In Heaven

I hate posting from my phone because it messes the format up and the pics are all small and weird, but I can't wait until I have time to do so from the desktop. You all NEED to see Bacardi in his new barn. Obviously. 

He was wonderful on moving day. I was feeling a bit rushed because I got home later than planned. It was also storming off in the distance and the thunder was rolling. To top it off, it was opening day of dove season and the hunters were going wild. 

Wasn't really sure how well Bacardi would load, since is been about 5 weeks, but he took it mostly in stride. He was anxious, and I don't blame him, but after one lunging discussion ad about 12 min he hopped right on without breaking a sweat. Good man!

 

Luckily, minus running late, this was a very low stress move. We've been there several times for lessons and it's only about 15 min from my house. 

SCORE. 

My sweet nugget unloaded without issue as well, which is a HUGE step. Huge. 

My trainer made me feel so welcome, and had a stall all ready with a cute little sign. 

B settled right in, like literally right in. He dove right in to the hay pile. 

He explored a little and I left him to sniff around before I removed his boots. 

I felt very confident leaving him overnight & gave my trainer the go ahead to turn him out. 

His turnout buddy is a tiny spotted pony and they're alone in a big field with a run in shed. 

B escaped sassy pony with just a small bite mark on his butt, but otherwise unscathed. 

I returned the next day to ride (OMGYAY) and he was asleep. 

Okay I knew this was a good idea. He's so at home already!

Sexual horse is sexual. Look at him. Just look at him. 

He was also an absolute DREAM on our ride. 

We first went for a walk but then It was getting dark so I stayed inside even though it was humid (I rode after dark guys!)  

Really I just wanted to work on bending, impulsion and some transitions. Since he's just getting back into it I kept it short and sweet. 

He really delivered. 

Right off the bat he was relaxed and through the contact. He really marched up in the free walk and when I started asking for bend through his entire body, he really moved his rib age. I was so proud. 

I asked for a little bit of trot work, spiraling circles and serpentines, and even cantered one lap each direction. Not a super exciting ride, but fabulous nonetheless. 

His canter felt...quick. To be expected. I don't think I will do much with that for a while until he gets a little more muscle back. But overall, a truly wonderful ride. I can't even put it into words! 

We are back & I couldn't be happier to be writing that check each month to have this opportunity! 

On this three day weekend, I'm hoping to ride 2/3 days, drag the boyfriend out to video and maybe do a SMALL course of cross rails just to see how it feels. 

GAH I'm so excited.  

That Escalated Quickly

Actual, possible earth shattering news ahead.

So you know how you like, casually make plans in your head and maybe casually mention it to a person or two...and they take it and run a marathon with it?

WELL.

I somehow ended up unofficially officially selling Lilly and finding a spot at a boarding barn, all within the last 24 hours.

YEAH.

So I had mentioned as a sidenote to my trainer that I was noodling downsizing my herd.

I wanted to eventually sell my dear Lilly (serious tears) and then move B to her barn, if possible.

She then messages me and is like "well I have a spot, you can move in tomorrow" and I'm like, "um wat. Please repeat, did you say tomorrow?" Thats like, 7 hours away!

Do you accept limbs as payment?

So of course I accept because how often does that happen? You want a spot and one just magically opens?

One, this would "somewhat" cut down my expenses. I half heartedly did the math in my head and it doesn't quite balance out.

BUT.

When you think about all the time I spend doing stalls, feeding, running home to feed and do stalls then rush off elsewhere (because those damn horses apparently have to eat twice a day), holding for vet and farrier, changing blankets, doing stalls, getting bedding for stalls, getting hay, paying for bedding and hay, buying and obtaining grain, fixing fence, mowing, spraying weeds, scrubbing buckets, filling buckets, chopping ice on buckets, sweeping, doing stalls and then maybe possibly, might having time to ride.

Yeah.

Worth every penny to me.

No one knows true anxiety until they have horses at home. I literally cannot go ANYWHERE (let me repeat, anywhere-not even a dinner out) without thinking of the horses first, and who will feed them, and omg I feel guilty for leaving and do I trust said person to turn them out and ohmygodicant. I don't even know what its like not care for my own horses. Even when I did "board" it was self care and I still fed twice a day and did my own stall/paid for supplies. I honestly will not miss it. I trust my trainer and I will FULLY relinquish responsibility in lieu of writing a check every month,

Two, I would get to ride (as noted previously). Actually ride. All fucking winter long. Because INDOOR ARENA. Whenever the fuck I want. 10PM? Cool. 6AM? Nice. Long lunchbreak? Have at it. AND JUST RIDE. Thats it. Groom my baby, tack up, ride, tend to horse, leave. Thats it.

Three, I wouldn't have to so stalls. Did I mention how much time it takes to do stalls? Even JUST two?

So I am completely justifying this outrageous new payment my life, for freeing up my time to do normal people things. Like laundry. And balance my checkbook. And make my bed. And not crash into bed every night, dead. And not spend half my time worrying about where I will get hay from and when I can squeeze in a stop at the feed store. And maybe, actually be able to go back to school, or see my friends or have a life in general.

Plus my trainers barn is swanky as fuck and B will be living the life of luxury. He will feel like a KING.

When I show up to ride he's gonna be like,

I'll have to remind him who is footing the bill.

It almost makes me feel more like an adult, sending the child off, and then I remember adulting is just a constant stream of writing checks.

Really though, this is huge for us. I am hoping he will progress much quicker with more work (le duh) and NOT spend the whole winter miserable and unworked.

Selling Lilly sucks, but its life. Horses come and go, unfortunately. I took a hard look at my finances vs my time and decided this lovely animal is better suited in a home that might actually use her more often and for a better purpose than to cart my boyfriend or dad around. And a very capable and worthy buyer just happened along, just at the right time.

Though she does a damn good job

It will suck and I will miss her, but it seemed fiscally responsible right now. Three horses? Insert crying laughing emoji. I just can't keep every horse I own, and its stilly to think thats possible at 24.. Unless your name is Yankee Wonder. That horse will be with me until I die.

Anyways, that my news. Coupe of months earlier than I planned, but hey, still awesome.