What’s up, Cindy?

Loyal duo- George and Izzy

Last Monday was a busy day. All kinds of hectic at work,  rolling towards the first of another new month.  Another month off the calendar of time to accomplish things in 2017. I was even a bit worried and concerned about the lack of time I would have until we have had show results on the corporate table. But I was committed.  I was ready.  And I had a great team behind me. 

At home we were barreling down to T -2 weeks until Lauren went out of town. I’ve been keeping to my dressage ( dressage got auto corrected to Microsoft, lol) schedule not riding as much as I wanted but riding at least every week in the lesson. My back had improved- my life was improving.
Are you hearing but then? Well here it is, a but then on Monday night I started with this horrific type of stomach flu. Honestly do not know even now if it was a bug or food poisoning deal.  Round here you can never rule out food poisoning. And maybe eating Easter left overs a week later is not a good idea but it seemed like one of the time. 
I got through Monday and Tuesday pretty much in a coma.  I could honestly not make it further than my bed to the bathroom. No, you don’t want these details so feel free not to read the next couple sentences. Let’s just say that my mother who died two years ago needed this kind of help.   I never thought I would need this kind of help at age 60. And let it go.   I was probably as sick as I’ve ever been in my entire life and still have some of the same problems. 
By Wednesday my daughters for pushing me for the ER. When my family practice doctor saw how dehydrated I was,  where my stomach hurt she sent me right over. Why would listen to professionals over our children, I don’t know. Shout out to Memorial Hermann Sugar Land they did a great, expedient (mostly) job. Ally was shocked at how young the doctor was but giving a reference to Doogie Houser, MD, was a waste of my time so I didn’t bother. She was also shocked at how little money a resident would make while working in emergency room in Houston Texas (one of our conversations). 

Diagnosis – of course stomach/bowel problems that were quite obvious when I went in. I got some great medicine to take care of those issues. 
However, three interesting things came up on the CT scan but we’re only going to discuss one for now. (The other two findings might merit their own blog post so wait for what you can find out from a CT scan). The one for now,  I finally trashed my gallbladder- multiple stones were easily viewed and the gallbladder itself looked like a wicked, old troll (so the doc never said this.  It is how I imagine it, so what!!).  

They strongly encouraged me to have surgery ASAP before yellow became my new skin color.  I have had gallbladder problems for over 40 years and every time they have wanted to take out my gallbladder -starting when I was in college some other event would supersede the gallbladder surgery something much more crushing like they told me to take my gallbladder out just when I broke my pelvis. I wasn’t going to surgery then either. Another time was when I was six months pregnant with Lauren and I had an acute appendicitis they wanted to take the gallbladder out then too-again not a good time.  

I actually can’t even imagine a world where I wouldn’t have gallbladder pain. I’m actually kind of excited about this whole thing. Did you know the gallbladder pain can refer to your shoulder? Because I didn’t. It may clear up why I get this intense pain on the top of my shoulder even when I don’t remember having done anything to it, not that it takes much with my shoulders.
I saw the surgeon yesterday morning, I wish I had fasted because he wanted me in surgery then.  I had already had something to drink so it was postponed until this Monday.  I will appreciate any good thoughts, prayers, whatever you all do that might bring some good spirits my way. Not a big deal in the scope of what other people are dealing with but surgery at my age is still a little risky.

I’ll be back on my feet and back in the saddle before you know it. Not to mention having plenty of time to think and organize to push my corporate goals ahead in the meantime. 

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Jordyn on new Poppy.


Jordyn took her first lesson on Poppy with Nancy.  On an aside, anyone out there reading this get how Poppy might have a reference to my family and theirs? I did not name this horse she came with the name Poppy and yet it was a place that meant a lot of smiles and good,  happy times.  It was one of my mom and Jim’s favorite places to eat in Denver in the end.
Jordyn has not had much opportunity to ride Poppy yet so they’re still not totally fluid with one another. And Jordyn needs to get over some of her fear (legit fear) of horses running off on her. I don’t think Poppy will ever do that to her. Let’s just say the first lesson was a little rocky and we’re hoping for a better one next time.  

For now, Levi and I are going back to sleep.

As always, thanks for riding along!

Poppy and Betty Sue

Long ago, back in 2004, a horse came into the equine rescue they called Mac. A 16.1 HH quarter horse that did Hunters.  I didn’t know who I was going to buy him for but I knew I had to buy him.  
One of Lauren’s friends named Desi went in half on him. We used him occasionally.  Desi won multiple, multiple championships on him.. Then when her family had to go overseas she sold her half again to another girl name Elizabeth who went on to win again multiple, multiple championships. 

He was the kind a horse most anyone to get on and put in a good ride. He was that kind a horse. I have not before nor since had a horse quite like that. And I’ve kept him on my mind all these years. Watching, waiting and hoping that another one like Mac might show up.

