Concerning the Steady lease situation. I can't remember the last time I have had to wrestle so much over one decision. I am surprised it has been this difficult. I wish the answer was much clearer in my mind than it is. And every time I feel like, "OK this is what I am going to do" as soon as I start to make the phone call I just, can't. Even now trying to type a definitive answer I can't seem to feel settled. I guess that means I can't give a definite answer. Grrr...I also don't want them to have wait indefinitely for an answer.
On to things that aren't so agonizing. I am getting my pastures mowed right now. Yay! It's the little things in life. But when they get over grown I just hate the way it looks and though the horses have still have plenty to eat they are happier with it all short and yummy. And it looks SO much nicer.
My daughter had her first ride since her injury last night and she didn't have any pain! Yay! Lily has been a perfect angel since we got home from camp. Not sure why she seemed to act silly there but that is horses for you. This weather we have been having is simply amazing. You couldn't ask for it to be any nicer. Just lovely.
Lesson with LAZ on Friday! I have been itching to do a clinic but as of the moment the funds just aren't there right now. I just hope that once school starts up there are enough sub days to help support my lesson/competition fund. I really could use a full time job to ensure the funds. I just can't seem to figure out what it is I would like to do. I saw some courses close to me in equine massage therapy. Husband isn't convinced I would be profitable. I tend to think I could do ok. There is a significant investment but what education isn't?
Sorry for the completely random thoughts.
Not your average OTTB given another chance at a new life and a mostly average busy Mom who never gave up on her dream to ride again. An unlikely pair at an unlikely time, learning to event and loving life!
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
I may be going crazy.
I am unsure why I am even considering this idea but I still have yet to find peace with an answer. So I come to you, oh wise, blogger buddies. For your infinite wisdom and advice. I was not seeking this situation out by anymeans. I mean this year Steady seems to finally be exactly where I want him. He going wonderfully in every which way. Dressage, stadium and cross country. All the work for over the last 3 years finally has culminated and I am finally the owner of an amazingly respectable event horse. I started with an $800 off the track career race horse and now have a quite valuable, lovely, brave and solid event horse. So of course now is the time that a 16 year old girl fall head over heals in love with my horse and wants him. She wants to go far, as far as she can go and she knows Steady is the kind of horse that can take her there. She is a fabulous rider and even had a chance to ride him while we were at camp.
We are tossing around the idea of a lease, sort of agreement. I would still be able to ride him when I wanted and she would start at BN and move up the levels with him as they progressed. We talked about a year and then depending on how it goes she may buy him.
Cons:
He his my baby
I don't like sharing
He would be over an hour away
He may be returned to me older
She may end up buying him and then my guy is gone
Pros:
She could move up levels faster than I while he is still in his prime
He would be boarded during the winter months and stay in work
It would be super cool to watch him fulfill her dreams
He could most likely take her to Prelim, where she wants to go ( I never care to go that far)
I could take on another OTTB project
So having never done something like this before I feel like there are many things I am missing. So give me your thoughts and opinions. Would you do it? Why am I even considering this?
BTW I just had a fabulous ride on him. He is so much fun to ride now. I worked hard to get him there and I feel like I just need to reap the benefits of all that hard work and enjoy the ride I have now.
We are tossing around the idea of a lease, sort of agreement. I would still be able to ride him when I wanted and she would start at BN and move up the levels with him as they progressed. We talked about a year and then depending on how it goes she may buy him.
Cons:
He his my baby
I don't like sharing
He would be over an hour away
He may be returned to me older
She may end up buying him and then my guy is gone
Pros:
She could move up levels faster than I while he is still in his prime
He would be boarded during the winter months and stay in work
It would be super cool to watch him fulfill her dreams
He could most likely take her to Prelim, where she wants to go ( I never care to go that far)
I could take on another OTTB project
So having never done something like this before I feel like there are many things I am missing. So give me your thoughts and opinions. Would you do it? Why am I even considering this?
BTW I just had a fabulous ride on him. He is so much fun to ride now. I worked hard to get him there and I feel like I just need to reap the benefits of all that hard work and enjoy the ride I have now.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Breaking things.
This train still has not slowed down. Sunday we packed up what felt like half of our house and our entire barn to go to Heartland region Pony Club D-camp. It would be 5 days of sun, fun, ponies and learning. And for me I was a group Mom and got to bring my own Pony to play at the horse park in the evenings.
We arrived settled in and they had the 'evaluation' ride for the kiddos. In the first couple minutes Lily had a bit of a melt down. Getting completly disturbed by all of the comotion and horses. I started internally and a bit externally freaking out. Holding back much of my thoughts on the matter so as not to right off the bat come across as the over protective mom. I did though ask them to help her that this is not typical behavior for the pony. They worked with her for few moments but I still was not assured that it was out of her system. They asked if she was ready to canter and I was NOT in favor of that. They sent them out to trot a bit more. They made one controled lap around the massive arena and Lily was kind of hidden behind a couple other horses and all I know is I saw a child flying through the air and quickly realized it was mine. She did not immediately jump up and that was my first sign. Then when I met her and there was much crying and "my ankle, my ankle". I knew my non-complaining child was most likely down for the count. We took her out and it wasn't but a few minutes before the swelling started. Sigh.... which meant a trip to the ER for us.
