Money, Religion or Alcohol-Lexi Choses

Sometime between when Lauren was a baby 19 years ago and now, first birthday parties took on a whole new dimension.  From my own family to co-workers and glimpses on Facebook, first birthday parties are quite the event.

I had gone to Denver with Lauren, Ally and her girls to work on getting my mother’s things organized and to attend the birthday party of my Denver grandchildren, Riley-turning three and Lexi turning one.  I had not attended the Denver parties in the past and Jordyn’s party was pretty much just family and close friends.

I was surprised to learn 40 people were invited.  I was impressed at how my daughter’s had organized the food and activities. Ryan had worked hard to set up the new play area and make the sprawling back yard look great.

I think everyone enjoyed the party and I am also sure there were at least 40 people who actually attended.  Probably my favorite moment of day was when one-year old Lexi was placed in her high chair.  Amber explained the Wisniewski tradition that was meant to determine a child’s path in life.  On Lexi’s high chair tray was placed three objects;  a silver dollar, a shot glass and a rosary.  Immediately after they are set down, the child picks one object and this is supposed to dictate their interest in life.  Apparently, although I was not there to see it, Riley, at one, had picked the rosary. He is to follow a spiritual path.

Amber presented Lexi with the coin, the shot glass and cross.  Lexi, quickly and single-mindedly chose the silver dollar.  Well, I cannot fault her judgement.  After picking the silver dollar she quickly tried to place it in the shot glass.  I did not want to be the one interpreting the meaning of that but it does provide several interesting scenarios

• A bar maid paid for the drinks?
• She will put all her money into alcohol?
• She thought it was the newest puzzle presented by her parents?
• She just liked shiny things and was attracted by the silver and the glass?

Whatever, it was a fun and interactive game with the birthday girl.  Whatever has changed to make these baby’s birthdays such celebrations is great in my book.  I hope I get to be in Denver next year for the replay.

Snowboy at the rescue-the first time-you can still see his black spots through his white coat.

Been a few dark days with death and loss so what better to bring back the right tone then a story.  Today’s story is the story of Snowney the White Pony, AKA Snowbaby Go, AKA Snowboy.  Some of you out there know that there was a time when he was called Oreo-Double Stuff in his youth for reasons obvious above.  He was the pony of a girl at Sienna Stables.  My father, quite a horseman in his own right, would never have bought a pony for my sister and I.  Too mean, he’d had said.  And Snow (Oreo) was no different.  In his early days he went out of his way to dump, stop, buck or just lie down in an effort to dislodge his rider and quit working.

His first young rider loved him but her mother was wise enough to know that there were better horses for her daughter to ride.  Ones that would not be so determined to send her daughter to the ground.  And so this adorable white pony went to the horse rescue.  I got a call about him and knew he would work somewhere, for someone in the Whipple Tree Farm stable.  I remember Dianne telling Snowboy that first night that life was going to be a little less fun and not as glamorous at this new barn.  He was going to be expected to work for a living. And his shenanigans would have to stop.

First, why Snowboy as a name?  As a child, my father made sure I learned about great horses and great horseman.  I loved the book-Snowman-the Cinderella Horse.  He was a rescued plow horse that took on the biggest jumping shows in the world and won. He was owned by Harry DeLeyer(yes, the same DeLeyer family from here in Houston) and was further immortalized in a recent book called “The Eighty Dollar Champion”. http://www.amazon.com/The-Eighty-Dollar-Champion-Inspired-ebook/dp/B004J4WKY2

So, I had loved Snowman but this was a white PONY-so obviously, this pony had to be Snowboy, not Snowman.  Made perfect sense to me.  Later we came up with the name “Snowbaby Go” as a show name, one which was unique and yet classic.  I don’t think we actually got to name any of the other horses we had, we just went along with whatever they were called but Snowboy got a barn name, a show name (Snowbaby Go) and later a love name from my granddaughter, Snowney the White Pony.