And while I’m sure Mac himself did not show up in the body of this little mare as he is still alive and well at Whipple Tree Farm, this little mare has a lot of his good qualities.

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Jordyn getting in the first ride.

 Facebook is covered with horse sale ads. Rarely do I have the money for the good ones that I would like to have. I didn’t really have money for this one either. But this time it seemed important to try to find the money and find the horse,  the special horse that we’ve been looking for for so long.

I feel it is bad to have a riding barn where there’s never a horse the average person could ride. They’re either too old, lame, too fast, or too dumb, never just right. I wanted the just right horse. It was to be my grandkids horse -all of their’s.

Interestingly, the horse’s registered name is “Daddy’s Last Dollar”.  Might as well of been “Granny’s Last Dollar”.
After some soul-searching and checking my plan against some of my most difficult critics, Tim, Gaylyn, and Lynn, I got a nod from each one of them for their part in the getting the grandkid horse scheme.  
All that was left was beating out the four other people yesterday alone that were interested in buying the horse and getting up north of Dallas five hours away prior to any of them arriving at 8:30 in the morning with our horse trailer. Thank you, Ally and Lauren, I could not have made the trip. My back would’ve revolutef and I would be laying on the side of the road. Thank you for making the ten hour trek. 

APHA solid bred mare


This morning with the wind high and the temperature low Jordyn got the first ride of the grandkids on the new mare. She absolutely, was as advertised. Jordyn had a great ride -best on any horse ever. That alone made a pretty worthwhile.

Cantering quietly at 45 days under saddle.  

Slow motion trot.  Oh my!

That Lauren was in the ring with Betty Sue and the two of them are coming along fabulously added to help make  this mornIng into one of the top ones of my life. 

Thanks as always for riding along.  

 

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 Sims is not the biggest yearling in Texas!

 

If I had a dollar for every time I have uttered that my baby (soon to be one year old) Sims was a big colt, I might be able to take a cruise out of Galveston.   Not rich, but better off.

And for you all, you would probably be way less bored if I had not mentioned the colt as much as I had.  But…anyway let’s say I was intrigued to learn a friend of mine said on Facebook that she was celebrating her yearling’s birthday and that he was almost 16 hands.  Whoa!! That got my attention.  Due to the short nature of most of my horses, this yearling Maria had, was taller than any horse in my barn, except my mare Nova.

I had to see this for myself. I wasn’t sure anyone else could accurately measure a horse but me.  A 16 hand yearling-that was not a major draft breed (for you non-horse people think not a Budweiser Clydesdale or like) was almost unsettling. This horse of Maria’s was German warmblood, American thoroughbred and Shire (which is a draft breed but only a small percentage incomparison to the other bloodlines).  

My Sims is big.  He will be 11 months in a couple of days. He is almost 15.1 hands high at the hip.  He will probably be a 17 hand horse which if you ever have seen a five foot man versus a seven foot man, run hurdles, you get the advantage Sims will have over a smaller horse. Sims should have the legs to jump. 

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I met Maria maybe ten years ago at a schooling show I was working and she was showing her eventer.  She is a tall, beautiful Danish women.  Maria embodies a strong equestrian flair to her life and style. Maria and I have friends in common, but our biggest link is breeder Stephanie Wendorf from whom Maria has leased mares and produced amazing babies.  Stephanie, being the same breeder that brought me Betty Sue and Fargo,  now through Fargo -Sims, and soon a baby to be born in Colorado, from jumper Flexible.

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I decided to buy a bit for Betty Sue from one Maria had for sale and headed over to her nearby home with Lauren.  I was checking out this baby for myself.  I even made sure we could see the babies while we were there.

Well…

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Mini pony hanging Moses

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New baby hanging with the big guy. 

Okay, hands down, biggest Sporthorse yearling I had ever seen and NO question that he was way bigger than Sims.  Even given their two months or so difference in age.

Meet, Mohican DF, by Mitril out of Mirage by Hideway Pond William, affectionately  known as Moses.  He is buckskin with three white socks.  Moses is goofy, unaware of his size, far more coordinated than he should be and so loving. 

Side by side comparison:

Moses:  15.3 hh at withers and about 16.1 at his butt at 14 months

Sims:  14.3 hh at his withers and about 15.1 at his butt at 11 months

 I told Maria early on in our discussion that this story might surface someone interested in buying this amazing animal.  Maria, who I have to say often sells all kinds of things, did not even entertain me, she just said no.  This is her horse of a lifetime.

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Mohican DF at approximately four months, cleaned up for his inspection

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Maria is good friends with Megan, our lady who owned the pregnant donkey (that had the super cute baby) (wouldn’t you want to be known as the pregnant donkey mom?).  Anyway, Megan had an enormous warmblood named Maximus.  Moses is actually the nephew of Maximus.  Maximus topped out at 18 hands and a solid 1800 pounds.  Again, for a rule of thumb, my Bruno was a big guy (many photos on this blog will attest to his size) but he was 17.1 and 1450 pounds.

