So I've been busy, and busy thinking.

Busy, busy, busy! I spent a few days away from the horses learning to sail, and I'm now ASA certified to sail boats of about 20 feet! That's right, I now have the TWO most expensive hobbies in the world. Anyway, I really enjoyed myself and am going again on Thursday...I want to do as much as I can before school starts up again and the weather gets (really) bad.

I've also been going to the barn and building my confidence on the ground by grooming some of the older horses who don't get much attention from their owners. I am feeling really good, in general, and have been riding and grooming and tacking up. I am so incredibly sore every time I ride haha but I always can't wait to get back on.

My first victim! My non-horsie boyfriend's favorite!

Old itchy mare! She was the most grateful, and now nickers at me when she sees me.

Yesterday I went to visit Sid. He was looking good, even better than last week...he is much steadier in the bridle and less wiggly in his canter transitions. The discipline is so good for him; it's not that he's bad, but 5 days a week is certainly not too much for him. Last winter I could consistently do 4 days, and he lives in a very big pasture so I thought that was enough to keep him occupied, but now I'm thinking I'll have to step it up this year. The problem with that? I'm a 4th year pre-med. "Free time" does not exist for me. My classes are even harder, and my schedule is such that I'll be at school from 8:30- 4 four days a week. Riding is something that needs to be a happy, nonstressful escape from homework, tests, MCAT study etc.

Right now I'm worrying that accident or not, Sid is not the right horse for my lifestyle at this point. I'ts not like my schedule will be letting up any time soon, in fact I'll only get busier for the next 4/5 years at the least. I'm worried that I need to trade down, so to speak, to something I can hop on and just ride 3 days a week. Logically I can think this through and say that it makes sense, but emotionally it is totally paralyzing. He's my baby, we have such big goals, he's my dream show horse, and I KNOW I'll regret selling him. But that doesn't mean it's not the right thing to do. It is literally making me sick thinking about selling him, and I haven't made any decisions. I've committed to leaving him with the trainer through September so I have time to get back on him, and think about it, and decide to sell, keep, or just leave him in the holding pattern he's in now.

I'm heartbroken. What do you think? Are there any grad school students out there who manage to ride too? 

But how can I say no to this face???

I visited Sid at bootcamp...

Cheeky expression

He's doing great! His body looks good, he's gaining strength, and getting more balanced. He's still the same big cheeky baby I left a few weeks ago, but the consistency and discipline is really good for him. I'm the one that broke him and has done most of the work on him, and I think it's really healthy for horses to get worked/ridden by other people. I want him to be the type that anyone can get on and enjoy.

Pre-ride briefing

There is not too much to talk about training wise...he is just getting steadier and steadier. He's only 5 now, and ~17.1. so a big boy...because of it he still has a bit of trouble with balance. He is not bad/naughty, but he does get frustrated with work from time to time. Britt has been doing a bit of lunging over caveletti which she said is really helping. The lighting in the arena was terrible for picture taking (sunny outside, but riding in a covered ring), and for some reason it was very difficult to get a clear action shot today, but I did what I could. Luckily he's handsome enough to improve any picture :)

Slightly above the bridle, but nicely over the back and at least trying to move uphill. 

Nice and supple...this is why he is so fun to ride!

All in all I'm thrilled with how he's going, and really happy with the way Britt is bringing him along. I'm going back next Tuesday to watch him work again, and to take a lesson on one of her other horses! I cant wait! 

I'll be headed out to the stable where Sid is usually stabled on Thursday and Friday to groom some old lesson horses and hopefully start getting some confidence back on the ground. I'll update on that soon!

Recap from the trip "home"

I just got back to WA after visiting my parents in San Diego. I was there for a week and had time to do some awesome horsie stuff (including riding, covered in the last post). I thought I'd do a quick recap before I dive back into Sid stuff.

Sid and I in happier times, our first WA winter

I'm going to visit Sid at the trainer's for the first time in 3 weeks tomorrow (been away traveling). I've been talking with the trainer, the awesome Britt Roden, periodically and she says that Sid has been really good. Which is honestly not surprising....other than being a tad lazy he is always really well behaved. So hopefully I'll have some new pics and video on his progress tomorrow. I'm super excited to go see him, especially with riding again in mind. I want to get on, I just never want to have to lead/groom/tack/bathe again haha! The Dr. told me to be really super careful till October, so I'm trying hard not to take things too fast.

