Back in the Saddle!

Yes, I have been gone for a long time. Where have I been, you might ask? Middle school! My twin boys have been in middle school and the school day is bizarre (9:15am - 4:15pm) and the homework load ridiculous. So with work, the kids, the pets and Skye, something had to give. Unfortunately what gave was writing this blog, which I enjoyed so much.

But they only have 6 more weeks of the horror that has been this school, and I have decided to get back to blogging, and in a bigger way. I am going to move the blog from Blogger, where this is appearing, over to a self-hosted Wordpress Site called RidingSkye.com. Blogger is really easy but with so many people with a Google account and me with several Google accounts myself, I am sick of logging in and out all the time. I have actually sat down to blog a couple of times, but couldn't remember which account went with which thing, and then it was too late to blog.

In any case, it has been about a year and a half since I wrote on here, but a lot has happened.

First, and most importantly, Skye is still the most beautiful horse there is.

Still makes you feel bad for other horses,
doesn't it?

Second, I have moved Skye twice in the past year. Although I loved my time at Blue Wave, I opened my own practice which required some money conservation on my part. I tried a place that was deliciously close to my house and where I could work off part of my board, but it was more work than I could realistically handle and even then a little too expensive with my uneven income stream. I was lucky enough to find a perfect place that makes Skye happy, where she gets great care that fits in my budget. And a couple of my Blue Wave buddies are out there too.

Third, I fell off that mare. I knew it was going to happen and it did. I will devote an embarrassing post to that.

Fourth, and very best of all, I got to see a foal born at Blue Wave. It was wholly unexpected but all went beautifully and the baby was so precious.






There are a lot of things I missed blogging about, so as I get back into I will go back in time and write about the stuff I didn't put down. So it will be just like traveling in time.

Yes, you will also get to hear about this guy!

Go Go Girl

Ahhhh, now that I have my stupid specialty exam behind me (I took it Friday. All day Friday. Ugh), I can now get back to avoiding cleaning my house by writing my blog instead of worrying about my exam. Not that my minor worrying about the exam made me study for the exam, but it did distract me.

But I am back, and I am back in the saddle on my girl. Something Buck Brannaman said at his clinic struck a chord with me.  He said groundwork is important, and we should not neglect it, if we need it, but we shouldn't hide behind it either. We can only get so far on the ground before we have to get on. So I made a vow now that she is sound again that I need to ride her more and get back to the progress we had made before I went to camp.

So I have been riding her, and having a hell of a good time. I rode her on a Sunday afternoon, and though she was really ready to go, and wanted to trot and not walk, we reached an agreement early on in the ride that I was going to let her trot, but if she wanted to work, we would work. So we did figure eights, we did big circles, we did small circles, we did serpentines and went over ground poles. We did a clover leaf around barrels and we stopped and backed up and started trotting again. After all that, I asked for, and got a nice walk around the arena. And when I got off, she followed me just like a puppy out of the arena and into the barn.

The following Tuesday however, was a whole 'nother story. There was a nip in the air and a slight wind, and all the horses seemed riled up. I did a little lunging but not much because the arena had two lessons with beginners going on, and these two new sweeties were in the round pen:

Meet Copper and Winston, new additions to the
barn membership program. Yes, as a matter of fact they are
awesome.

Even though that girlfriend was a little touchy, I didn't want to hide behind my groundwork, and frankly it was just a beautiful night to ride, so I got on. Well, that red mare was READY TO GO. She wanted to trot almost immediately, but I kept her from trotting for at least a little while, then I just let her go. And she was going fast, and unlike recently, she hollowed her back again and had her head up and had none of the nice rhythm we'd had. Okay, though, I posted slower and put her in circles and figure eights, but finally went down the straightaway on the rail, and she just burst into a fast canter, and leaned in around the curve. She was on the correct lead and actually on her weak side, so I had to admire her spirit (and let's face it, fast is fun!), but I couldn't have her cantering around like a mad thing, thinking she could ignore me. So I brought her back down to a trot and worked in smaller and smaller circles moving her feet around, then finally getting a nice relaxed walk before calling it a night. I was a little discouraged, but all the horses were in a weird mood. I remembered the first days of fall at the barn where I grew up riding and how all the horses would run around in the pasture, so I decided not to let it bother me. And though she was feisty, then, as always, I never felt like she was trying to get rid of me. She just wanted her own way. Which is something I can understand even if I can't let her get away with it.