Snowboy was originally used as a lesson horse at Whipple Tree and in the course of a few months, most of the teenaged riders there, Caitlyn, Lauren, Rachel, Cara, Stefani and Desi (to name a few) had fallen off of him.  He wasn’t necessarily mean, just crafty.  If you weren’t paying attention, he would catch you unaware and off you would go. (Which, by the way, totally reinforced my dad’s original opinion.)

Not too long after we got Snow, I got a call from the rescue that a beautiful, big, bay quarter horse had come in.  He was a seasoned show veteran and quite a solid hunter.  I asked if I could trade Snow for the new horse Mac (I had actually paid more for Snow than they were asking for Mac-because of Mac’s older age).  A deal was struck and back to the rescue Snow went.  I will note that as much I as I was loved for bringing Mac to Desi (his new half owner) I was hated by the girls that had come to love Snow including my own daughter Lauren.  There were a lot of tears when Snow left.  I would have never done so if I would have known what would happen to Snow in his next home but then Desi, Elizabeth, Mary Lou and others would have never known the wonderful horse that Mac is either.  So… you make the best decision you can.

Jordyn at two-years of age riding her “Snowney” with cat along for the ride

It was not easy to place Snow the second time around.  I was the big “English” client and Snow was a jumping pony.  Most of the rescue’s clients were western people and this pony did not match their interest.  Finally, a woman adopted Snow and he went to live with several other horses.  It wasn’t Sienna Stables or Whipple Tree Farm but it should have been okay.

It was not. Sarah, our rescue friend and recent trainer of Feather, saw Snow emaciated (which was quite a change from his Oreo-Double Stuff persona) standing in a pasture of dried up weeds.  There were dead horses in this pasture and obviously it had been a long time since food and water had been on the menu here.  I got a call asking if I would take the pony back.  I quickly agreed and Snow came back to Whipple Tree Farm. Before Snow could settle in for a good meal, get his feet fixed or be rested, the Brazoria County Sheriff called with claims that I had stolen the pony.  Once he heard the story, he sided with us, but the legal owner of Snow was charging Grand Theft Pony and I had to give him back. The sheriff came to get Snow in an open top trailer.  If I thought I had been hated for the first time I let Snow go- it was nothing compared to this time when he rode away in the horrible trailer to go to the ASPCA. Snow would stay at the humane society until the court case was decided.  I got a call a few weeks later that his previous owner had been convicted of multiple counts of animal cruelty for allowing some of the horses to die and others (like Snow) to be starved.  I was told that Snow would be up for adoption. 

This time except for telling a few friends, Kathy, Dianne and Rebecca, no one knew Snow might be coming home, not even Lauren.  Rebecca agreed to go pick up Snow in her trailer.  Kathy  helped with the adoption fees and off we went to get Snow.  Lauren was left in the Saturday morning lesson with Dianne.  As we pulled into the barn, Snow was not visible over the high sides of the trailer.  Dianne asked the riders, “Oh my goodness, is that Snowboy?”  Stefani, always polite and now a student at Texas A&M, replied “you better freaking not say that-you know he is gone forever!” but Dianne persisted, “Yes, I think it is Snowboy!”  Stefani was jumping a course at the time and literally leaped off mid-canter to run to the trailer.  Lauren and the other girls were right behind her.  Rebecca and I pulled the trailer up and Snow was greeted by crying, screaming girls. I vowed that day that Snow would never go away again.  No matter what, he was mine for life.

The next day, probably three hundred pounds lighter than he is today with torn up feet Snow went reserve champion for a girl in the Beginner Division.  He won ribbons for Lauren that day as well.

Lauren and Snow at rated show-look at those knees!

Since then Snow has gained weight (he is the best scavenger around-no doubt due to his days of starvation), he has won year-end awards for Lauren in Pony classes, and he has turned in respectable rounds at a rated show in the pony division.  He has moved with us to Wharton and he has become my first granddaughter’s first love.  As Jordyn was able to get down to ride less and less he went to Freeman Ranch and has guided many over their first fences.  Right now, he and his current rider, Isabel are sitting at the top of their division in the Greater Houston Hunter Jumper Association.

