7 Years...Already???

She was ugly. Really, really ugly. No muscle, shaggy fur, bloated belly, bald spots on her rump. She had no personality. She was just dead inside.

The day we went to see her: December 2009

I didn't ride her. Why bother? Dusty had taken one look at the ugly little bay horse in the small, muddy paddock and knew he would be writing the check out. $800. Sort of a rip off at the time, but one heck of a steal now.

The day we brought her home. January 1, 2010.

I write a lot about the issues we have, but I really should give us both a lot more credit. Seven years ago I brought home a closed off rag doll and now I have a very opinionated, athletic machine. She went from not moving one single inch under saddle to bolting madly to spinning and kicking to moving out on the trail in a side pull solo.

I never imagined that we would complete a 100 mile ride, finish Ride and Tie Championships or begin dressage lessons.

And what about me?

Seven years ago I was afraid to ride her out of the indoor. I had never hooked up a trailer on my own. Never self loaded a horse. Never driven a trailer. I had never rode out on a trail solo, let alone at anything more than a walk. I hadn't made any big horse related dreams beyond not dying in the saddle.

And now -

Well, now I barely recognize myself. I canter and gallop on trail alone. I head to the barn at the butt crack of dawn to pull my horse out of her dark pasture, load her up and drive 6 hours away to camp alone without knowing a single sole and complete a 50 mile ride. I back my trailer into the tiniest spot without fear of breaking everything.

I'd say lets bring on the next 7 years!