A Day of Firsts...

Here we are. My horse and My trailer. Big Girl Dreams do come true!

(Caveat yes I know her pad is cadiwompus it was fixed before we headed out. She would not stand still to be saddled. It was like saddling a greased pig)
Hi blogger peeps...I hope you haven't forgotten about us. Sorry I've been MIA but to be honest Grace has been nothing but a pasture princess for the past month or so...but today we changed that.

Well first number one - I hauled my horse somewhere. I'm not going to say I wasn't a bit nervous. I had someone else's horse with us too so there was lots of precious cargo back there. Grace had that trailer rocking for the ride to the Delta but she was tired and good on the ride home. We made it there and home all in one piece.

Second number one - Our fist off sight trail ride. We went out to the Sandy Delta with our barn owner and a couple of other barn friends. Can you see a familiar blogger pony in the next pic. Does the Black and white give her away? It's JP1 from For the love of a horse She's in the lead practicing for that next endurance ride.
There were lots of flat trails with puddles to play in. I found out how smooth Gracie's lope is (not on purpose) and did lots of trotting. Grace wanted to GOOOOOO. Mom wanted to not Gooooo. So we compromised a couple of times. There were tons of people/hikers with loose dogs, mountain bikes, and other riders. Grace was amazing! Again she shocks me with no real meltdowns while riding, okay there was one but I think it was me having a melt down when she wanted to lope and I really wasn't expecting it. But we worked through it and I stayed on so no complaints really from me.

The above pic of Gracie and I watching our buddy's go into the Sandy river...I'm going to be honest and say that I really wasn't interested in a fight so we kind of hung back.
But Gracie wanted in the water...it took just a little coaxing and she was up to her knees in the water. I had to pull her back before my feet got wet. She can be so fearless.

When we got home she got a bath because she worked today!! It was an amazing day. Thanks Jenne for trusting me with Tonka and not showing if you were nervous (cuz I know you were)

Till next time! Heather and Gracie

Poked a hole in my sock trail riding...

(Stole this pic from BBFF T'anks lady)

So I'm getting some courage from the group at my barn. I have only ridden Grace once in the last two weeks because of my life not being my own right now...so getting on today took some courage. That courage came in the form of my girls at the barn. There were quite a few of us that took off to the Christmas Tree Farm. I wish I had pictures..but I was so busy trying to be calm I don't think I could have taken any that weren't blurry anyway.

We were out about an hour and a half and Gracie exceeded all of my expectations. She decided she wanted to eat an alder branch and proceeded to give herself a bloody mouth but nothing serious, just some head shaking towards the end of the ride.

She only spooked once and that was at her own reflection in some Green house windows...but other than that she gave a look to a barking dog and then just went on our marry way.

I saw the stick "LOVE" I think I saw a picture of it on one of the blogs I follow but anyway it was great!

I hope to get a lot more of these rides in with Pictures of course...I need a new point and shoot camera. My phone is all I have right now with no zoom and getting it to ready for pics takes forever.

So good news I lived to blaze more trails..I loves my pony...

Has anyone seen my Treat Lady?

Are you there Treat Lady? It's me Grace,

I was just wonderin' if any people have seen my treat lady? She's been a missin' for a awhiles. I miss my ear scratches and treats, although my days chasing my mare frens outside has been fun and laxing I'm missing my treat lady talks and treats.

So if'n you seen her please tell her I needs brushed and treats..did I mention I miss my apple treats.

My mare fren, Star, says that my treat lady's not everen comin' back...I think she's fibbin' because she's mad that her treat lady made her do a Long, Long ride far away and sleep outside for some nights.

Thanks you for helping a lonely pony...

Meet Mabel, my first equine love.

I loved her, and she loved me...I think.

This is Mabel, I bought her for $800 dollars about 7 years ago probably about $500 too much but back then I had no idea about things like training, papers, confirmation. Zilch, nada.

I have no idea how old she was I was told she might be around 8 or so back then. She was a tiny little thing maybe 14.1 or so. She had been spoiled by her first owner. May had her so buffalo'd when she tried to put a bit in her mouth May just put her head in the air and her owner would just give up and put her away.

She was my first project. I used powdered sugar to get her to take the bit and had no problem and after.
She was a sweet sweet girl and to be honest she would probably be perfect for my oldest Daughter right now and I do feel bad for selling her....just not knowing what ever happened to her in this economy.

She taught me patience.

Reminded me of my obsession with horses

And also taught me that I will never again own a horse with more white than color.

I hope that she is alive and healthy with a little 4-H'er loving on her every day.

The culprit is..

A nasty impacted baby tooth...who knew horses had issues loosing their teeth. Gracie has had to have 4 of her baby teeth pulled. I had the Ranch Vet check her out today and he floated her teeth (she just had her teeth floated in Nov) because she had sharp points that were causing ulcers in her mouth.

I'm not really sure why she needed a full float again but I'm glad it was taken care of. The Vet paid Gracie some fantastic complements that meant a lot to me coming from him.

I just hope she starts feeling better quickly.

Gracie is under the weather...

She has had a fever this week..at it's highest it was 103.4, but don't worry it was back down tonight to normal. She hasn't been eating all of her hay and even turned her nose up to some of her grain earlier this week. I knew Monday night that she wasn't herself she was lethargic and really just not herself.

I think it's a couple of things. I think she caught a bug at the show and she has just had a hard time getting over it. I also think she is trying to shed some caps and it is effecting her eating.

So the Dr. will give her a good once over tomorrow.

I went out tonight and fed her a couple of treats and loved on her for a bit. Just hoping she starts feeling better quickly.

You just know...

Have you ever had a moment when you were with your horse and you just know...You know that you connect and that they have bonded with you. You just know that this is the "ONE". Gracie is my one...once in a lifetime horse.

I know that horses are animals and some say they don't have emotions like we do, but I know that Gracie knows that I take care of her, that I would do just about anything to make sure she is healthy and fed, and has all that a spoiled equine could possibly ask for. She repays me by giving me wings, priceless.

When I hop down after a ride and loosen the cinch she looks at me with her great big brown doe eyes and I know that she is mine, not because she has to be but because she chooses to be. What an amazing thing, the connection between horses and the people who love and care for them.

I am so blessed to have her in my life, she gives me a space to be just me, not mom, or wife, or employee, just me.