The Day Before My Birthday !

This is how I spent the Day Before My Birthday ...


Soaking Sunny's foot to help heal an abscess ... so very fortunate that he is sound and not limpy AT ALL!


Hollywood helped by keeping a steady flow of carrot treats going in one end while I stood at the other end bribing him to keep his foot in the bucket by scratching his ass ...


Now I'm baking my own birthday cake ... Funfetti Poke Cake (plus a little cake vodka, Shhhhh ....).


White Chicken Chili getting ready to go in the Crock Pot.


What do I want for my Birthday this year?  NOTHING!  I already got a "pony" so I never need another present again for as long as I live ...


It's good to be Sunny's person!!!

WOW!!!

I am the worlds WORST blogger ... but whatever ...

Today we had a clinic at our farm ... and you all know that Sunny is the worlds bestest horse ... but he has his "quirks" ...

Today he learned how to stand at the mounting block, and not just stand but to set himself up for me to get on ... now this wasn't easy ... there was some "naughty flagging" that needed to happen, but really he had it in him the whole time and as usual, I needed to learn how to ask the right question, the question, he knew the answer to.

I am blessed, SO VERY BLESSED to be in the presence of a great clinician, Nancy Adams.  She's kind, so very kind ... Kind to the horses ... and kind to the older ladies who love their horses ... it is a GIFT!

After a few 'leanings" ... I was able to set Sunny up at the mounting block (not moving it sixty two times to line up with him!!!) and get on ... and he stood ... STOOD ... not walked off, not fidgeted about but STOOD!   Because I learned how to ask him to in a way where he knew the answer.

What a gift!

And then we went out on a little 'Off Roading" ... and he did his "GET ME THE HELL OUTTA HEAR SPIN" ... and I was able to STOP IT ... Again, what a gift to have a trainer on foot five inches from your horse saying. "TRY THIS!" ... and THIS works!!!

At the end of the day I let him do HIS THING, which is canter around the ring ... He loves that ... and then I put him back with his heard and did MY thing, which is drink a glass of wine and think ...

WE GOT THIS!!!

HOLLYWOOD

Sometimes I amaze myself ... I don't go to movies alone, I don't go to restaurants alone, I don't do much alone because ... well for whatever reason ...

But this week I traveled to California alone for business, I took my first ride in an Uber alone, and I got brave enough to go on an adventure of a lifetime!

http://www.sunsetranchhollywood.com/

I will NEVER EVER not do something I want to do ... this was one of the most amazing adventure of my life ... The photos don't do the scenery justice, which just proves ... you HAVE to DO IT!

But oh the memories will be forever!!!

Happy Birthday!

This weekend Sunny turns 22 ... to me that sounds like an "old horse" ... but when I look at my boy, he is anything but OLD.  He is ... oh what is he ... he is my teacher, my inspiration, my soulmate, my trainer, my ... well to be honest, my EVERYTHING.

I have NEVER in my life been happier than I am to be 'owned' by a horse.

He has (I was going to say "taught me", but to be fair he has "made me learn") encouraged me to become more quiet, thoughtful, patient, in the moment, out of my head, focused, RELAXED!!!

He says, "Lacey, knock it off and be here with me IN THE MOMENT" and I say, "Sunny, I'm trying, but sometime I'm gonna get it wrong and screw up!"

And in the end, we both forgive each other and move on ...

Sunny is the best thing that has ever happened to me!!!

Promises Kept

I told my boy, one day you will be part of a herd .... horses are herd animals, they NEED to be with other horses.  Yet, as far as I knew Sunny had only been in a private paddock.  I held my breath, my friend Michelle banished me and took my boy to the herd and told me to stay away.  I get it, my energy, nervous projects to my horse.

You know what, He did it.  He integrated himself into the herd!  There were some squeals, some flat back ears, a couple of random missing fur spots on a few of his "friends", and a little bit of Stallion/Mare love ...

But in the end, he figured it out, The herd figured it out.  And now my boy has a herd, and he's NEVER been happier.  And I have NEVER BEEN HAPPIER.  This was one of my promises to him when he became mine, I promised to let him BE A HORSE!

Sometimes I DO know what I'm doing ... and when I am on the fence, I have a "herd" of my own to direct me!

Thank you Bonnie, Michelle, Ann, Carrie, Kathy, Pamela, John, Cheri, Debbie and Phil!!!

And most of all Sunny ... you teach me everything I need to know, if I only listen!

Long Overdue Update

Has it really been since May that I've posted here ... sorry (sorry to who, is anyone reading?)

Sunny and I have landed in heaven ... we love the farm, we love the trails (well, read below), I love the Farm Family!!!

Lately Sunny and I are having a battle of wills ... I want to go somewhere, he want's to "SPIN" and go home ... it has become an issue ...

Today I rode him solo ... nobody else was around ... when we went to places Sunny was not interested in going, he spun and I did NOT react ... I didn't panic ... I didn't yell ... I didn't kick, spur or crop ... I just said, "No, we're going where I want" and Sunny turned around and went.

Why is it SO hard to stay calm, cool and collected when your horse throws a tantrum and how can I stay this calm ALL THE TIME.

Whatever the issue, Sunny is mine for life and I will never give up on this boy.

When Sunshine is Happy, Mama is Happy!

Look at this boy ... he is so happy ... he get's to come in and out as he pleases.  He get's to meander around the most beautiful trails.  He gets to explore hay fields.  He gets to eat the tallest grass and clover with his best buddy Merlin.  And he gets to do it all in one of the most serene settings ever ... with hawks flying overhead, with the smell of fresh cut hay filling the air, with a few cocktails on the deck ... yeah, he get's all that!!!