' Decisions '

 ' Sami '

‘Decisions’

Lately, I’ve been working very hard around the farm and, even though all the jobs that need to be done aren’t going as quickly as they could (I’d like for it to all be done yesterday), I’m making a dent in the chores.  While doing the drudgery work like weeding, general clean-ups, sanding and painting various chairs and jumps, planting flowers, sowing grass seed, dragging rings etc. I’ve had a lot of time to think. Okay, it’s more like whining to myself that I have no time for my horses and myself.  Sure I manage to get one or two rides in a week, but that’s not really enough to have consistent training for either the horses or myself.

I’ve been asking myself when are we going to start having some fun around here and just be able to ride.  Don’t get me wrong, I realize how lucky I am to have a farm at all, but we bought the farm so we could care for our horses the way we see fit and train the same way.  The thought has occurred to me during some of my more backbreaking moments that perhaps we have too many horses and that’s part of the problem.  So I’ve been reevaluating the situation and I think that paring down would be a sensible solution to lessen some of the work around here.

As I look out over the herd I’m forced to think, how will I ever find the time to give these horses the attention they deserve and need?  Am I being selfish for holding on to them all when some of them might be happier somewhere else? Sami in particular is not likely to get the kind of attention the rest of the horses get because he won't ever be ridden by any of us; at 14.1 hands and six years old, I don’t think he’ll ever be more than a large pony.  He’s obviously too small for my daughter or I to ride and my grandkids are either to young or too far away to give him consistent work.  He’s the youngest, healthiest horse in the herd so, sadly, he doesn’t receive the same priority the more needy horses are used to.  When time is short, we have to take care of the ones who need it most first.  So maybe it's not fair to keep him here, when he loves attention and learning.  There may be a small adult or kid out there who would love him and give him the attention he deserves that we know he just isn't going to get here with us, with so many horses and so much to do. On the other hand he is Mellon’s mini-me and keeps him company and I think keeps him young by forcing him to play a little now and again.

Sami is a wonderful, sweet and caring little guy, and to be fair I think he needs a job and a small adult or child to fuss over him because he is an attention seeker and loves to be loved. So my instinct says it would be best to try and find a loving home for him with someone who will give him all the love and attention he craves.

That’s really all I have to say about Sami for now except for the fact that, even though I am thinking about this, it will probably never happen.  In the past we’ve been really bad about finding homes for horses because no one meets our standards of training and care. So I guess I’m just blowing off steam because I’m sure he’s staying and we’ll simply have to find something useful for him to do.  He does need a job to occupy his mind and body and we’ll need to make time for some sort of training.  Any ideas out there, other than driving? We don’t have the equipment and I’m not into that sort of discipline.

Again, it’s back to basics.  The workload has to be cut down so we can interact with the horses on a regular basis. Round and round we go, never coming to a conclusion.

Until next time
 
Quote for Today
All horses deserve, at least once in their lives, to be loved by a little girl

Patience is a Virtue

Patience is a Virtue

Dusty and I have been having some good rides.  As always, we are working on her bending and stopping.  She has no shortage of enthusiasm and it’s hard for her to control her speeds, but she’s trying hard.  Lately we have been having more good rides than bad rides and I’m very proud of her.  Today we worked with cavaletti and did some figure-eights and serpentines.  We even managed a good pace at a balanced canter to the right. To the left not so much; seems she can’t find her lead in that direction just yet.  So we sort of wind up with a run for the roses switching leads back and forth. I guess she figures the faster she goes the more exciting it is for her.  I’m sure she’ll get it soon.

Working with Dusty has made me realize once again that, no matter how much you think you know, it only takes one green horse to show you how very much you still have to learn from each horse you ride.  For the past twenty years I’ve been very fortunate to have had two wonderful horses who were very well trained and knew their jobs. Thank you Lifeguard and Erik.  I do miss you.  That said, Dusty is an exploration in patience (mine & hers).  Unfortunately, she has no tolerance for taking it slow and wants to set off at a fast pace, throwing caution to the wind.  I can’t count the number of times we’ll be trotting along at a steady pace and she‘ll break into a canter out of nowhere.  Apparently, she has places to go and things to see and I’m holding her back, literally. She’s teaching me that patience is indeed a virtue and I hope she’s learning the same from me.  Calmness and evenness in dealing with an over-eager horse is a must.

I’ve found that taking a deep relaxing breath and relaxing into the saddle helps both of us.  If I relax my whole body she seems to do the same.

I sometimes wish her training could move along faster but it is what it is for now and we will work together to make our rides enjoyable for both of us.   My daughter and I were actually having a discussion about how, in the past, so many of the trainers we’ve known lacked the patience it takes to bring a horse along correctly.  We’ve been at many barns where the horses were placed in situations that were not conducive to training properly.  The force that was used to make up a horse quickly and sell it was unacceptable and it seemed the horses learned to robotically go through the motions, but never truly understood what they were being asked to do.  I suppose I could do the same with Dusty – put a stronger bit on her, or some draw reins, and bend her to my will, but  I’ve always felt sorry for the horses who were trained without actually learning the basics and never seem to comply willingly.  Instead, they are simply forced into accepting the training that was meted out to them. It’s a bad situation for all concerned - the buyer and the horse.  It’s slow going, but if more trainers would only learn compassion and take the time to consider the horse and its needs, perhaps many more horses would enjoy their jobs and their lives, and make better partners in the long run. Something to think about…

Until next time

Quote for Today

There are only two emotions that belong in the saddle; one is a sense of humor and the other is patience.

' Happy Mother's Day '

' Happy Mother's Day '

Until next time

Quote for Today

Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.  

~Author Unknown~