News about Kiki

The relationship I have with my trainer is special. She's part instructor, therapist, friend/sister/mother and role model. She's built a fantastic business (and now has a side business as a saddle fitter for County), has a beautiful family and a barn full of happy horses. She's someone that I feel like I can tell anything to and it's been that way from the beginning. When things were really tough with Kiki (and I was also in a bad mental state) we'd just just talk during my lessons. I ride around in circles hardly asking for anything from Kiki and just vent. I needed it, and she was always willing to play the appropriate role for me. As with all horse people, we don't agree on everything, which makes for a more interesting relationship. I'm glad for that, but it can be challenging at times. When Kiki left the farm, I did not agree with the decision... mostly, I was wrapped up in my emotions and couldn't get a handle on what was the best thing for her. It's easy for me to look back and acknowledge that now. In the moment, I felt betrayed and it took me a long time to feel close to my trainer after that. Hearing about Kiki since she moved on has always been bittersweet. I know that went to a good home. The girl that took her brought her to Wellington, Fl and kept her at a lovely facility where she had loads of attention.

Just when I thought...

... all was well with the world and maybe things would start falling into place, I get a phone call. Not THE phone call, not the one that makes you burst into tears while your mind goes blank and makes your ears ring. The one that happens before that call.

In the spirit of over-sharing (I've never held back much in this blog) I'll fill you in a little.

Bear -- my ursine/equine new friend

The paperwork in under review and soon I will officially be leasing Bear. He's a 17hh, 10 year old TB. He raced until he was 5 and was rescued from the kill pen by his current owner. She's had him for 5 years and has done a tremendous job with him. I went to the farm yesterday to have a proper test-ride on him and he was perfect. Right now, I think he's just what I need... not dead broke, but not young and stupid. He's quirky and he's always going to have those thoroughbred moments, but we seem to be a good match. We rode in the jumping ring yesterday which is basically a grass field with undulating terrain with loads of jumps scattered about. It was a good test for me to see how he'd handle the changes in terrain and whether or not I felt balanced enough on him. One things for sure... I have NO stamina for riding. I need to cut myself a little slack... I have ridden maybe a half a dozen times in the last year and I haven't exactly been exercising, so I need to get my body and lungs back into shape! He's not super fit, but he's not out of shape either, so maybe it's a good thing! We rode with another horse in the ring and he was really good about staying focused and we only had one discussion about where we were going (aka, away from his horse friend). So we W/T/C and hopped over a teeny tiny crossrail. I wanted to see what he'd do/how he'd feel over a jump and he was stellar. He trotted up straight, popped over and cantered away. No hesitation, so rushing, and it was just not.a.big.deal. He ended our ride with a little hack around the property and called it a day. We had one little moment when I was turning him out and went to grab the crown piece of his halter and he thought it would be cute to wheel backwards and up. The shock on his face when I was still at the end of that lead rope was hilarious. I reprimanded him, he came back over quietly and we tried again until he did it quietly. Not a behavior I tolerate.

I should be signing the paperwork this week, we've added in an option for me to take him to shows and/or XC schooling (with insurance, etc) and next week I'll start my riding duties!

For now, here's Bear:

update?

I spent the day in Radnor today... it is, in a word... gorgeous. The feeling there is much like going to any bigger eventing site, it's electric and I instantly had the feeling of wanting to jump ALL THE THINGS.

For now, before any big decisions are finalized, just a few teaser photos:

JUMP ALL THE THINGS @ Radnor

Gorgeous farm that may or may not contain a certain horse lease option.

A 10 yr old, OTTB named Bear. I test rode him quickly in jeans! He's a full bodied 17hh. Whoops... despite my stirrups being a hole or two longer than they need to be, I actually felt quite comfortable on him! I'm going to give him a real trial one day next week.

Did I mention it's a 20 minute hack to Radnor from the farm? Yea.