A fun comparison of the uncle and nephew at the same age are startling similar.

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Uncle Maximus on the top with nephew Moses on the bottom. Age maybe two months-talk about big bone with size!

 

Part of what was captivating about this yearling (I have to keep saying that as it is so amazing) was just his bone size.  His front legs are long, straight and like tree trunks firmly planted with deep roots.

The other thing is just his attitude.  One friend had a show mare named “Attitude is Everything”.  This guy is so willing, so friendly and so interested that he will go far.  I will not say he has a a better attitude than Sims (got to keep some advantage) but they both have that asset. In the pictures above you can see how cares little about if he is faced with a new foal or a mini pony.

I asked Maria to get some shots of herself with her boy, Moses.  I love the results.  Like all good equestrians, Maria, was already in her pjs before the sun went down but was happy to head back out to the barn for a little photo shoot with her main man (is a one year old a man?).  That could be a whole different blog.  In the meantime, congrats Maria on your fine, young guy. May he be all you hope him to be!

And I will shut up (at least until Sims next birthday) about my big boy as he clearly is not the big man of Texas or even Richmond, Texas.  Move over Sims, Moses is the king!

 

 

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Maria is 5’10” folks!  And I love this picture!

Easter on

Kendyll and Jordyn Easter egg hunting

Ally and her girls

One thing we know for certain is that I will never be a caterer. There is no risk that I will start that as a career. While my food is OK from taste standpoint my presentation is horrible.
My deviled eggs, in particular, were not uniformly peeled nor were they uniformly filled. OMG! Nor do I have one of those fancy swirly things that makes your eggs look fresh from the kitchen at the Four Seasons.   But all in all it was a grand time with Ally, Luke,  their kids,  one of my friends,  Lauren, Blake and I.

 
Well I was messing up eggs and eating less than perfect pies, my daughter Amber in Denver, was making these beautiful little bird nest with Robin’s eggs in them. Like the candy Robin eggs not the real ones. That would be messy. Clearly,  somebody has skills I do not.

Jordyn was so excited to go out after dinner and show us all how she could canter Snowboy. But my neighbors chose just that moment to start a giant shooting competition, as in with shotguns, obliterating any chance of the horses or dogs having a sane moment from there on. A little disappointing but I guess it’s life in the country.

Today Lauren had the day off at home and called breathlessly to tell me that she had just killed a snake in the backyard. So I complain about the neighbors shooting their guns and then my daughter takes nine shots to kill one snake.  Her dogs maybe traumatized for life (and the snake definitely is!).  I told her she could’ve just taken the shovel to the snake’s head  but she did not think that was the way to go.
She also thought it was a good idea for me to have to clean up the body and get rid of the snake when I got home. What is that about?
Then she sent me a text to let me know she was about to get on Betty Sue. We do this as a safety measure to make sure one of us is always aware of the other is riding we are alone. In fact, just today I saw an IT presentation about these new bands that are not unlike the thing that old lady wears (could be me!) and acts out the part of “I have fallen but can’t get up!” but much smaller and more efficient.   I couldn’t help but think how wonderful they would be if you were riding a horse or hiking by yourself. But in the meantime I gave Lauren 45 minutes to ride Betty Sue before I would call Life Flight.  Fortunately that went well. Betty Sue did her first set of trot poles.

​This is a precursor to jumping so it’s important that she take them in stride, like literally. And she did it!  She walked and trotted through the poles- handling it like it  was just another day as you can see from the video below.
So that’s all from my front. I hope you all had a terrific Easter and spring has Sprung Whereever you are today.  

This is it folks! – Lenten writing #43

Doberman Kena says she’s just pretty tired of the whole thing. In fact she’s just pretty tired.

Well, for the most part I made it. Actually I think there were 46 days of Lent this year so I clearly missed a couple/three. But considering the ups and downs I’ve had over the last 46 days it might be best that on those particular days I didn’t post.

It has been a wonderful time for me to establish being a writer again. When I left high school, I rushed off to college, as some of you may remember, just 17, because I wanted to go to journalism school. And I did!  Just one tricky thing, I didn’t realize I’d actually have to live in New York City to to be a journalist. At least for the most part anyway. 

My heart was never in the city. That certainly has not changed. 

I did a stent in radio broadcasting short-lived while I was in college, but an on the air personality nonetheless. I even had my own show on national public radio (NPR). It was called “People, Places and Issues”.  

 

I love that stuff. I like the sound of my own voice. Who doesn’t. But I like to write and I’m glad I found a few of you, maybe four or five, that actually like to hear what I have to say so this will not be the end. I’ll try, no, no I will write four times a week. And keep you up to date with everything that is Cindy and Six Meadow Farm.

