Winds of . . . What?

For those of us with this particular affliction of horse addiction, there is just something soothing about sitting the back of a good horse, even if you aren't going anywhere in particular. When you and your guy head out of the drive and the only future you want to think about is the immediate one framed between his ears, it takes the edge off the sharpest day. That certain something is the gel that's been holding me together through a certain amount of fairly knifey days. These are trying times for many of us, and I am not holding myself out as having anything more difficult than anyone else . . . it's just . . . difficult. Thank God for horses.



There's been a lot going on up here, hence the lack of blog posts from me. What was looking like time to move is looking more like time to hunker down and settle in. I have more than a drop of gypsy blood and have walked away many a time when it looked like the winds of change might blow a little rough. Not the best habit to develop, I am like a horse that flees at a sudden loud clap, without realizing it was just the sound of the feed bin banging shut . . . Now I am examining a different way to go. Not much more expected of me than to do what is right, and what is right in front of me to do . . . Might not make sense to you, but it's sure starting to make some to me, and probably not a minute too soon.



Horses have come and horses have gone, some expected, some not. Sold my good Donovan to some wonderful friends who will give him a kind and loving home. They will appreciate his sweet, slow moving nature and not try to change him into something he isn't meant to be. Funny, how in our little community, different horses are sifting around and finding new homes. I am going to miss Donovan, but I won't miss the upset and worry on his face when I ask him to pick up that walk for heaven's sake, can we PLEASE get there, TODAY, d'ya think?? He stopped nickering at me several months ago. I knew we were headed down the wrong road but it took some other circumstances to make me willing to let him go, and it's for the best all the way around.



Training horses have graduated and gone home. Rode beside little rock star Ella this evening, going down the road barely over her 30 days with more aplomb than the gelding I was on. In his defense, Hawk's not seen much road riding and he did okay. You just can't compare him or most other horses to Ella. She's unreal.



Knosie girl grew up and turned into a saddle horse. She's a real testimony to hard work paying off and validation of me sticking to my commitment to not rush the horse and bring them along on their own schedule. Her graduation ride was at Big Elk Park, out of Macy, NE. (if you haven't ridden there, and you like to trail ride, you need to . . .) She pulled on a pair of big girl panties I didn't know she owned and gave me one of the most fun rides I have had all season. Those of us who ride a lot of different horses know that feeling when you first settle in the saddle on a broke one. There is this solid feeling under you and you know you could ride that horse over the Grand Canyon if you really felt the need and probably survive. I brought Knosie that night because I had procrastinated getting her out on the trails for weeks. I didn't think I'd run into anything worse than a possible flinchy scoot here or there, but most Wednesdays, I just don't want to work all that hard. Stepping up on Knosie, I felt that unmistakable feeling . . . I was on a good one. It held true all night, over hill, dale, logs and slippery limestone, that filly kept her head together, feet under and rider on top, no flinch, zero scoot, including when I had some crawly thing roll down my neck, jumped, screamed and flailed like a goofy little girl. I have photos from a day down at the barn in Moville, it was her next best ride before this one. She was her same calm self when her owner came to take her home. Good to see. I might have liked her a little more technically advanced but I sure cannot complain about the change between her ears and that should set the foundation for the rest of her life. Plenty of time, in there, to learn the fancy stuff. She's for sale and if you want more info, let me know and I'll put you in touch with her owner.



Have new horses in . . . Slippin, Knosie's half sister, who was last year's rock star, is back, and if possible, even cuter than last year. She's no taller but even more filled out. What a little brick!



Sadie, who belongs to my friend Teri, (Ella's owner) is here for a 30 day refresher and to get her ready to sell. This mare has Highbrow Cat ON her papers (hmm, am I lying? It's one of those reining giants, anyway, I'll have to check). She doesn't turn out as broke as the horse trader who sold her said she was (love those guys) but she's a really nice mare and with a little more education, she'll make someone a super nice little horse. They have purchased another horse, more suitable for Teri's long legged daughter, and now this cutie is an extra.



Last but not least is a grulla mare I brought home to settle a debt. I am not sure she will work for the person I brought her home for but I am thinking she might work for me. I know . . . I have a penful out there . . . all needing riding . . . she does, too. There is something else that happens sometimes between horses and the people who work with them . . . it's that loud, resounding CLICK when the time and the horse is right . . . She might be mine forever, for awhile, or even a few days, as the person I owe a horse to has first right of refusal . . . We'll just have to see about grulla mares and what the future holds for us all, here at Good Hands.