Benni pony begrudgingly pulls the cart

Anyway I thought I'd share a pic of my pony, who I have had for more than 10 years, to indulge everyone's necessary intake of cute. He is 22 and spends most of his time bossing everyone around...he runs the whole ranch!

I also visited my beloved Maximus, after he was done teaching me to ride dressage and was not going to hold up for upper level work/showing I gave him to a lesson program in Del Mar. The contract states that he comes back to me when he is an old man and can't work anymore, and although I hope that is no time soon, I will always be honored to take care of such an awesome horse. He gives lessons most days, which is great because he needs to stay active, they give him his special meds, plus some smartpak supps, and TONS of lovies. He looks fat and happy, which seriously could not make me feel better. If anyone is SoCal wants a lesson on a super upper level horse check out Paul Cook in Del Mar.

Me and Max chillin at a horse show in Del Mar

Swimming Tommy in Mission Bay

I went and hung out with my friend and sometimes trainer Leslie Schnieder, a trainer with a predominately H/J barn in Escondido. She helped me with my horse Tommy, a rescue and lovebug that I had for 5 years who I eventually gave to a good friend of mine when I went away to school. He comes back to me she ever has to rehome him. It was good therapy to go out to Leslie's and be around all the sporthorses and riders working hard. Made me miss it!

Me and dearest Garbanzo, aka Garby

Visiting my doggies was another great perk of being home. I brought only one dog and one cat with me to WA (the ones most suited to apartment living), and had to leave the other three dogs, and two cats. Garbanzo (pictured) is my absolute sweetie pie best boy rescue dog who I have had more than 7 years, since puppyhood. I can almost not bear to be apart from him. Eventually, in a million years when I'm done with grad school, I'll have a yard and we will finally be reunited for good! In the meantime he and the others roam the property and run the house in San Diego.

Anyway, I know I already said it, but I am SOOOO EXCITED to see Sid tomorrow. I will update ASAP!

Getting back on the horse

I went riding today!!!! I have never not ridden for this long (it's been more than 2 months), so it was SO GOOD to finally get back on! I came to San Diego with the intention of trying to ride again, at my best friend's barn and our pet project Laughing Pony Rescue (laughingponyrescue.com or on facebook if anyone is interested). I have broke or otherwise been very involved in the training of most of the horses there, so I know them very well, and they are started from day one to be super quiet beginner's horses. My first victim, Gino, is perhaps the quietest horse ever. He was napping when I arrived and I don't think he ever woke up...case in point:

Not blinking, actually sleeping

He was the perfect horse to have my first ride on, and to handle from the ground/get tacked up for the first time since the accident. He literally did not move when I was tacking up, and was quiet and well behaved to ride. I was trotting and cruising around all over, and loving every second. I was so happy to be back with the horses that I forgot to be nervous at all!

Not a western rider, but I think I fake it pretty well!

We also have Gino's mother, who is one of my absolute favorites at the ranch, and I was having so much fun that I rode her next. She was a little scary to catch and get ready, so I had my bestie help me out. Barbie is just so much more sensitive that I was a little nervous, and once I was worried I think she could tell. However, once I got on she was awesome! I have always had a really special connection with her.

See the resemblance to Gino?? Two crazy blue eyes

I rode for probably an hour total, and boy am I feeling it now! I haven't been on a horse or even moving much since father's day, so I am the most unfit I've been in my whole life. While I'm in San Diego I'm hoping to have time to ride again, maybe even go for a trail ride!

The best view in the world...I've missed it!

Sid moves, again

So I'll spoil the surprise...I did not stay at Arroyo long, only about 6 months. I felt like I had to dress up and put on a full face of makeup to go to the barn, the care was sub-par for the "normal" horses, and I disagreed with some of the training methods used on such a young horse. Not that it was all bad, it was great to rub shoulders with some of the best riders (and horses) in the world, and both Sid and I learned a lot both from watching and our actual lessons. Because the setting was so formal, I expected more from him and he grew up a lot in a few months.