Summing up with much help and a bit of hiding in the corner of a stall for a good melt down on my part she was diagnosed with a fibular fracture. In all actuality it is not a bad injury at all. It heals easily and quickly. But it did mean that the next 4 days of riding that my daughter has been looking forward to since last year was not meant to be. Double sigh...
Not all was lost. After the first day she was in very little pain and was determined to stay at camp and enjoy the remainder of the unmounted activities and her friends. It worked out that another girl was over mounted on a unsafe horse so Lily got to still get the much needed experience. With only one other naughty moment when on the xc course for a trail ride she made a break for the barn and it took a good distance for the girl riding to get her stopped. Naughty Pony! Next day I decided to make my own adjustments to the ponyfaces attitude and had a come to Jesus moment and she was a complete angel the rest of the camp. Even on cross country day proved to be a no questions asked kinda pony. Doing the water, jumps and banks. That was probably the hardest day for my daughter to watch her pony being so game for XC and not be on her. But that is horses and it is just going to be part of it.
Lily proved to not be phased by much cross country. Didn't hesitate at anything.
I couldn't tell if I was more disappointed than my daughter, it is quite possible. It is what it is and nothing I can do about it. I can't lie those are one of those times that you have to ask yourself not only "why do I do this?" but "why do I let my babies do this?". I did get to take out my super cool awesome horse out XC 3 days in a row. Awesome! Sitting in the ER with my daughter was a confidence shaker. I was far less brave than normal schooling the first night. Also Steady was the most easily excited that day too. By day 3 I had my mojo back and was schooling Novice/Training questions. I only did a couple things that I hadn't tried previously since I am not a big fan of schooling new XC questions sans instructor. We did kill the drop into the water, double bank up, a square raised log three stride to an up bank, rolltop four strides into the water, training log and plenty of other stuffs. Awesome! And that is where my head has been since. I can walk through life doing everything neccissary but all the while I am seeing distances, feeling the breeze against my face and reliving that moment in time that the world goes silent and you are even for just a brief moment in time it is you, your patner in perfect hamony, flying. Somehow the 'real world' just has a hard time competing for my attention.
I got home slept unpacked, packed and got right back in the car to drive up to northern Michigan for our annual family camping trip.
We arrived settled in and they had the 'evaluation' ride for the kiddos. In the first couple minutes Lily had a bit of a melt down. Getting completly disturbed by all of the comotion and horses. I started internally and a bit externally freaking out. Holding back much of my thoughts on the matter so as not to right off the bat come across as the over protective mom. I did though ask them to help her that this is not typical behavior for the pony. They worked with her for few moments but I still was not assured that it was out of her system. They asked if she was ready to canter and I was NOT in favor of that. They sent them out to trot a bit more. They made one controled lap around the massive arena and Lily was kind of hidden behind a couple other horses and all I know is I saw a child flying through the air and quickly realized it was mine. She did not immediately jump up and that was my first sign. Then when I met her and there was much crying and "my ankle, my ankle". I knew my non-complaining child was most likely down for the count. We took her out and it wasn't but a few minutes before the swelling started. Sigh.... which meant a trip to the ER for us.
Summing up with much help and a bit of hiding in the corner of a stall for a good melt down on my part she was diagnosed with a fibular fracture. In all actuality it is not a bad injury at all. It heals easily and quickly. But it did mean that the next 4 days of riding that my daughter has been looking forward to since last year was not meant to be. Double sigh...
Lily proved to not be phased by much cross country. Didn't hesitate at anything.
 |
| Broken bones won't keep her down :) |
 |
| All of the kids and parents were super helpful and thoughtful. |
I couldn't tell if I was more disappointed than my daughter, it is quite possible. It is what it is and nothing I can do about it. I can't lie those are one of those times that you have to ask yourself not only "why do I do this?" but "why do I let my babies do this?". I did get to take out my super cool awesome horse out XC 3 days in a row. Awesome! Sitting in the ER with my daughter was a confidence shaker. I was far less brave than normal schooling the first night. Also Steady was the most easily excited that day too. By day 3 I had my mojo back and was schooling Novice/Training questions. I only did a couple things that I hadn't tried previously since I am not a big fan of schooling new XC questions sans instructor. We did kill the drop into the water, double bank up, a square raised log three stride to an up bank, rolltop four strides into the water, training log and plenty of other stuffs. Awesome! And that is where my head has been since. I can walk through life doing everything neccissary but all the while I am seeing distances, feeling the breeze against my face and reliving that moment in time that the world goes silent and you are even for just a brief moment in time it is you, your patner in perfect hamony, flying. Somehow the 'real world' just has a hard time competing for my attention.
I got home slept unpacked, packed and got right back in the car to drive up to northern Michigan for our annual family camping trip.
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| Not a bad veiw for the weekend. |
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