Monday, July 27, 2015

15 Months Ago

Fifteen months ago my life changed ... not just for the better ... but for the AWESOME!

Back then I didn't own two pairs of rocking cowgirl boots, I didn't listen to country music and I didn't have a horse in my life!  And I had NO idea what I was missing!

First I started a new job ... in the town that I live in, cutting my commute from an hour each way to less than ten minutes ... then I met my new coworkers and we bonded a little too closely ... and for some reason I ended up not only listening to country music, but embracing it with a passion.  And then I started paying more attention to the facebook friends I had who owned horses and there was a spark!

A spark so intense that I got brave enough to call a former coworker friend and ask her if I could ride her horse ... and then she let me ride Chase ... and I didn't fall off ... and I remembered how to move in the saddle with the horse ... and I got bit ... bit HARD!  Not by Chase ... but by the "I've got to ride horses again no matter what bug!"

My dream job gave me the most incredible hours ... out by 3:30 every afternoon, it felt like a part time job!  I found a barn halfway between my job and my home and decided it was time to learn how to "Western Pleasure" ... so that barn didn't work out, but I did learn that I didn't know everything (or possible anything) but I could trust myself!

I read "The Smart Woman's Guide To Midlife Horses" and said a LOT of prayers!

I reconnected with my friend Beth and her barn girl BFF's Cindy and Joan and they gave me my wish list:  He must be a.) a quarter horse and  b.) a gelding ... there might have been some other words of wisdom that I overlooked.

Then I was introduced to Jeremy ... amazing trainer and owner at Skyz The Limit ... he put me on the safest, slowest, sweetest, and possibly not the prettiest horse ever, Cody and proceeded to teach me something that was lacking in my horse riding life ... how to BREATH!  Apparently I was so excited to be ON a horse that I held my breath for a good portion of the ride.

And then came the night ... possibly fueled by a glass or two (shhh) of wine, when I actually went looking online for a horse ... and I found him.  That you can read about in the beginning of my blog).

And today, at 3:45 PM he became mine ... or I became his ... but really it doesn't matter ... because today all my little girl dreams ... and big girl dreams came true ... I have a horse!!!

So thank you ... Thank you to Christine K, Louise P, Beth O, Cindy R, Joan M, Chris M, Amanda J, Karen H, Tammy N, Jeremy M, Bridgett M and most especially to Hollywood ... because he is and will forever be "Carrot Man"!!!

You are ALL my Sunshine!!!

Sunday, July 26, 2015

OMG!

Tomorrow is the Big Day ... Sunny will be mine ... OMG ... I have never in my life been this excited!  Yes I know I love my husband and the wedding day was awesome ... and yes I have given birth to two beautiful boys and those milestones were amazing ... but TOMORROW I'M GETTING A HORSE!   I'm guessing that only other horse people will get this ... Oh Sunshine ... you are MY Sunshine!!!


Monday, July 20, 2015

The Big Day

In ONE week I will own a horse ... I have never been so excited in all of my life ... or as scared to death!

My reaction today was a mixture of giddyness and nausea!

It reminded me of the day I found out I was pregnant with my oldest child ... "I'm so excited/What have I done?"

Oh Sunshine ... what an adventure we're about to have!!!


Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Memory Lane

I went for a drive today ... to my old barn ... where I used to ride Moon.  It's been 20 years since I've seen her and she was 12 back then ... so I was pretty sure I probably was not going to run into her ... still I held out a tiny bit of hope ...

No Moon ...

Same barn, different farm house ... two adorable donkeys ... but no Moon ...

But when I looked at that barn, I realized my heart was still inside.  My heart was in that barn.

As I drove away I realized that Sunny has my heart now ... and he may not be the youngest horse on the block, or even the most sensible horse for me to buy, but he IS my heart ... and as I drove away from my childhood barn, I was more sure than ever that Sunny and I will be together forever ...

No matter how long or how short forever is!

I have been blessed to have been handed the Sun and the Moon!  I will never take that for granted!

Monday, July 13, 2015

Overprotective ... or Just a Typical Mama!

I got a text today at work from one of the girls at the barn ...

"Are you coming to barn today?"

It made my heart drop into my shoes ... "What happened?", "Is my baby Okay?", "Was there an issue?" ...

Turns out she was just bored and wondering if anyone was gonna show up to ride, bring snacks, etc.

I realized today that my heart is just as fragile with Sunny as it was with my kids ... Hold Me!!!

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Blue Ribbon Ride

At first I thought it was fluke ... but I'm convinced now that Sunny and I have fallen into a great walk/jog relationship.

He has the sweetest, slowest Western Pleasure jog I have ever sat too!

There was a few rides where I thought I had gotten it by accident, but now I'm convinced that I'm asking him for it and he's responding!

After today's ride, I hugged his neck and let him know that he gave me blue ribbon ride!

Someday we'll try it out in an actual show ring to see if the judges agree with us!

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Photo Op

One of the girls at the barn has a potential career as a photographer ...







Thursday, July 2, 2015

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday my beautiful boy ... We met just a few months ago and I couldn't imagine one day without you ... you have given me back all the best parts of me that were lost so long ago ... thank you Sunshine ... you and me ... forever!!!