Barn Rat

Taking the kid to the barn has been one of the more entertaining things going on this Spring.  As she exits "babyland" and sets foot firmly in toddlerdom, the opportunity to saddle her with my crippling horse obsession has presented herself.

I try to keep my expectations low, and whenever anyone asks me if "she loves horses too" I tend to respond with "she loves anything that's fuzzy.  Including old socks." 

And while that's true, the kid does adore the horses and pretty much all of her imaginary playtime is taken up with them somehow (unless she's playing with her fake kitchen emulating my cooking - which involves a lot of shouting and frustrated noises... shrug?). 

Anyway,  It's cute. 

At home she has commandeered an old Hobby Horse which takes turns being Windsor, or another Eq horse in the barn, or Chico Linda (sp!?) from Spirit- running free. 

on course.

She takes her Hobby Horse management very seriously, and you WILL be scolded if you try to ride before brushing your horse.  You will also be scolded if you don't give the Hobby Horse a carrot.  Or enough pats.  Or tell it thank you for jumping...

Also, everything is a jump, (her lead changes are pretty good) and she is disappointed when she knocks something down.  She sleeps with a plastic (non breyer) horse named "White White" and recently started trying to learn how to wrap polos on her pretend ponies.

At the real barn, she is obsessed with a big, lovely (fancy) mare who tolerates her.  She attempts two-point while walking over poles and can hand out over 10lbs of carrots in under 2 minutes.  She loves to brush legs and thinks hoofpicks are fascinating.

She recently got a new helmet and won't take it off (new paddock boots are on order and will likely suffer a similar fate).

But perhaps one of my most enjoyable moments to date, was taking her up to a horse show last weekend, and watching her ride the Derby winner back to the barn.  Just last year she was too small to ride Winds when he won the class, but my trainer's son had the honors. 

It was one of those moments where I realized how fun it was to have her along and actually enjoying the horses and the show and the camaraderie of our barn family. 

I'm thinking there is a whole other aspect to this horse thing being a mom - and it looks like a lot more fun than I thought it would.

A Goodbye.

The Matriarch.

Goodbyes. They're inevitable. 

With love, comes the possibility of loss and with our animals(/teachers/supporters/friends/confidants), it's almost a certainty.

I've been extraordinarily lucky with all of my animals.  I've only ever lost one dog (he was ancient and perfect and ready to go) and a few cats (some to age, one to cancer and a couple presumably to coyotes).  

I've never lost a horse. 

I've sold horses, and I've lost track of horses who I spent years with.  I suppose some of them have probably long since gone onto greener pastures, but not knowing is different than knowing, and yesterday I had the new experience of knowing that my dear, sweet (sorta mean), wise old pony was indeed ready to go. 

In her grand old age of forty-something, her body finally betrayed her age and after suffering from a few seizures, yesterday she had a bad choke.

Nothing was able to clear it, leaving surgery as the only option. 
A surgery that she probably wouldn't survive, and even if she did - what for?

So, one of my oldest and best-friends made the call.  She let me know what was going on, and since I was still hauling Prairie back up from our lesson, there was no feasible way for me to get to the pony without delaying her relief - something I couldn't even begin to ask of her.

Star hasn't been part of my daily riding life since I was 14.  But she's always been a part of who I am as a Rider, an Owner and a Person.  Some of my best moments and biggest achievements were on that pony.  She was the first horse I stayed up with all night during a colic.  The first horse I ever gave a bath to or braided for a schooling show.  She was the first horse I fell off and the first horse I qualified for nationals on.  She taught me pretty much everything I know about not getting bit, or kicked, or scraped off on a tree on the trail.

She professionally refused to acknowledge any previous training and taught me to teach her.  I'll never forget the first Prelim cross country fence I took (or rather, she took me over) and I'll certainly never forget my first Musical Freestyle.  More importantly, she was that perfect friend and supporter through adolescence and gave me the unconditional affection that every 12 year old girl needs from somewhere.

One of my favorite memories was one night after a fight with my parents (presumably about making my bed or math or something equally epic) and I decided that I was running away. I thoughtfully packed a backpack of snacks and books (I was really going to be prepared), but then after slipping out my window and making my way to the barn I realized books weren't as important as grain for my pony, so I dumped out my backpack, filled it with Star's grain and then legged up and trotted away bareback. 

I'm pretty sure I was only gone for a few hours, but for those few hours I had my pony, some granola bars and enough grain to keep Star motivated for a couple of days.  It was all a 13 year old really needs. 

So I'll miss her.  Even though I wasn't the one making her mashes every morning or bringing her in from her pasture every night, I'll miss knowing that my old, cranky pony was tootling around enjoying her retirement.  And I'll miss the occasional text with a picture of her doing something absurd. 

But I'm glad that the last time I saw her she was trotting around a giant field and scratching her rump on a pile of lumber. 

And I take (almost) total comfort in the fact that she was a strong, healthy, happy pony for the last 20 years of her life that I had the pleasure of knowing her. 

So Star - I thank you for all of it (even the hard parts) and I'll never forget you.

One of my first rides on the lady.

and one of my last visits to see her.

A few more details on the pony are here and here

P2's Baby Course (and gratuitously adorable ponies)

Since the show is Sunday, I turned the mare over to S so that she can have some consistent rides before we make our grand Hunter debut.  It sorta feels like cotillion all over again.. what with shopping for new outfits, practice her "dance steps" and worrying about how well she'll fit in with "society."  lol

Good thing I'm just as nonchalant with Prairie's "debut" as I was with my own...

S had a great little ride yesterday.  The mare wasn't quite as calm as she had been with me the day before, but there was more going on and we made the jumps a little more "visual."  Still baby heights but P2 is getting more patient in her approach.  The biggest challenge of the moment is correcting her leads.  Sometimes she swaps on her own, but if you push for the lead change she tends to get unbalanced and start running (you'll see this).  Other than that, I'm super proud of my girl!!

Here's a quick iphone video of her course yesterday:



Apparently today she was even more relaxed and willing to sit for normal horse strides in the line... so we're still trending up!

And now... for something completely adorable.  Good friend D (the magical caretaker of ancient pony Star..) has a couple (adorable) little tiny welsh ponies that may or may not become lesson ponies.  She recently sent me some pictures and I just have to post a few.  Have to. 

Can you imagine having these adorable things in your barn!?? I want to collect a whole set!

This cute thing had a baby. 

(heart. melt/)

omg

That's Star in the background... I always wondered if she'd be a good mom.... guess not