the same, I don't like seeing this. Its exactly why training methods like that get a bad rap. I use pieces of that training, but my horses have NEVER been scared into things (obvious from videos). But I'll step away from my soapbox before I rant further...

At liberty/round pen work, I give him a B-. He tried; he never offered any rude behaviors in the slightest, just fear. And his issues are directly due to human error from what I can observe so far. With time, patience, dedication, and some love, he'll come right around, I'm sure of it!

My buddy from patrol who's been riding horses since before he could walk was in town and showed up shortly into me working Gunner in the round pen. I asked a little more of Gunner in order to end on a good note, and then unceremoniously tossed Mike onto this horse I'd barely known to test ride him on a short trail ride with Q and I. (Sorry, Mike. Haha. I wouldn't have done this if I hadn't been privy to a myriad of crazy horse stories from him earlier in the week.)

Under saddle Gunner was initially startled, but settled very quickly. He wasn't a huge fan of the ported bit I'd offered him, but he didn't do much more than chew and lip it a little bit. Mike was calm, has a phenomenal seat, and Gunner settled considerably under his guidance. He was still forward and a little prancy, but nothing crazy. He had just been uprooted a few days ago and thrust into a new life. So, all things considered, it was pretty good.

He crossed water with minimal issue, was vocal toward the other horses (who were also being spastic in the field and calling out to us the whole time), and he never broke higher than a trot - even when provided an opportunity to do so.

Mike kept him relatively calm, all things considered, and noted that Gunner didn't really have any glaring bad habits other than just being a little "up" because of the other horses. Not a perfect scenario, but definitely not bad! I'm pretty confident that with some time in this new home with his own person he's going to settle down just fine.

Before dismounting, Mike made Gunner settle and stand still for 15 seconds or so without moving an inch. Gunner was focused on the horses galloping around the field (maniacs, I tell you!), but he did stand. Good boy.

I give Gunner a B under saddle. He had a lot of try, but he was very distracted and I don't think it would have been a positive experience for an inexperienced rider. I do, however, firmly believe that with time in his new home, time with his new owner, dedication on her part, guidance from mine, and patience on the part of everyone, that he's going to be just fine for her. Mike did do a couple silly things for me while riding to see Gunner's response (primarily flopping around with his hands as if he were a beginner since this will be one of K's major issues), and he didn't care at all about those things.

Gunner isn't the absolute perfect scenario right out of the gate, but all things considered, I'm pretty pleased with the kind of horse we ended up with through this rapid process of finding something suitable.

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On Christmas Eve, I was released from work 3 hours early. This gave me time to head out to the barn to bring in my guys and feed them and blanket them (Hello 12 degrees with 15-20mph winds! Also, my two have bib clips through the winter because of the work I have them in and lack of time to help them cool out after dark...) AND to bring Gunner in to prep him for K.

Griffin saw me drive up and took no time to leave the round bale across the field and come to the gate to be let in for his food. Q and Gunner I had to fetch for myself.

Mud puppy. OMG. Gunner's a mud puppy. In the worst way! I feared the worst as I fetched him from the field.

Despite his dirty appearance though, I was impressed that he let me catch him with no chase. Good boy. And then, despite being led in alongside a mare who was having NONE of him, he was sweet as could be. Q was doing her best bitchy mare face, and that gelding, bless his heart, just plodded along behind her keeping what distance he could. Good man, good man.

Once in the barn with grain in front of all three horses, I brushed and brushed and brushed. And choked on the dust. And then I said screw it, and I gave Gunner a very brief bath of sorts with some cold-ass water to get off the awful wet mud he'd recently rolled in. It was a huge improvement, but still not awesome.

I'd planned to braid his tail with ribbons and do his mane in hunter braids. He would have none of the mane braiding. He wasn't rude at all about it though. He let me stand on the step stool (tall ass horse!) and braid, but if I pulled tight in any way on the braid he'd lower his head slowly, steadily, to sneak away from me. If I stepped back from him to grab more bands, he'd take that time to rub, rub, rub on those already in. I decided it probably wasn't a good idea to take the time to put them in at that point and just opted for the tail braid with ribbon.