Here she is after being a wild thing.
Don't be fooled by that sweet expression.
She is not actually an angel in a horse suit.
Or so Sara tells me.

As it turns out, I was right not to overreact. (Sadly, overreacting is rarely the right thing to do, even though it is so nice and easy to do.) When I rode Skye again over that next weekend, she wanted to go, but not so badly that she didn't want to listen. Then on Tuesday I rode again, and I had one of the best rides I've ever had on her. She relaxed her head and neck much more, contained her trot to a nice easy rhythm and was very responsive to my leg and did not avoid nor lean into my light contact. Bravo, I thought, then quit while I was ahead.

Scarface. Who else could have scars front and center
like that and still be so beautiful?

And, as it happened that night, Craig was riding the beautiful Symphony that night. Symphony is a gorgeous and very well-trained American Warmblood who Erin bought to save for a girl to buy back one day. She is a great horse, and only advanced folks can ride her. I remarked that I'd like to ride her trot some time, since it is legendary for being so smooth. Craig said "do it now!"  So I said yes! And I hopped up on that pretty girl and walked a little and trotted a little. And her trot is amazingly smooth, and much easier to sit than to post to. This cannot be sad about my girl's trot. Yet, I did have to keep Symphony going. It didn't take much, but still, it made me miss the willingness to go forward that Skye has.  Symphony was great, but I still like my girl better. Shocking news.

Happy Camper!

I had so much fun at camp this past week that I feel like I should feel guilty about it.  At least I should feel guilty about gushing about it. Really, it couldn't have been better.

When I was a young teenager, a  few horsey girls I knew (who of course already had their own horses) got to go to a horse camp in Raleigh in the summer. I envied them so much that I actually got a bad taste in my mouth and a tightening in my throat when they talked about it. So when I heard about an adult horse camp, with horses and people I already knew and were crazy about, I almost couldn't believe it. The first year I signed up, I couldn't go because Dave had a conference the same week - at Disney World, in the exact year we were planning to go, so I couldn't go to camp. I didn't cry about it, but I kinda wanted to.

Then last year I did get to go, and it was wonderful. I was assigned my good friend Billy Bob, who is not the most popular horse because of his bumpy gaits, but he was perfect for me.

Billy Bob. Yes, he's cribbing.
Don't judge him.

We went on steep mountain trails and crossed a river, and rode in a big field and bareback in the ring, and I generally had a ball with his adorable self. He is one of the smartest horses I've known, and he is generally undaunted by things that scare lesser, though bigger, horses. As a matter of fact, I had such a good time, I didn't really think another week would live up to it.

I was wrong.

I was a little worried again that something would come up to keep me from going, so while I prepared for it by having work wrapped up and the laundry done, and the food bought for the family, I didn't really look forward to it in a way that would make me disappointed if I didn't get to go. I just couldn't believe I'd get to do it again.

I was wrong about that too.

Last week was so fun. I rode up with my friend Nancy, who does Adopt A Horse at the Greenway, and we had such a good time catching up that it felt like it only took 15 minutes to get there. Then we had to wait, and wait, and wait to find out which horse we were assigned. Last time, we found out as soon as we got there, but the waiting this year was actually really fun.  We grown up women don't get many good surprises anymore, so waiting a little longer to get one is better. The horses we ride at camp are all seasoned Tennessee Walking horse trail horses, so there's really not a bad horse to get.

I had asked for Goliath, but he is pretty popular because he is fun to ride, and is such a sweet and friendly boy, so I figured he would go to someone else. Also, since Billy Bob (or as I call him, William Robert) and I are happy together, I figured I might get him. But when Cory (who runs the camp) called out the names, I got that big black boy Goliath. Happiness! I adore that horse. (And yes, I did ask if I could buy him when I was looking for a horse of my own. I was told to get on the waiting list.)

Big horse with a sweet and gentle spirit.
I just love this boy so.

The first night we did a short trail to the campground, and it wasn't long before Goliath was up at the front with his gorgeous pasture mate, Diesel. Diesel is a gorgeous bay TWH with beautiful gaits. I have such a weakness for his good looks that even though we would have beautiful mountain views all week, the prettiest view was often just a few feet in front of me.

Diesel in the sun, showing how
it's done.

