Didn't want to but...I'm glad I did

So I went to the barn in the rain and cold tonight. I haven't been in about a week and Grace was FRESHY Fresh! She always seems put out when I haven't seen her in a while, I did not miss you lady...now where is my cookie then maybe we can be friends again.

So we do some grooming..her mane is getting crazy long and she looks fantastic..she needs to put some muscle on but her weight is back up from when she was having her growth spurt a month or so ago. She just looks Big! She's starting to fill out more and not look quite so leggy. Her winter coat is coming in so I'm putting off blanketing as long as possible.

So off we go to the arena...it's dark and there are only 2 florescent lights in the arena and so there are spooky shadows and horse eating monsters hiding in every corner.

We lunged and my god I didn't know what devil horse I had brought with me, scary corner Buck, ohh somethings going to eat me Buck, just because I can Buck, scary corner again Buck..She never really relaxed and my confidence to ride was waining...mind you I haven't ridden her in about a week.

But my BBFF was also riding her mare and said and I quote "Man up woman and ride your horse" so I did...and she was perfect. We just wandered around and watched BBFF ride her pony and hung out in the lighted half of the arena.

When Grace has a rider she is so calm and open to learn it truly is such an interesting transformation from a skeerdy cat pony to a calm and trusting riding partner.

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda....

I shoulda found time to get to the barn this weekend...

If I woulda found the time to get to the barn I had big plans since the weather was so great here in the Pacific NW. Ride in the pasture, maybe a bath for the money pit since she looks so shiny when she's clean (and I LOVE Shiny, just ask anyone who knows me).

I probably coulda planned my weekend better but...I'm not good with time management.

So Grace has been living the life of the pasture princess for a few days. Life is hectic. Does it ever slow down.

I really need to figure out this time crunch thing. I hope the BO gets the rest of the lights up in the arena since dusk is coming earlier and earlier....and Grace is literally afraid of her own shadow, and it will be dark before I even get home from work soon, let alone by the time I get to the barn, groom, tack, lunge and mount up.

Oh well next week will be better.

Best Horse Quote I have ever seen....

"It is the difficult horses that have the most to give you."

- Lendon Gray

I saw this quote on this blog 'Cass the Amazing Arabian' today. I think I'll have this embroydered on all of Gracie's Sheets, Blankets, Stall plate...you get the picture.

Thanks Cass, I needed the reminder.

She isn't named Grace because she's Graceful...Yet.

So I think I posted a long time ago about how Gracie got her name...she came with the name JoJo. I just didn't want to leave the barn every night and head for Freddies Deli section, so I went on the hunt for a new name..She was a gangly tall two year old who and no control over her feet and would trip while in a strait line on flat ground...or nick her self here and there...I don't think there has ever had a full coat of hair. One of her latest having her hide scraped off a little on the hind legs after rolling too close to the fence and getting herself tangled up. (that was just after the hair grew back from the gross fungus she had when the heat wave hit)

So any who when I got the call from the BO on Sat I wasn't shocked when she told me that Grace had punctured herself...it's on the right side of the jaw line. Scared me a bit because this is worse than the other boo boo's she's given herself. They have patrolled the pasture and can't find anything that would have caused this...

So thank god the BO was a vet tech in a past life...so she shaved the wound, flushed it out, made sure she was able to eat and drink, took her temp, gave her a shot of penicillin (had one a day or 3 days) and kept her inside to make sure it didn't get dirty.

Good lord, young horses. So I wonder what the next trauma will be...crossing my fingers it's minor...

I don't know if I posted about the battle over bridling that has started to happen. She has decided that having a bit in her mouth is overrated...the battle has been epic...but when you can't win bring in the big guns....I know I've said it a lot but having a BO that is also a horse trainer who doesn't mind stepping up and helping out when the chips are down is a god send.

She has been putting her bridle on while she's eating for me and working with that Right ear issue And Voila!!

She was a different horse last night..not overly hot didn't get excited over the electronic cow (Cutting barn) and it was nice..oh and did I mention there was NO lunging before mounting...Hell's to the Yeah!! We are making progress. (the only con to that was I forgot to get off and tighten the cinch and the saddle was a little loose on the dismount)

Oh and note to self...make appt with vet..she has two large baby teeth bumps on the jawline..so I want to have those checked out and get the float and biannual shots.

So all is good in Graceland.....

BTW have I ever told you how much I enjoy the way she turns her head and rests it on my shoulder while I groom her...It truly is one of my happy places...

I think if I can get out to ride this weekend we will try to hit the pasture...it's just been getting to dark during the week (Summer is definitely over)

Summer of Grace....

So much has happened in the last two months. I have been riding at least twice a week..YES...Riding Grace. She is amazing under saddle..very responsive and so soft in the mouth, She stands still at the mounting block and is so eager to work.

We have a few issues. When I say we, I mean Grace and I both have issues we need to work through.

Let's start with Gracie's issues.

She randomly pulls back when tied..and I'm talking broken lead ropes, ties pulled out of the wall you know the crappy scary shit. She doesn't do it all the time..some days she perfect. Then she'll break two leads in an evening. I wish I new what triggered it because then I could stop it before it happened. Someone told me it's a young horse thing....god I hope so. I have put her back in a rope halter (no snaps) and she has had quite a few dates with the ties in the arena.

Some other things that have come and gone in her behavior over the summer

RUNNING from me when she is out to pasture. Okay this is a deal breaker for me. I HATE chasing a pony in pasture. I don't know what was up her ass for a while but this seems to have passed (only lasted about a week or two) She now greets me at the gate....Like a good money burner should do.

She had some nasty skin fungus for a couple of weeks during the heat wave but that has cleared itself up.

She's growing again, butt high and gangly. I swear this pony will top out over 16 H. She is going to be a big elegant horse in a couple of years. Dressage anyone.....

Okay onto my issues.

I'm scared to take her out of the arena...our BO has taken her out to the pasture a couple of times with no issues. She's an angel in the arena....what the hell am I so nervous about. I'm a good rider. How do I get over this fear. I know she would be fine, but I don't want my nerves to rub off onto her and have my anxiety cause an accident.

I had a lesson with my old trainer and she made me feel great...I have another planned soon and I hope to talk to her about my issue...maybe gain some lost confidence and move out of the arena for at least one or two rides before the weather takes a dump and we are stuck inside anyway.

I've had thoughts of trading her for one of those "Dependable" stock type horses...but I just can't seem to follow through. I know this horse has so much potential. I think I just need patience and to go slow for both of our sakes...but we WILL do this partner thing. And if I hear "It's just the Breed" one more time....

New pics coming soon!! Stay tuned.