Wellington, Saratoga, I never really knew ya.

I needed to do something before SAD kicks into high gear. The sun's low placement in the sky and the shorter days all indicated that winter was knocking quietly at the front door.

I had two weeks off of riding, rather unexpectedly, as my life became intensely busy. I think the break was healing for me, allowing me to think internally about what my next move should be. I had investigated the possibilities nearby for a new place to ride. I still may pursue some of them, but for now, I am staying put at my current barn. I realized last night that I DO feel warm and welcome when I am there. I DO think everyone is handling me with kid gloves about Kiki, and I respect that. But they are also being extremely kind and generous, they certainly don't want me to leave. I think for a minute, I let myself believe they were shipping Kiki off because I wasn't a good enough rider, or they didn't trust me, or worse. I know, it's silly...but your mind goes into terrible negative places when you are down. I have always been very hard on myself, and something like this would only make me examine myself with a microscope. After a really good lesson last night, B broke the news to me that they may have found a new home for Kiki. A girl in her early 20's (I think a working student) came to ride her with a trainer friend. The trainer adored the mare (and also rode her). Kiki pulled her usual antics, but they girl stuck it out and was hardly fazed by any of her behavior. She decided she would like to come back to spend the next few days at the farm with B and L to get to know Kiki a little better and ride her for a few days in a row. If things go well, she'll be loaded up Saturday on her way to a beautiful facility in Wellington, Fl. So, we'll see. B said she'd call me Thursday to let me know how things are going. As much as I am still very sad about her, I think this new home sounds ideal. The girl would be living on property and would be able to ride her everyday. It's a barn filled with people showing on the hunter circuit and I think Kiki will be thrilled. I am really happy that if she does go, I'll get to say goodbye on Saturday. I had already made plans to be there to photograph everyone's Halloween costumes and ride, so hopefully with all that going on, I won't get too sad.

In other news, I think I've decided to lease another horse. Part of my depression was fueled by the feeling of not having a project. As much as I like going out for 2 lessons a week on various horses -- which is great for my riding, it's not terribly cost effective, nor does it feel fulfilling for me. I still really want to get back into showing and I need a horse that can take me there. Someone athletic, gutsy, and forward...enter, Arizona. Roughly 16 hand chestnut OTTB (from Saratoga). He's one of B's personal horses (I think he's 14, but he acts 6) and he is lightly used in the lesson program with some of the advanced girls. He's a flashy horse with three white socks and a big blaze, and well, um...a chestnut's personality. How can I put this lightly...'he doesn't play well with others' -- another dominant chestnut, I must be nuts. He has a huge personality, the kind of horse that walks into an arena and demands to be noticed. On top of that, he has a brain that is thinking constantly, and you have to be faster than he is to ride him well. Sure, he'll putz around with his head in the air like a giraffe for anyone, but he'll move out, back swinging with contact if you ask him the right way. He is superbly adjustable, a really neat horse to ride as you can nearly see the gears turning in his brain. And can he jump? Holy moly this horse can jump...knees up to his chin and all heart. I cannot wait. So B and I made it our goal to get him to the 3 foot division together by spring. Nothing's official just yet, but I knew she was throwing him my way for a reason. The girl that was leasing him decided to switch to a bit of an easier horse and so he's open again. When I brought it up last night B just kinda smirked and said she was glad I was thinking about it. She knew that if she could make it seem like my idea it would work *she missed her calling as a therapist. I would have never wanted to lease him if she had pushed in the wake of Kiki's departure.

So, onward...a new journey, with a new chestnut. My very first (horse) love was a chestnut mare named Cleo when I started riding for the first time in the Bahamas. I guess we are meant to be together.

And here are a few photos of the new mount (and not me riding):

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!

re-channeling my energy

Lately between work and what has been going on with Kiki, I'm feeling overwhelmed at the end of every night. I've been trying to figure out a way to channel my energy into worthwhile projects...and as a result Hoof Woof Images was created. I suppose working professionally as a photographer has made me forget that I actually can take good photos of things other than rare books. In fact, I am REALLY good...if anything, I am a little rusty technically, but that will all come back with time and execution. So, yesterday I had a photo session with two wonderful horses and their very kind owner (who will hopefully hire me to photograph her two dogs in the future) and here are a few samples: