Life has a funny way of showing you things

I took this weekend off in order to have a little mental break from all of my anxiety surrounding horses. I know, I should be over the whole Kiki debacle. But I'm not, and I will likely be feeling the sting of her absence for quite some time. I am sentimental to a fault. Part of me wishes that she was already at a new home, so I didn't have to hear her whinny at me across 33 acres. I want her to get into steady work again -- and soon, before she gets too comfortable out in the field. Just bringing her in and lunging her last Tuesday was um, entertaining, to say the least. Never in my life have I seen her leap that far off the ground with all four feet and deliver a bronco style buck that any cowboy would be grateful for. She actually came up a little off after a few good moves like that. We finished up and I trotted her up and down the driveway so B could get a look at her. Yep, she was off alright. Silly girl. She was a complete love bug for grooming and made an effort to solicit petting and scratches from anyone in the vicinity.

I have been thinking a lot about trying out a few new instructors. Not because I don't adore mine (because I do), but because I am having a hard time being there while Kiki is still sort of in the picture. Training that mare was such a huge part of my life. Let's recap: I don't own a car and when given the opportunity to work with this psychotic mare, I figured out a way to get to the stables (35 miles away) 4 times a week. I work full time and have a dog and a home to take care of and managed to still have a fairly good social life. Working with that mare meant complete sacrifice on my part, and I was willing to do whatever it took to see her through. On top of all of that, I put my own riding aside to train HER. In the process I lost much of my finesse to staying on and moving her forward. I know that ultimately, I learned more about my riding by working with her, but I know that if I had been riding a more seasoned horse 4 times a week, I'd be much further along than I am now. *sigh*

So that leaves me here, questioning if I should go take some lessons some place else. B and L have certainly afforded me great opportunities there, and I know that will always be my 'home' barn, but I think for myself, I should try to find a barn that is geared a little more towards my goals. I think part of my issue is that I am at least 10 years older than most of the people that ride there (in fact, I would guess maybe 15 years older) and if there are people closer to my age, they either lease or own horses, so I'm a bit of an outcast. Riding Kiki let me feel more at home there, more comfortable with the other people putting in loads of hours with their horses. I think seeing all of Kiki's stuff hung on a hook away from the regular tack -- with my stuff piled together in the corner -- made it all hit home. We don't have a space there anymore. I am just someone who takes lessons now.

There are a few places nearby -- one where a good friend takes dressage lessons with a terrific instructor that I have heard great things about, and two event instructors within the same distance as my current place. I think I should take a lesson at each place and just see how it feels.

In reference to this blog title, I am always floored by how life shows you things just when you need them. I've been meeting new people every week as the new guy and I get to know each other and he was especially excited to introduce me to a friend of his who is 'into horses too'. I like that blanket statement, because at the core, it IS true, I will probably get excited about anyone into horses. But what are the chances they are interested in English riding, or better yet, eventing??? He had mentioned that she was looking to buy a new horse and that maybe Kiki would be a suitable mount...ha, I thought.

So Friday rolls around and I am out late in the city (since I decided to take Saturday off) and we end up meeting up with her, her boyfriend and a few other friends. We get introduced and immediately start talking horses, and she began showing me pictures of her new acquisition, a leggy chestnut colt from Philadelphia Park (he will of course be gelded soon). And so I inquired, what kind of riding do you do? (It was clear she had been out of riding for quite some time, she and a friend had decided to purchase this horse together (one financially backing and the other training him).

Wait for it.
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She replies, "I competed in three day eventing, through the advanced level'. I am certain, the look on my face was hilarious as I stood there trying to maintain my cool and not ask her ONE MILLION questions. So I casually asked her if she had the new horse vetted, and where she was planning on boarding him etc. I just added her on facebook, and then found this:




Yea, that's Rolex, in 1999. I nearly fell out of my chair at work.

I am hoping to get to know her MUCH better, obviously, and who knows, perhaps her purchase of this new prospect means an easier transition for to me start training at a new barn -- she wants to keep him at an event barn obviously.

Total new (horse) friend crush!