Wishing you a fond farewell tonight and a wonderful Easter morning tomorrow or just a beautiful day if Easter is not your holiday. May you feel the resurrection of life as spring makes its way forward on the east coast and Midwest. Summer is already well entrenched here in Texas. 
Hail the festival day!! 

And thanks for riding along for Lent and beyond. 

Dawn and a John Deere.

Selfish reflections on myself – Lenten writing # 42

Camille and I getting ready to leave for my mothers funeral Denver Colorado 2014

Camille Evans Richards was my best friend since I was about age eight when they first moved in to Plum Grove Estates. We lost touch with each other for many of the years but reconnected several years ago and have kept up since.   

One thing I could always count on with Camille was that she would tell me the truth. Like it or not, and I came up with some pretty crazy schemes back then like let’s jump on the sled triple, one laying on top of another and go down the steepest hill at night without lights!!  Yikes that was brilliant. Like the Times I suggested we walk miles in the woods with no clear idea where we were. We were lucky we were never killed. Couple of years ago when my mother died Camille spontaneously decided to show up at my mother’s funeral in Colorado. My daughters thought I was nuts to have just invited someone that I hadn’t  seen for 30 or 40 years to stay at the house with us but I knew it would be OK and it was. She was the first one to see Betty Sue, riding along with me bringing some sunshine to Colorado in the horribly dark days of my mother’s death. 

And this morning I got a message from Camille. I thought I would share with you. Here it is.
Hi!

So I have read all of your Lenten posts. Lots of soul searching going on. Your cruise seems like it became an opportunity for your girls to love you and be “helpful” by pointing out your flaws and life errors. Our adult children like to do that… I think they feel that talking about our errors of the past, will get fixed in conversation. No. Stop beating yourself up. Do you know what I admire about you? You have raised three girls into lovely women, almost singlehandedly! You have followed your dreams. You have horses and animals and a home. You are extremely successful at your job. You are not afraid to share some of your innermost fears do feelings and analyze yourself in a public forum. I couldn’t do that.
Ok, so you had to stop having boarders. I know a big disappointment, but you can only do so much, especially when you are alone. Good decision, but a tough one, I’m sure.
Your health issues have me concerned… medication, blood pressure… your thumbs, your back. Please take care of yourself and stop doing too much. I plan on our friendship continuing to last a very long time!

So today as the days of Lent come to a close I pray for the sanity to listen to Camille and all those that wish me well. I am, I know, my own worst enemy.

Thank you for riding along. You all mean the world to me.  God bless. 

Kid, my poodle and I circa 2013

Happy Birthday -Lenten Writing #41

Three years ago today in the little front range mountain town of Longmont, a perfect buckskin pinto filly was born.  This town, miles from where I went to college at Colorado State and an even shorter disxtance from my daughter’s home in Brighton was just the right sort of coincidence I love and cannot refuse.

From the moment this baby caught my eye, I was gone.  Buckskin being my favorite color and having the breeding and movement to really be a contender for Lauren.  We bought her sight unseen.

Today, exactly three years to the day, Betty Sue came home from her first trainer.  First, Lauren under Trapp’s tutelage is a more confident, precise rider and second Betty Sue while quick and handy was not silly or difficult.  Watching Lauren take the mare to the mounting block for the first time and quietly lift over herself over the baby’s back was awesome.  I was holding back tears.

 Huge points to Kurt Kelso the perfect cowboy to start a perfect girl towards her dream job of competing her way through the young jumpers across United States.  We are so excited to be putting this horse on track for future development

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Betty Sue was lunged and ready to go

 

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It’s a big ring for a little girl!

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And they are off

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Beautiful Canter!

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Big dreams in a small town

Three years!! A fantastic journey for us.  I cannot wait to see where this mare is three years from now!

HUGE DAY FOR US!!!  SO GLAD YOU COULD BE A PART OF IT,

Thanks for riding along!

 

 

 

 

Pin Oak Pin Ups-Lenten writing #40

No horse show is complete without one last look at the horse show photos. A team of photographers has spent the entire show; running from ring to ring, catching rider after rider, and jump after jump, riders in their best clothes, in their best position, for their best hopes of winning.

And part of the Horseshow  tradition is to be inside the trailer where the horse show photos are being exhibited on a computer and picking out your favorites.  While I have personally never had the money to buy all the photos of my horse in a given show I know there are a lot of riders that do. 
Lauren and I pick out one or two maybe three at a really big show and we really gotta love the photo to get it. An individual photo may cost $40 or $50 minimally. So here are our two first pics from the Pin Oak show -this is Lauren Davis and Stanislaus otherwise known as my Lauren and her Ky.  


Thanks as always for riding along.