The Chaos Wrap-Up and a Return to Hunter Land

 The last year has been a continual study in change and chaos. I started a new job, that I love so much my husband and I decided to stay in VA for another few years. Despite me hating my current house with every fiber of my being, seriously I detest it.  Despite not having enough room for all the horses I really want but then who does?  But I love the job I’m doing and the freedom it allows me.  

My daughter is starting Kindergarten this year.  There is a sentence I NEVER thought would come out of my mouth. And we’ve decided to find a new home for her pony.  My daughter loves her pony but doesn’t love riding and it’s not fair to the pony when the pony really, really loves to work. Sporadic lead line rides just aren’t enough for her.  So little Miss Tara will be marketed soon to find her a new perfect home. 

Earlier in the spring I started riding at a friend’s hunter/jumper barn.  I was the epitome of nervous adult amateur but Thief, the massive, red OTTB gelding was a perfect babysitter and even helped me start to love jumping again.  I don’t know where this will take me but it’s nice to be able to ride while Roo is still turning in to the monster Warmblood she seems to moving towards.  Seriously she’s 13 months old and already 14.2 hands.   I’m starting to wonder if she’ll be as tall as her mom.  A daunting thought but she’s so lovely and sweet I can’t imagine it being an issue. 

With the pony leaving I will have a spot open for a new horse. I’m trying to find something very laid back and sweet so that if my daughter really does decide she wants to ride later on that I’ll have something suitable that she can just hack around.   

That is all the update I have right now. Keep it between the flags everyone!

Change Brings Change

 There has been so much change in my life this year. The new job is pretty great. I got over my first day jitters and found an introverts dream job. I only really interact with about ten people on a weekly basis. I'm quietly left to do my job and no one wonders where I am if I happen to take a break to walk outside in the sunshine or go to the break room to facetime with my daughter because I leave for work before she gets up. 

Roo is still just as sweet as ever. I swear she's a giant Golden Retriever in a horse shape. She has the cutest crimped curly hair in her forelock and tail. Her breeder says that's from her dad Favor.  Roo has been learning all the good horsey citizen things like picking up her feet, having them trimmed by the farrier, tying quietly and just all around learning to be well behaved. Everything is just so easy with her.

Not to be outdone my daughter's little Welsh pony Tara is still a lovely, haughty princess of a pony.  But over the last two years she has grown to love me. She calls to me every time I leave the house, she willingly lets me hug her, rub her soft red coat and doesn't flee when I come bearing a leadline.  She still has her moments of snobby princess where she doesn't want to be caught but now I can entice her in with a treat, where before even that wouldn't convince her to come near me.  She's still a bit spooky, but we are working on that with ground work. 

The biggest change came unexpectedly. I convinced my husband to send Cowboy off to a trainer friend of mine. She is an advanced level eventer and used to quirky horses. So off he went for almost 90 days of training.  We went to visit him towards the end of 60 days and afterwards, seeing how very happy Cowboy was with a true job my husband made the decision to find Cowboy a new partner. My husband also took on a new job this past year, which he loves. He's working towards his degree in Early Childhood Development and due to that taking up so much of his time he's decided that it would be in the best interest of Cowboy to find him a new partner. 

We let my trainer friend know to start marketing him.  I know the horse market is crazy right now. I watched an online auction and saw a Draft cross mare sell for $90,000.  This wasn't some spectacular dressage horse or money earning cutting horse or even a jumper. This was a ranch bred Draft cross.  I just could not even wrap my head around that.  Until Cowboy sold in maybe three weeks.  Granted my trainer friend has tons of connections but still it was a little crazy how quickly he was sold.  He will be leaving for his new home next week to become the next Appy partner for a lady who wants an all around Appaloosa.  I think Cowboy is going to be really happy.  He will have a person who loves him for himself.

Is there another riding age horse in my future while I wait for Roo to grow up? Probably.  But most likely it will be next year when my family finally moves home to North Carolina so I can be closer to my mom and sisters. 

Until then keep it between the flags everyone!