Isabel guiding Snow to anther win

It works out nicely because Isabel brings Snow to the horse shows and my Jordyn gets to ride him in the Leadline classes.  It seems that for now, Snow is safe, well fed and happy.  One day soon, Isabel will be ready to move up to bigger horses and Jordyn will be ready to show her pony all by herself. 

But one thing is certain, Snow will always have a place to call home and never be hungry again.

Miller resting on the stair landing-may he rest now in peace.

When you love an animal, a horse, a dog or a cat you immediately open your heart to hurt-because that animal is not (under normal circumstances) going to out live you. The promise of love is the promise is sorrow.  And so it goes.

My son-in-law Ryan was a little child with a big heart condition that necessitated numerous difficult heart surgeries.  I can’t imagine the frightened state his dear mother (and father) must have lived with-never knowing if their child would grow old at all.  There were many rough years.  I do not know if it was because of this delicate balance of Ryan’s life- if it influenced if there were pets in their house or not, but Ryan never had a dog or cat growing up.

In what is my belief only, I am surmising this from limited facts, I think once it became clear that Ryan had a shot at being well, he ran at life full throttle.  He became an adept snow skier.  He took the bumps and hits on the soccer field.  He took chances.  He had looked at death and now he was living life.  Or maybe a little, sick boy grew into a strong, tough man-I do not know.  But the Ryan I first met, who was dating my daughter Amber in 2005, was a joy. 

He wanted to get a dog.  I loved getting dogs.  He wanted a big dog and they had talked of Great Danes.  I told him if you want a big dog in Colorado, get an Irish Wolfhound.  Bigger than the Dane with more coat and better able to withstand the Colorado winters, the Wolfhound was big, majestic and gentle.  In my version of go big or go home, I talked Ryan into the attributes of Wolfhound. 

Now, normally even if you wanted a Wolfhound, they were not so easy to come by.  But that spring weekend of 2005, there was an ad in the Denver Post for Irish Wolfhound puppies.  Amber, Ryan and I drove to mountains to a small breeder to see her pups.  Ryan fell in love with brindle with a white tip on his tail.  He was constantly causing the most trouble and Ryan applauded that.  Although this was Ryan’s first time to see the breed, I think it was love at first sight.  The male puppy was purchased and named Miller.

Although less than six months old, this puppy was already 45 pounds.  And he grew fast.  Amber was living in small apartment at the time with a cocker spaniel of her own.  Miller joined the group.

There are countless pictures of Miller and Ryan-their first hike, the first time in the deep snow, the first mountain lake, and many just from the park in town.  Miller came to my home in Sugar Land that first summer.  After that long distance trips were a little difficult due to his huge size.  Full grown, he was almost seven feet from his nose to end of tail and almost 150 pounds.

And there were ups and downs, as any new dog owner would have, cushions eaten, dry wall chewed, the bannister used as a teething toy, oh, yes, all the stuff normal pups do but done by what was quickly becoming a huge dog.  Ryan did a good job in training him.  When they are that big, they must obey.  Still I remember Amber being concerned about walking a dog that was quickly starting to outweigh her in the slippery snow the winter of her first pregnancy. 

I remember their first home together had a big picture window in front.  When the UPS man came up the walk, what a terrifying picture he saw and heard.  The bark of an Irish Wolfhound comes from deep in his chest and resonates on the way out.  WOOF-never sounded like this before.

Amber found that Miller instinctively knew when Ryan would be out-of-town and changed his habits from house dog to guard dog in Ryan’s absence.  He would patrol the hallways, ever alert for intruders or dangers.  With Ryan traveling for work, it eased my mind to know Miller was on the job.  But make no mistake about it-Miller for all the love he might have for Amber was Ryan’s dog.  First and foremost.

