Fear

It was like going into a haunted house, or going to see a slasher movie, covering up your eyes but peaking through your fingers....Heart beating so fast because you know something terrifying is going to happen but being a little excited waiting for the moment when the Evil Clown jumps out of a closet or the stupid teen ager decided to go look for help alone when they know the insane asylum has lost a few of it's most dangerous of guests!!!

That's what it felt like when my trainer sent me this text "Your Going to Canter tonight". And I did. I have only cantered on Grace once before and we had a meeting of the heads.. she gave me a black eye.

So I have been doing some reading and decided the best way to do this was on the end of a lunge line. Like a 7 year old. But it worked. Here's how it went

K: Are you Ready

Me: uhhh

K: Take a deep breathe

Me: uhhh

K: Let it out

Me: uhhh

K: Kiss/Canter/whip

And off we went

It was not comfortable for me it was scary as hell, but I hear with practice it becomes second nature. So we are going to practice, practice, practice.

So I did not fall off, I did not get a black eye, and I felt like I had won the lottery after watching Nightmare on Elm Street (the original) in the dark alone.

A Gift...but we'll take it

Gracie and I had an open show this Saturday and we were signed up for 4 classes, the 18-39 English Pleasure and 3 western W/T classes.

I got to the Equestrian Center a little later than I had planned so Grace didn't get an opportunity to get a warm up in the morning. So when I took her out to get her ready she seemed pretty low key. Boy was I wrong.

I have to mention that this show had a LOT of horses participating. I don't think I've been to a show yet that had so many people showing.

My trainer hopped up on Grace in the warm up pen and I knew right away that it was going to be interesting. Grace gave a cow hop when Kim mounted and I almost right there wasn't going to ride her in the western classes she was that hot. There must have been about 20-30 horses in the warm up pen and Grace was just not having any of it. She would not relax and I was concerned about her going into her class. I went up to the stands to watch.

The English pleasure class was Crazy maybe 10 horses in the class and to be honest I thought it was Graces Worst ride in a class yet. She was just not relaxed and I could tell Kim was getting ready to SCHOOL her in the class.

So at the line up when she wasn't called at least 5th I thought oh well, next time. So I started down the stairs to get the gate so I could take the naughty mare to get ready for some serious lunging and I heard our Number....Uh what I couldn't believe it. She took First...and here is the trophy to prove it.

So on to the outdoor to do some schooling and work out the ants in her pants so I would feel comfortable mounting up for our 3 afternoon Classes...

After her lunge session she seemed to be much more relaxed. I mounted up and she was awesome. She felt relaxed and I thought okay...this might actually be fun and not complete torture for both of us..

We went into the Western Novice Horse class and OMG there were at least 25 horses in the ring with us before they decided to split the class into two. We had our best ride yet...I remember at the line up I was tearing up because I was so proud of her. I had no idea how the other horses did and to be honest I didn't care. OUR RIDE was amazing...and when they called us in the top 5 I about lost it. It's the first time Grace and I have placed at a show. To be honest if they hadn't called us I wouldn't have cared. It just felt good. Being Top Ten in a class of 40+ horses feels pretty damn good. (No we didn't ribbon but I still feel like I won big)

But she broke down after that class...all she wanted to do in the next classes was to race everyone in the ring, and when there are 20+ horses in a class you never have a slot where she can feel like she's in front and can relax.

But it didn't matter to me. We made it through and we both keep improving. That's all I can ask for.

Gotta love this face....

Had a great ride tonight...this was Grace and I watching my oldest Daughter have her riding lesson tonight. I have to say it was great to go to the barn with her and see her enjoy riding as much as I did when I was her age! I hope she can sneak in some more time to come hang out with me at the barn!

E-mail from a stranger...

Last year about this time I posted about my very first Mare, May.

http://beautyisgrace-y.blogspot.com/2010/04/meet-mabel-my-first-equine-love.html

I had been thinking a lot about May this past month and the other day I received an e-mail out of the blue.

Hi Heather,

I have no idea if this will reach you, but I was going through some old email and was pleased to find your posts about Myra. Thought you might enjoy seeing a pic of our gal “in action” – she is quite the worker bee…..

If this does arrive, and I hear back from you, I will bring you up to date w/her and her pasture mate, whom everyone mistakes for her sister…..it’s a pretty interesting story. And in the background on the left there is Marielle, my llama and their pasture pal who will be packing w/Myra this summer.

My best,

So I responded and was so pleased to see she is happy and has a twin!

Look a two headed horse!! I Cannot tell you how happy I am that this mare found a home. A home that respects her and has taken such good care of her. (May is the one on the left)

And here is May with Annie her long lost sister (Annie was a rescue that May's new owner took in and brought back to health) I just wish all horses were as lucky as May.

(FYI May's new name is Myra)

She's versatile!

Grace is an all around pony....Last weekend it was English Sport Horse Under Saddle at an Arabian Breed Show.

This weekend it was a great trail ride with some old and new friends.

There were 8 of us that left for the trail ride on Sunday. The weather was Amazing and we just headed off out the pasture and up to some groomed trails in the middle of a Christmas Tree Farm.
Grace was EXCITED. Trail riding is one of her favorite things to do. But she was a little more excited than I would have liked her to be. She just WOULD NOT relax and enjoy the ride. Maybe it was me. I may have been a little tense as it was our first Ride out this season and I guess I take as long to warm up and relax as she does but all in all it was a beautiful day and we all came home safe so it was a WIN/WIN.

Next weekend is another show weekend. Grace and I are doing our 'Western Pleasure' thing. Sparkly belts, shirts a my new cowboy hat. My horse can do anything. She is amazing! My Grace......here's to more beautiful weekends riding with friends! Bring on Spring/Summer!