VA Update

Leasing Gabe is probably the hardest horse-related thing I've ever done, yet conversely it was probably the best thing I could've done for him. I know he has gotten to travel to more competitions and clinics than I could've taken him to...especially while pregnant and then with a newborn. Also, I know he's being loved and spoiled by a young girl(lady), something every horse should get to experience. It's also challenged me to develop my life outside of horses(gasp). For any horse person this is just plain old hard to do. I've struggled with deep sadness and had to do a lot of "open hand" living. And just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore I was given that breath of air to keep me going, I got to touch a horse, and then like CPR to the drowning I got to ride. I didn't just get to ride once, I rode 4 times. 2 different horses, until I thought my legs were gonna fall off and I would never be able to sit again. It was awesome. My circling the field, a few ground poles, trot poles, and canter poles felt nothing less than epic. Thank goodness no one was around to see my dismount, if you can even call it that. I'm reminded of the kindness of the horse. They must have known how weak I am. Especially with the knowledge of some of these horses, the places they've traveled, the things they've achieved, some of them having already achieved some of my greatest dreams and yet they let me fumble around them and flop on their back like an ever-shifting bag of rice. I will forever be indebted to these wonderful animals. I will also continue to petition my muscles to return to me at their earliest convenience. In the meantime, I will continue to be a sponge around this new barn where the latest advances in equine exercise physiology and therapy are being used daily and I will try to not idolize the people teaching me, because as it turns out, they do get on a horse one foot at a time.