The next morning we split up, and several of us went into a big field that used to be used as an airplane landing strip. We were instructed to rack up and down the field. I'm not experienced at getting a gaited horse into his gait if he doesn't want to do it (Goliath does not), so I would position myself behind Delight (who was Nancy's horse for the week) or Diesel, and use their rhythm to get Goliath into his walking horse gait. He didn't do it for long, but it did get better every time.  He is pretty smooth even when he is not doing it right, so it was nothing but pure fun, riding in a straight flat field with a mountain on one side, a river on the other and blue sky with streaky white clouds up above. See, I warned you I would gush.


After that we switched off and took a trail ride. It has been raining a lot all summer, and a lot last week, so the trail was muddy and slippery and steep. At one point, we were going up beside a waterfall; at another point, we were slogging through some deep mud. It was a little scary in places, but I was never nervous because I can trust Goliath, and getting nervous doesn't do a damn bit of good anyway. I was a little relieved when it was over though.

But wait, it gets better. After dinner, we had the option to take a trail ride or do an English lesson. I still need to get my leg strength back, so I jumped at the chance for an English lesson even though it meant I wouldn't be riding Goliath.

Go ahead and fall in love with him.
Resistance is futile.

Oh my goodness. I was given a Quarter Horse named Whiskey to ride. I had heard good things about Whiskey before, and my friend Cathy, who got me into riding at the Greenway, has been telling me for years that I would love him. Let me tell you what a good time I had riding that horse. The minute I got on him, I felt like we were together, connected. He was so responsive, and willing to move, and when I cantered him, I had to keep myself from laughing like a maniac. I probably looked like The Joker riding him around that ring. And Perry, who gave the lesson and who is only 20, gave a really great lesson, having us do stretches and visualizing the correct position. Happiness! (Yes, more gushing, but you have been warned.)

The next morning I got to ride him again, and it was just like the day before. Awesomeness. I even asked Cory "how much you want for this horse?" Of course I was expecting to have him laugh in my face (not literally; Cory would never be rude, but he might laugh at me a little if I deserved it). Instead he said "make me an offer." Whaaaat? A Greenway horse for sale? After a year of my own horse giving me trouble at every ride?  I have to admit it has seriously given me something to think about because I had such a great time on that horse.

Whiskey is his name, being
awesome is his game.

We had another great trail ride (not treacherous this time), and another great ride in the field. Then Tuesday evening, we rode some of the smoothest horses bareback. Bareback night is always fun, not just because we have fun riding, but because we all watch and encourage each other. One camper rode bareback for the first time. Another did it and reminded herself (in spite of herself!) how good at it she actually is. It's wonderful to watch someone conquer a fear and smile about it. I am not the great bareback rider I was in my youth, but I still think there is nothing like it, and I want to get good at it again. I rode all three of the horses they got out for us, Spirit, the wonderful Delilah and Clyde, who almost rivals Goliath for sweetness. I didn't do much more than walk (I can so easily picture an undignified slide into a manure pile), but I loved it anyway.

It rained Wednesday morning, but then cleared after lunch, and we all got a good long ride in anyway. Then in the afternoon we all gathered on the porch and talked. Talked horses, talked kids and laughed. And felt very lucky.

Wednesday evening, Cathy and I went down to say good-bye to the horses. Goliath and Billy Bob (who Cathy had been assigned after her favorite boy Prankster showed up with a sore shoulder) were the first and last to visit us, being the probably the friendliest of the bunch.

Friends. Sort of. And stop judging Billy Bob.
We all have our bad habits.

Then we got a last minute treat - new horse friends! There are horses that live on the mountain for year round trail rides. They live at the barn except during the summer when the Greenway horses are there for camp. We see them in the pastures when we ride past, but this night, the Greenway horses were put in the field we had been riding in, and the mountain horses were in the pasture right across a gravel road from each other. We saw them check each other out across the road, all pricked ears and alertness. Very cute. We watched them from the swinging bridge over the river, where we had hung out and had a good talk after visiting our four-legged friends.

Swinging, baby, yeah!

So we went down and loved on them as well, and fell instantly in love with them. I'm glad I got to meet them before we left.

One of the mountain horses checking out the intruders.

The intruders from the Greenway checking out the
mountain horses. They can't believe we're fraternizing with the enemy.
Billy Bob is already bored with them; he is the one grazing on the left.

We had a wonderful breakfast the next morning, then headed for home. It couldn't have been better.

I'll hold this image in my mind until next year.
Everything looks wonderful from here.