My horses had been inside this whole time, they ate their grain and then patiently watched and waited as I fussed with Gunner. I did this on purpose because 1.) its good for them to have to stand in this manner and 2.) it allowed them to dry off from the snow that had melted on them enough that I could put their blankets on for the night. I tossed their blankets on, secured them, and turned them out.

Cue Gunner spazzing. He was super unhappy to be all alone! L messaged me then, to say she was leaving work to head to get her hubby and K to bring her over for the big surprise. I messaged back to say I'd stick around as long as I could (I had a previous commitment to be at my folks' house) to keep Gunner calm.

I ran out to the field to fetch Griffin again and bring him in to help keep Gunner calm while we waited. It seemed that I would indeed be able to be present for the surprise after all! With Griffin's presence, Gunner settled down immediately.

I began the waiting game.

I knew J was coming, too, and I saw her car pull up as I was sweeping the tack room (because cleaning is good for when you're nervous!) and went out to greet her only to find L and her hubby and K were all there, too! Oh!!

I called a quick greeting and muttered something about the weather. J called out that she was here to check on Eli (the Friesian sporthorse...rude horse from previous post...) for his owner (J bred Eli years and years ago). She also said that she was going to watch K's "lesson", the ruse her parents had put in place to surprise her with Gunner.

I headed back into the barn and then....well, here, I'll just let you see for yourselves.

And the view from J's phone:

K was so in shock. And so happy. So blissfully happy.

I hung around for a bit to watch her with him, to take photos with my phone, and to help her a little as she played with him as her dad directed. He was following her happily around the ring and stopping when she stopped, going when she was going, but he was stopping a bit too close to her. Almost running into her.

I really had to book it to my folks' place, but I took a moment to demonstrate that she needed to be more firm with her request, loud with her body language, and if he didn't listen needed to back him up.

Its hard to be "mean" to an animal you want to love you - it took me a month to crack down on Griffin when I got him - but good glory is it beyond worth it! You gain more trust and built a FAR better relationship with them for it! SO worth it. And, aside from that trust and that relationship we all strive for, you gain a very respectful horse who is less likely to bowl you over in a bad situation (absolutely KEY when you're around an animal so much bigger than yourself)!

This surprise made my Christmas. It was amazing to be a part of it. I'm thankful, I'm happy for K, and I'm excited for what the future will bring for her.

I hope you've all enjoyed following along with this little Christmas surprise as much as I have enjoyed being a part of it.

Merry Christmas to each of you and your animals. I hope your holidays are bright and wish you the best of all the winter wishes!

2013: Another Trip Around the Sun

I've met a lot of new folks via blogging in the last few months. I'm enjoying catching up on the high points in your lives through posts like these that are beginning to crop up with the end of the year. I hope you enjoy catching up on my old pursuits, too!

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Starting the day the right way on the mountain with the National Anthem

January: I fulfilled a mini-dream of skijoring with horses. We had fun. I enjoyed many long weekends with ski patrol. I posted about the myriad of things in my saddle bags, and took time to dote on the pretty mare and her feet.

Joshua Tree; Photo by Mandy Weston

February: I skied more with patrol. Took an incredible trip to California to visit Mandy in San Diego; we also went to Joshua Tree! When I returned I embraced my horses "flaws" and reflected on Griffin's issue with a creek.

Climbing rocks with Q mare

March: Kenai demonstrated a valuable lesson to me. I celebrated his 3rd birthday, too! I took another trip, this time to Colorado to ski a lot. Griffin conquered his issue with the creek. Then I took another trip to NC to horseback ride in the Uwharrie where Q proved how awesome her feet really are. I tried to pony Griffin with Q as I'd done on past occasions, but after this incident I quit. Then, after a silly scare with what ended up being Q just shedding her frogs, I researched and reflected on a hoof for all seasons.

Before the injury at No Frills

April: In a quest to climb more this year, I made my first vertical escape this month. Spring also means foals, and this year we got to play with a Gypsy Vanner sporthorse foal (that Q later tried to steal). Q powered through her workouts, impressing me thoroughly. I also started some riding sessions on Griffin. And finally, Q and I competed in our first ride of the season: No Frills. It didn't go as planned, but I reflected on the things I learned and realized I had a lot to be thankful for.