When Ryan came through the door, Miller was overjoyed and gave Ryan his special love and attention.  I think that Ryan could not have picked better or found a more special “first dog” than Miller.

This weekend was the time to celebrate the first birthday of their child, Lexi and the third birthday of their child, Riley.  Lauren and I were taking Riley and Jordyn to the park so the bouncy house Amber had ordered for the party would be a big surprise to them when we returned.

If I am grateful for anything, I am grateful Riley and Jo did not see what happened shortly after we left.  With Amber, Ally, Ryan and the babies busy out back setting up for the party, the bouncy house woman arrived and rang the door bell.  Miller from his perch at the top of stairs came hurtling down in full guard mode.  In his hurried path down the stairs, Miller, a dog not known for his grace and agility, took a bad turn.

In horror, Amber and Ryan gazed upon an obvious compound fracture of Miller’s leg with blood pouring from the site.  No more needs to be said.  Somehow, Ryan carried the huge agonized dog to the bed of his truck while Amber sped them off to the vet.  They left him for x-rays and waited to hear a prognosis.

With 40 people scheduled to attend a party mere hours away, the vet called and described a spiral fracture, compound in nature.  Surgery was a possibility but with Miller already seven-years old, and not an ideal candidate under the best of circumstances, it was ruled out.  So was amputation of the leg, another suggestion by the vet.  This big guy had issues maneuvering around on four legs much less three.  Also, the pain and adaptation time would be nuts.  There really was no decision to make.  Still we sobbed as Amber told the vet, they would be there in a few minutes to be with him as he left our world.

I understand and have discussed at length that there are humans dying every day.  Horrible deaths.  I mourn those as well.  But these animals, they steal our hearts and then they break them and while not equating a human death to an animal death, I know the brutal pain of their loss.

And the loss of your first dog, is one of the hardest.  The pain is the sharpest, I think it comes upon you unexpectedly.  I know men who have never cried, sob relentlessly when faced with the death of their “best-friend”.    I do not understand why these things happen as they do.  This horrible ending on such a wonderful day of birthday joy.  I have cried so hard, so many times this weekend.  But to my son-in-law, Ryan, I can only say, you hurt so bad because you loved so deeply.  And in the end, we cannot be afraid of the love even knowing the pain that will come with the end.

Ryan, hold tight to the memories of your big man running through the snow and along the mountain paths.  Give thanks for the time you had.  We will miss you dear Miller.

Wednesday started with a trip to the vet to get Leo his new Coggins blood test,  a strangles vaccine and a West Nile vaccine.  Might not have done that and spent $100 if I had known how the day would end.

Then Lauren and I did a quick video of Feather loading so Dev would know the procedure to work on while we were gone.  Then we bathed her, loaded her, her feed, and necessary belongings for ten days at Dev’s.  We made the two-hundred mile round trip in pretty good time.  It was gratifying that when we got to the new barn, Feather just went in a stall, started eating hay and settled in.  I was proud of her.  I wish I had a mini-cam to watch her progress over the next two weeks.  I know she will do well.

On the way home, I got a call from the people interested in Leo.  We agreed they could come see him.  When we got home, we bathed him and brushed him so he would look nice.  Keith and Kandice seemed to like the big gelding.  Lauren rode him.  They agreed to take him.  We loaded him in their stock trailer and we cried our eyes out as he rode away.  He should have been perfect, with his lineage and size.  I feel like I let the big guy down sending him away.  I do think they will give him a good home with lots of pasture, love and a pond.  Still, it broke my heart to see him leave. As I told Lauren the hardest decisions are often the best.  Still…

Later we bathed Mickey and led him back to the barn.  He seemed to look at us and say,” Hey, you bathed Feather and Leo and they are gone.  You are making the wrong decision, if you are sending me away and keeping Kid”.  We assured Mick and Kid that they were not going anywhere-at least not if we could help it.

