December 28, 2016

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!

13 comments:

  1. i love looking back and seeing those big transformations over time!! you and Gem have really built quite the partnership!

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  2. You and Gem were meant to be <3 I'm really encouraged by your progress too because I am at the whole "never hooked up a trailer on my own/never self loaded a horse/never driven a trailer" part right now haha

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    1. I should tell the story of the first time I hooked it up by myself. Cliff notes version: after an hour of trying and then calling the hubby in tears, he came to help and I found out I had done it right the every first time but thought it was wrong.

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  3. Wow, both of you are now my heroes. :)

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  4. What a story.

    It's amazing what we can accomplish if we follow our dreams. A year ago, I was recovering from breaking my leg, dreaming of the moment I could get back in the saddle. 3 months ago, I was at the never hooked up/driven a trailer and now here I am. My dad would say it's persistence and resilience (he's a psychology professor so I guess he knows what he's talking about)

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    1. Persistence and resilience is a great way to sum it up. I typically just cll it being thick headed and stubborn :)

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  5. Perspective is an amazing thing! She really was a sad looking horse when you got her. As you know, I think she's GORGEOUS now. Your blog doesn't show her off either. I knew she was a nice horse, but when I met her, I did a double take. You have so much to be proud of, and I love this post!

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    1. Thank you Dom, it means a lot coming from you!! I am probably the worst picture taker on the internet. I'm too impatient with it.

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