wind crazy

a day in the life

Shuga understands how this gate thing works. What she doesn't understand is why I am wasting time taking a picture instead of immediately letting her out.

Meanwhile, the other horses prepare for a mini despooking clinic called "Walking Past the Scary Blue Tractor". You'd think by now they'd be pros, but you'd be very much mistaken.

bad day

Even horses have bad days.

wetter water

The water is always wetter on the other side of the fence, right? Haha.

(To be clear, she had plenty of water in her own area. She's just a goofy 3-year-old.)

mane event

I now swear by the "pink stuff." Six months later and I already see a difference. Her tail is a full inch longer and is a touch thicker; her mane is starting to thicken up a bit more and the flaxen coloring is becoming more noticeable; and her forelock is looking a lot less scraggly.

silly girls

Today Saphyra and Maya were more inseparable than usual. One was not ever more than a few steps away from the other. My instinct is that they were using the buddy system because of the fog's reduction of visibility.

Still, it was entertaining to watch them eating from the same hay pile all day... And licking the ice together instead of drinking from their heated water bucket. I don't think I've ever seen horses willingly share such a tiny area, let alone choose ice over readily available water.

Week 20: Bright

In memory of a dear friend:

Project 52

Bright

52 Weeks

Thank you for letting me love you.

soulmate

We went to visit Shuga today. She was gorgeous and patient and gentle, as always.

We kind of like her.

A lot.

The kids took turns riding and leading her around.

As I watched them interact with her, and she with them, I realized that she isn't just my perfect horse anymore.

As I continue to get to know her better, I find myself completely stunned.

Surely such an incredible match can only be found in a soulmate.

spring!

Spring is coming!

I smell it in the air.

I feel it in the sun's warmth.

I hear it in the birds' excited chirping.

But mostly I see it on the ground.

Who needs to ask a groundhog when there are horses nearby?

Week 8: Lines (in) My View

52 Weeks Challenge

Lines

My picture for this week feels very un-creative to me. But you have to admit that there are an awful lot of lines to be seen here.

Project 52

My View

 While I only see this on the weekends, it is what gets me through the rest of the week. This picture could also be taken as a prophetic view of my future.

Day 31: The End and The Beginning

We'll keep calling her your horse until she is.

I fell in love with horses sometime before I can remember.

Of course, horses were out of the question. Too expensive. Too much work. And so much of the responsibility would have necessarily fallen on the parents' shoulders. Parents who were already working hard just to provide and care for their five children; parents who had crazy medical bills piling on from all the hospital adventures their kids were going through.

I understood this. I didn't like it, but I understood.

I raised rabbits instead. But as much as I love those precious creatures, my heart wasn't really in it. Deep inside I knew it was just an affordable replacement.

I lived out my horsey dreams with my American Girl look-like-me doll and her horse. And when that wasn't enough, my bike became a horse named Toppa. (pronounced toe-pah; I found the name in a book about horses)

Some of my friends had horses, or at least had access to horses. They were happy to share with me. I loved them for it.

But I got used to the idea that horses would never be a real part of my life.

Someday, I would have horses. I would help teenage girls with them, the way I was helped by horses.

Someday, someday, someday . . .

The funny thing about someday is that it never comes. Even as I dreamed and planned, I knew inside that I would be shocked if it actually happened.

But then I was asked to help with Irish and Sally.

And then I met Sugar.

And I started learning that owning a horse is now more manageable than I ever imagined.

It is no longer an elusive dream.

Yesterday, Dad said something to me.

We'll keep calling her your horse until she is.

I do not own a horse. But I will. Soon.

Day 21: The End

Today was, of course, the day we were supposed to all die.

Zombies.

Flood.

Fire.

Something.

Well, there was fire tonight.

FIRE!

But it was only a bonfire at an "end of the world" party.

Pretty lame for an apocalypse.

It would have been a great day for the world to end, though.

I got to see my retired babies.

The kids helped me groom them.

Yonah made a new friend.

I spontaneously got my very first official riding lesson.

And Kim and the kids got to finally meet and play with Sugar. 

December Photo Project: Day 8

Today was simply glorious.

When I stepped out the front door, snow!

And then I got to replenish my emotional sanity in the company of horses.

The days spent loving on Irish and Sally are my favorites. But today was even more special. Though I didn't ride, I still had time to spend with Sugar.

Sugary kisses

"my" horses

I've decided to introduce you all to the retired horses I help out with. Aren't you lucky? It's only been a short time, but these two are already claiming residence in my heart.

This is Sally. She's a quarter horse in her 20's. (I want to say 24, but don't quote me on that.) Before she retired, she was a reining horse. Her eyes are mismatched and I think that makes her even more beautiful to me.

She is extremely friendly. I think she likes to be on good terms with everyone, since you never know who might bring food by.

This is Irish. He's a thoroughbred who used to be a jumper. He's also in his 20's - older than Sally by a couple years, if I remember correctly.

Fun fact: He and I are the exact same height in hands. Which doesn't sound like much until you're standing right next to him. Stepping into his stall that first time was quite intimidating. But he's such a gentle sweetheart that my nervous feelings immediately vanished.

yonah and the horses

Today Yonah came with me to help out at Blazing Hope.

He was a big helper! He swept out the barn, fed horses, and helped to groom a few.

A few lessons were also learned (more than once). Normal boy stuff like, no climbing on the horse's pen like a crazy child, no throwing hay at the horse, no using a handful of hay as a lightsaber, no running at horses tied and waiting to be groomed.

I didn't get to help as much as I would have liked, but it was still a great time. I enjoyed watching and helping him. And, anyway, it's all for the kids. I'm just there to help where ever needed - and today, that meant keeping an eye on a very excited, and slightly absent-minded boy as he eagerly worked so hard.

And then . . .

After a long, long wait, while horses were warmed up in the big round pen . . .

He finally got to ride.

This was something he was very excited about.

Until he realized just how big horses are when you're standing right next to them. And just how far away the ground is when you're sitting on their back.

But he gave it a try anyway, and absolutely loved it.

I am so proud of him.

moving forward

The flow of my life became stagnant. Instead of paddling forward, I just sat. Slumped. Sinking.

This week I decided that I am done with that. I won't get anywhere if I don't make myself get there.

My ultimate plan for my life involves using horses that I own as a ministry for kids struggling with depression and other such similar issues. (With a slight focus on teenage girls, since that was when I most needed horse time.)

The only problem is . . .

Horses are expensive. Otherwise, I'd have one already.

I know God will bring the finances required when we are ready for them. But there are things I can do now to prepare.

For instance:

Today I began helping a friend with two retired horses at the ranch she lives on. I get to do all the nice-to-have-done-but-not-crucial-to-survival things, like grooming. She's going to be teaching me lots more horse know-how.

Earlier this week I began volunteering at Blazing Hope Youth Family Ranch. Essentially, they do what I plan to. I'm excited to not only learn the ropes of the ministry and spend some extra time around horses, but also to help bless the lives of the kids involved.

I've learned that I'm so horse crazy that I find spending hours detangling manes and tails, or even mucking out stalls, to be heavenly. It is hard work, but it is good work. The kind that leaves me happy and peaceful. Refreshed.