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!!!