Visiting Dom and Ozzy in NJ

May: The first of many busy, busy months! I climbed. All over. And went to a climbing festival! Q began to heal from the freak incident at No Frills. I celebrated her 7th birthday, and continued to monitor her healing. After a scary moment, she was released from stall rest early which gave me time to go investigate the rock that presumably caused her injury during the fall. Griffin exhibited that he is a shithead as he threw shenanigans at me all month; he has redeeming qualities though. I ended this month with another trip - this time to NJ to meet and play with Dom, her friend Margaret, and all the horses.

Such a pretty boy he's turning into!

June: June began with an anecdote about Griffin trying to kill small, defenseless animals. The kitten - Atticus - I brought home from NJ began and Kenai began their love connection. Griffin pulled a huge shenanigan that left me hurting after his first trail ride. I went climbing some more. Q healed up beautifully. I began working her again; we experimented with dressage and I got her back on the trails. I ended the month with a quick invite and acceptance to ride in my first 50! Scioto Run taught me a lot.

Saiph riding Q when she visited

July: I moved into my own place: a barn! Q gave lessons to my friends, enjoyed some LSD, jumping, was a parade pro, and shared riding with a friend who dearly missed it. Griffin turned 3 this month. He's changed a lot since I got him. I embraced a summer of stay-cationing in WV with many pursuits and explorations. The highlight of the month was hands-down the visit from Saiph and Charles though!

Completing my 3rd 50 on Siena; photo by Nancy Sluys

August: I competed in my second 50. Kenai's surgery date arrived and the beginnings of post-op were very trying for me. In one big weekend, one of my best friends got married and my new jumps arrived. I tested Q's trot to have a better idea about how to continue her training. Griffin continued his shenanigans as an angsty teenager. I had an impromptu bareback jump session on Q that thrilled me to no end. I competed in my 3rd endurance ride and loved every minute.

Me on Grffin and Dom on Q when she visited

September: Dom and Mike and the dogs visited WV; we all had a blast! Q continued to be amazing in her workouts and on the trails; we even did a 20 mile jaunt for fun on the rail trail where she proved how incredible a trot she has. These experiences coupled with reflections made me realize I'd overcome the hurdle of thinking 50 miles on a horse was an impossible feat. I took an interlude from horse play to climb Seneca for the second or third time this summer. While not working Griffin heavily or often, he was worked a lot this summer. September brought some great lunging sessions over jumps with him and two rides that showed me his best and worst sides. The big purchase of the month? A new saddle!

Me and the best crew ever (Charles, Saiph, Hannah) after completing Q's first 50

October: Q and I experimented with a jump grid/bounce setup some. Then I headed to the DC area to visit Saiph and Charles on my way to Cape May for my annual trip to band raptors. I had a blast on both parts of my trip. I was also quite crafty this month as far as equestrian thins went. Lots of interest in my craft pursuits led to a mondo-entry on how to tie your own rope halter. After months of rehab and preparation (including re-teaching Q to trailer), Q and I headed to Fort Valley for Q's first 50. It was amazing. Q was amazing. Our crew (Saiph, Charles, and Hannah) were incredible! I had few issues with gear for the ride.

Griffin exhibiting natural skill over a 3'3" vertical

November: This month I made an attempt to write every day. I worked Griffin a lot more this month, too. I began setting goals for him and getting him out to do something as much as I could. I introduced, belatedly to the blog, Hodor. I topped of my climbing season with a trip to the Red River Gorge and a final one to the New River Gorge where I finally managed to obtain photos of me climbing. Griffin's natural ability at jumping really became evident. What also became evident and obvious was the transition of his grey coat from dark to light over his 3+ years of life! I also confronted the problems each of my horses have had of late and the solutions I'm pursuing.

Blankenting during the continual wet or sub-30 degree-all-day-cold days this year since both horses have slight clip jobs.
Tail clamping and shivering is happening by ALL horses in the field on the days when its cold, windy, and rains all day.

December: December has become a whirlwind of activity for me. I'm back to working 7 days a week between my ski patrol job and my biologist position. I've gone on multiple 5-7 day stints without seeing the horses due to the intensity of winter that set in so quickly + being busy with jobs. I did celebrate 3 years of blogging. Both Q and Griffin are making progress with work in side reins though. I did get out in the frigid cold to do a 15 mile training ride with a friend and her daughter on their horses. But mostly its been snow and skiing and accepting that its okay to take a bit of a break.