I realized after logging in today that I have not posted since April. After the summer I have had it feels like years ago instead of months. So let me dive in to the reason I dropped off the earth again.
Way back in March I entered what I jokingly call the Second Circle of the Circus. In the Navy when you are an E6 (Its a rank) the next move is to E7, or Chief. It's a big deal, a lot of changes and responsibility come with it. It is not an easy move to make. First there is the exam (The first circle of the circus), then there is Making Board, meaning you've passed the exam and now your record will be looked at by a board of upper rank enlisted and officers to decide whether or not they will recommend you for Chief.
The Selected for Board results come out in March, this is the Second Circle. As expected I made Board, but I didn't get excited at that point. I've made Board before and not been selected. But I wanted to be prepared just in case so I started the Couch to 5K program using their app. And I completed my second ever in my life 5K on Memorial day. I actually did a trail run through a horse ranch which was pretty cool.
Then there is the long wait for the Selection results to come out. For me the results come out usually in the first week or two of July. I took leave the first week of July so I could flip out in private if I didn't get selected again. And the results were late so I ended up being at work the day they came out anyway.
And I was Selected, this is the end of the third circle of the circus and the beginning of the fourth. The fourth circle is Initiation. This is like extreme bootcamp. Lots of PT and other stuff to prepare you for being promoted.
So that is where I disappeared to for so long. Now I'm on the other side. And I only have one sound horse right now. Seneca as usual is happy in her permanent retirement. Fox must have been feeling a bit jealous of this and realizing my preoccupation with work was about to come to an end and his cushy holiday with it, he contrived to be on the injured list.
A few weeks ago, in the dark, I went out to feed my three ponies. Fox limped, three legged limped up to me out of the dark. I quickly hung up the phone conversation I was having and went to check him out. He'd cut up his left pastern, but he was actually limping on the right front foot. That was strange all on it's own. Later I saw the gate between the two pastures was wrecked. Which explained the cut and I thought Fox must have gotten hung up on it and pulled his shoulder. So I applied some first aid, did my best to make him comfortable and added some bute to his feed.
After several days his limping was less and and less though not gone. Then the Farrier Fairy came out and when she went to trim that right front foot we discovered that he wasn't injured he had just contrived a massive sole abcess at the same time he'd cut himself. Sneaky pony.
So that leaves Fox on the injured list a while longer and I'm treating his recovering foot and to try to stave off thrush. Meanwhile this leaves Cowboy as my only sound horse. Uhmm yea?
I have been trying to let go of the past lately and learn to love that big spotted beast. I still see lots of lunging in our future but it's not out of the realm of possibility to see us swaggering down the centerline some time this winter.
Also stay tuned to the Reviews page for some updates on a new footing solution I added to one of my run-in sheds and the truly awesome haynets I got this year that even Fox hasn't managed to destroy!
Keep it between the flags everyone!
Way back in March I entered what I jokingly call the Second Circle of the Circus. In the Navy when you are an E6 (Its a rank) the next move is to E7, or Chief. It's a big deal, a lot of changes and responsibility come with it. It is not an easy move to make. First there is the exam (The first circle of the circus), then there is Making Board, meaning you've passed the exam and now your record will be looked at by a board of upper rank enlisted and officers to decide whether or not they will recommend you for Chief.
The Selected for Board results come out in March, this is the Second Circle. As expected I made Board, but I didn't get excited at that point. I've made Board before and not been selected. But I wanted to be prepared just in case so I started the Couch to 5K program using their app. And I completed my second ever in my life 5K on Memorial day. I actually did a trail run through a horse ranch which was pretty cool.
Then there is the long wait for the Selection results to come out. For me the results come out usually in the first week or two of July. I took leave the first week of July so I could flip out in private if I didn't get selected again. And the results were late so I ended up being at work the day they came out anyway.
And I was Selected, this is the end of the third circle of the circus and the beginning of the fourth. The fourth circle is Initiation. This is like extreme bootcamp. Lots of PT and other stuff to prepare you for being promoted.
So that is where I disappeared to for so long. Now I'm on the other side. And I only have one sound horse right now. Seneca as usual is happy in her permanent retirement. Fox must have been feeling a bit jealous of this and realizing my preoccupation with work was about to come to an end and his cushy holiday with it, he contrived to be on the injured list.
A few weeks ago, in the dark, I went out to feed my three ponies. Fox limped, three legged limped up to me out of the dark. I quickly hung up the phone conversation I was having and went to check him out. He'd cut up his left pastern, but he was actually limping on the right front foot. That was strange all on it's own. Later I saw the gate between the two pastures was wrecked. Which explained the cut and I thought Fox must have gotten hung up on it and pulled his shoulder. So I applied some first aid, did my best to make him comfortable and added some bute to his feed.
After several days his limping was less and and less though not gone. Then the Farrier Fairy came out and when she went to trim that right front foot we discovered that he wasn't injured he had just contrived a massive sole abcess at the same time he'd cut himself. Sneaky pony.
So that leaves Fox on the injured list a while longer and I'm treating his recovering foot and to try to stave off thrush. Meanwhile this leaves Cowboy as my only sound horse. Uhmm yea?
I have been trying to let go of the past lately and learn to love that big spotted beast. I still see lots of lunging in our future but it's not out of the realm of possibility to see us swaggering down the centerline some time this winter.
Also stay tuned to the Reviews page for some updates on a new footing solution I added to one of my run-in sheds and the truly awesome haynets I got this year that even Fox hasn't managed to destroy!
Keep it between the flags everyone!
Congratulations on your promotion!
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