The final straw came after I had been gone from the barn for a week or so, and when I returned my horse's back was so sore you couldn't even brush him. I felt incredibly guilty, so we gave our notice and left. We ended up at a sort of run down barn with awesome care and great people right around the corner from my house.

Sleepy Sid 

Once again I was on my own, but we had both gained a great deal of confidence and training at Arroyo, so it was exciting to start using all my new riding "tools" as I saw fit. And leaving Arroyo, where I had no friends or riding buddies made me appreciate the awesome people and great atmosphere at my new barn...the feel and environment of the barn is something that has been weighed heavily in every subsequent move.

The third year...when you bask in the glow of having 'the easiest baby ever'

Ahh the third year. The lovely time between the mind numbing boringness of the baby years (yes the are cute, yes there is so much to do blah blah. Boring.) and the "what monster have I created?!??" years where they are very, VERY big and strong and they first learn to say no.

Sid was everything 3 year old WBs are supposed to be: adorable, dopey, easy, constantly growthy, and that combination of super athletic and unbelievably clumsy that makes for such an, um, unique ride.

Derrrrrppp. His first ride with someone who isn't me.

But the thing is, he actually was the easiest baby ever. The day I decided to get on, I was halfway over when a pack of Harley Davidson motorcycles decided to go by on the road, which was literally right next to the ring. Oops. It was a feat that would have made my more seasoned horses twitch, but not Sid! Within a few weeks I was even brave enough to take him trail riding:

Yes, even alone! What a good baby.

He was a sweet, easy, fancy baby and when the stable where I had been boarding decided to spontaneously close we decided to make a big, imposing move. From the cute low pressure stable to Arroyo Del Mar, home of SP and Ravel. Yikes!

What new horse??

Since I'll be a little low on new Sid updates for a while I figure I can show some embarrassing baby pictures! He was not an attractive young horse to say the least, but I just really, really liked something about him. Below are some pics from the trip to the breeder's, where I looked at about a zillion horses. He is 2:

Not the best picture, but still, growthy much? Here he is only 15.2/.3 giving me 

little indication of the absolute giant he would become.

He was very reserved, but I got the feeling that once he found "his" person he would end up giving 110% in the show ring. 

Baby Sid

Cute face, nice trot, good personality, great feet....but I really did not want a 2 year old, so I dragged my feet for several months. Finally I decided to at least vet him, figuring with my luck he wouldn't pass anyway; I'd vetted 5 babies (younger than 5) before him, and none of them vetted even remotely clean! I was shocked, I thought I was supposed to be avoiding lameness issues by going with a young horse. Anyway, after a clean vet I figured it was meant to be and I snatched him up.

I left him out to pasture at the breeders until the end of February in his third year as he was very awkward and southern California is seriously lacking in turnout for young horses. But when he came home he looked like this:

PJs, parka, beanie hat, bedhead and muck boots. Sexy.

The skinny, awkward, u-necked horse that showed up in the middle of the night was already my baby, but I knew that not everyone would look at him with the same eyes I was. Especially when he was supposed to be replacing the handsomest horse ever, my darling Maximus:

That neck!!! On a OTTB no less (showing at Del Mar 

where he was literally the only TB entered)

So yes...for the first year Sid was more or less hidden while he learned to tie, lead, mind his manners and eventually w/t/c under saddle. For several months the (half joking) answer to the question "How's the new horse?" from friends and acquaintances was...."What new horse???". By the time Sid had his "coming out" when he moved to a real training stable he was shinier, fitter, slightly more well behaved...and every bit as awkward!

Where to start...

I love all things horse, and have been an avid rider and competitor for more than ten years. Three years ago I got the nicest horse I've ever owned, and five weeks ago that horse gave me my first serious injury (more on that later). If you put enough hours into this sport, eventually it's your turn. Being unable to ride has been painful, sad, and BORING, but it did give me time to start following some horsie blogs. They definitely gave me my horse fix while I was away from the barn. Now that I'm hoping to get back in the saddle soon, I decided to a blog chronicling the trials and tribulations of me and Sid, the best? naughtiest? cutest horse ever.