Death and loss

It's very hard to loose a pet. I think even harder to loose a horse. Kris died this past weekend and coming on the heels of another sort of loss I found this extremely difficult to deal with. Kris was my first horse. Now I know I didn't own her. I only leased her for a year, but I still had this connection with her. She was a flighty horse as most Arabs are, yet there was no one better to listen to your problems. The time it took to groom her really well helped me to relax and let go of my own issues. There was never any judgement or pithy advice. Only wide trusting eyes and an occasional snort. Rest In Peace Kris you will be missed.

The Only Male You Can Make Do What You Want.....

Ok So that is really only true about 80% of the time. The other 20% I'm fighting tooth and nail to make him move off my leg, go the speed I want, bring his head down and in, or slow his lope down to the point where I feel like he's not going to throw me if I want to turn. The reality is that unless that horse wants to do what I want I am not going to make an 1100 pound animal do anything I want.

I was trying to canter Al and he seemed to think that it was appropriate to go left when I wanted to go right. So I made him do it again.....and again....and again...until finally he did what I wanted. This is either stupid or perseverance not sure which. Now you can't make people do what you want over and over again until they get it right....but wouldn't it be awesome if you could?!?!?!

The male you can count on....or not

I have decided that there are very few Things in this world you can count on.

I can count on Al to want a carrort or to munch on grass. I can count on him to listen to my problems with only the occassional whinny or snort as comment.  It seems lately I can't count on much else.

A horse for instance is unpredictable by nature. It's very being made to flee at the first sign of danger or trouble. And yet it will stand and charge out of loyalty and love for its rider and friend.

I rather think I'm similar in this way. Not that I am owned, but that my very first instinct is to turn tail and flee. Unless there is a strong pull to turn and fight. Unfortunately, if the person you are fighting for doesn't fight for you, the first reaction to turn and run may have been the safer choice.

Beamer

Beamer was the first horse I rode at Hidden Acres and the main lesson I learned was that sometimes you need to apply a lot of pressure to get someone to do what you want. I think that my legs ached for days afterwards but I eventually got that horse to go where I wanted and the speed I wanted him to. Now I just have to figure out how to apply that to the rest of my life. You can't always kick people to get what you need.

Giving this a shot

I have no idea if anyone really cares about what I have to say, but over the last year I have learned a lot from the horses at the barn where I ride and I feel that their teachings may be of use to others as well. So here goes!