The perfect horse

I have to admit I periodically question my commitment to Steady.  There are many reasons I do this many of them have to do with self doubt and emotion.  I was having a conversation with a non horsey person the other day explaining how my horse acts like a complete loon when he gets left alone by his horsey buddies.  I have to say it IS a completely frustrating and annoying trait he has.  Her question was, "why do you keep him?"  He also pulls some dickhole moves once in a while and it comes up again.  But who am I kidding this horse is a complete badass and that is why I keep him.  I can only imagine I sell Steady and get another horse and they too will be flawed.  Maybe not the same issues but I know no horse is perfect and they all have their issues.  We went for a lesson on Sunday and Steady killed every single thing I ask him to do in true Steady fashion.  And he looks damn sexy doing it too!  It was our first time with this trainer and I loved her.  She picked out my faults immediately.  Oh you mean I don't pretend to use my outside aides as well as I thought I did?  I had no idea how truly dependent on my inside rein I was until she said, "put both reins in your outside hand.  HOLY HELL what do you mean?  I don't do those things.

I no western pleasure jump with one hand.  We were put on a 20 meter circle jumping two small jumps. Were boarded the struggle bus and struggled our asses off to keep on the circle.  Imagine to my complete surprise that my horse turned so much incredibly better when my inside rein was taken away.  So much so that we turned to the inside of the jump.  MIND BLOWN.  I s.u.c.k. at riding.  I could hear the gears turning in my itty bitty brain.  Wait, all the trainers previously weren't full of shit when they said I pull on my inside rein?  But wait I fixed that years ago.  Hahaha...yeah no actually you didn't.

And then to the oxer and that damn trainer says i need to just "be there and stay there.  You are making it way harder on yourself." Why you so ride so bad?  I bet you can guess that when Amy got out of the freaking way my horse just did his job,  jumping all the things straight, steady and lovely. Tiny circle to oxer through grid back to tiny circle and viola!  Steady really is an amazing honest beast.

 Trainer fell in love and then chatting after was in disbelief when I said he was OTTB through and through.  I am very impressed with him and so much time off over this last year he really came back just knowing what his job was.  To all those out there struggling through some sucky times with these off the track dudes I just want to encourage you. Even the sucking is part of the process. The really sucky stuff?  Yup that too.  Keep on keeping on with these guys.  They are worth it.

so damn worth it! and can we please acknowledge adorable Barcardi ear tips.

 And the days you want to sell them to any poor sap willing bid on them.  That feeling too is part of the process.  Not everyone will get it.  Who am I kidding almost no one will get it. "Why don't you get rid of them? " they say. " A different horse would be better,  more fun, less work." They explain.  But THEY don't know and they never will have the privilege of knowing because they think the easier way is the better way and the won't put in the years it takes to develop the most amazing partnership you will ever have the privilege of knowing.  So here's to all those who when shit gets deep they put on their muck boots and just start shoveling. So if you find that perfect horse you can keep him. I'll stick with my flawed OTTB. Cause that's how badasses roll.