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!!!

The Best Day Ever, EVER ... With Photos ...

I've realized that 99.9% of my Facebook status' are either "Had the best ride on Sunny ever!" or photo's taking between his ears!

Sunny and I are having an absolute blast together, and I admit I'm a little (lot) obsessed ... so I think I may need to tone it down a bit ...

But seriously, today ... we had the BEST RIDE EVER ... and you know what, tomorrow will be even better!

RANT!

I have to admit that I get so sad/mad when I see ads for "older horses for sale" (or free lease) when the current owner states, "Looking for FOREVER home only".

Why didn't you give your horse a forever home?

Sunny & Lacey, Forever!

This is the life!

When I first realized that my life was going to be incomplete without a horse ... I wasn't actually sure what role that horse was supposed to play in my life.

Did I want to learn how to be a great (or even marginally good rider)?  Did I want to test the limits with endurance riding?  Did I want to wear the sparkly western pleasure outfits and collect the blue ribbons (YES!!!)?  Or did I want to spend hours brushing my horse on cross ties?

Deep down in my heart, I think I knew all along ... I wanted to ride in the woods ...

Just ride in the woods, every day ...

Listen to birds, see deer, spook at turkeys, have long talks with my friends ... HAVE LONG TALKS WITH MY HORSE!!!

Well, we're doing it ... Sunny and I are living my dream ... and he has never seemed happier in all the months I've known him ... I think this was his dream too!

Today, as I picked out his ginormously huge run in ... he actually played with me ... he stood between me with a pitch fork and the manure bucket and refused to move until I scratched his neck ... and when my arm was too tired to scratch any more, he turned around and presented me with the other side of his neck ... so yes, I scratched some more ...

And when the stall was clean and I picked up my saddle to tack him up, he walked right up to me and I swear he smiled ... and off we went into the woods ... Our Happy Place!

Moving On Up

How time flies when you're lovin' your horse and you have no time to blog!

Sunny and I made the big move this past weekend ... we decided to move barns so that we could have more (unlimited) access to trails ... Sunny and I were never meant to ride in a ring ... we need room to roam!

I was a wreck ... what do I know about moving horses ... but you know what?  Just like every other adventure in our live ... Sunny and I did just fine (or he did just fine in spite of me!).

We moved in on a Saturday, he immediately let me know he approved of the move by rolling in his new living quarters moments after moving in!  The next day we tacked up and went on a trail ride with the other barn girls (and by girls, I mean ladies my age-ish!).

And we've been out on the trails twice more this week ... we are LOVING this!

I don't know when it happened but there became a moment when I was not trying to be a horse whisperer ... but a horse listener ... and I listened to my heart AND I listened to my horse ... and OH what awesome things happen when I do that!