We left for Denver yesterday.  Today I spent packing my mother’s things and watching all the people that love her start to say goodbye.  From her dear hair dresser to the favorite waitress at their favorite restaurant, people love her and will miss her.  Even though she is mad at Jim, she will miss these lunches with a glass of wine and he with his Blue Moon beer.  Dear God, what am I doing taking her away?

Finally, our wonderful friend Caroline took her seven-year old mare to the specialty vet in Waller today.  This little mare was honestly ridiculously untrained when Caroline got her.  I remember their first show with tall Caroline riding the small mare so she could train her for her daughter.  The mare did not jump well.  She was not nice to deal with-she pushed the other horses all over the pasture and never let anyone have any peace.  Caroline and then Arianna got her going, though, turning her into a fine jumper.  Even at seven years of age, placing well enough to have held some top year-end spots in the schooling associations.  Arianna started in the Greater Houston jumpers and did well.  Winning more often than not.  But Arianna got thrown from the mare a few too many times and did not want to ride her anymore.  So, Caroline stepped back on the mare and kept their points going, looking to secure a another top spot this year.

The vet was working with them to help Cheyenne with horrible allergies that made her dependent on shots and long days stall bound when the allergy level was too high.  Caroline suspected something might be wrong with Cheyenne’s back.  They were referred to the specialists and I know Caroline dreaded what they would learn.

Well, the news was bad.  Another one of those, the hard decision is the best one to make.  And now Cheyenne, just seven years old is gone.  Caroline, I think identified some with the mare that was so difficult.  The harder it was to be her friend, the harder Caroline tried.  And the more pieces her heart is torn into tonight and the more she grieves for the little mare.

So, for Leo and Cheyenne, who went two different places these last two days, neither is less lost to the hopes and dreams we had for them.

I know that owning and loving an animal is, for me allowing that animal to take a piece of my heart.  It hurts so much to lose them.  Especially, when they are like Cheyenne, young and beautiful and free spirited.  God, take Cheyenne to your green pastures and let her run and jump without pain and without worry.  Thank you for the time we had with her.

Representing the US are Rich Fellers riding Flexible and McLain Ward on Antares F in the individual jumping portion of the Olympics tomorrow.  I have my fingers and toes crossed for a big finish from these two American competitors.  I am hoping Rich and Flexible have the ride of their life and McLain coming back from a shattered kneecap earlier this year is obviously strong and determined to win for the US as well.  Bring it home, guys!

Rich Fellers and Flexible-2012 Olympics

It is a crazy, hectic time in my life.  Yesterday, Roland-the farrier- was due to return to get new shoes on Feather before her trip to Dev’s for training.  This trip to Dev’s was scheduled to coincide with Lauren and I going to Denver to start the packing process with my mom.  It will mean one less horse at home as Richard steps in as our puppy-kitty-horse sitter. 

For the first time in Feather’s short life, she got shod on all four feet.  It is time for her to start some serious showing, trailering and jumping and we want to support her with good feet.  She handled it pretty well.  Although she would occasionally attempt to collapse as Roland held up one hoof.  It was a pretty neat trick.  One I had not seen her do before. She would simply folds her legs under her and start to collapse to the ground.  Fortunately, she never made it down.  Afterwards, with her new shoes finally on, she laid down in her stall and just took a break.  It is hard to be a show horse-even one in training.

Dinner, new shoes, time for a rest.

And another first for us, after nine years of owning Mickey, we removed his back shoes as he will be on a limited work schedule for the next six weeks.  We probably could have taken off his front shoes as well but I was (am) still hopeful that he might be doing some work in the next six weeks and want to error on the positive side. He was not feeling as well last night.  He was more lethargic and coughing. His coughing drew our attention several times as Roland worked through his band of horses needing attention.

Kid continued his tradition of no shoes (barefoot) as fits his retirement status.  Then we came to Leo.  Roland asked Lauren what she was doing with him.  She said was still keeping him “legged-up” (another term from my daddy’s days) but since we are not putting him in the trailer with Feather (not taking a chance on freaking her out) and he cannot jump the big jumps (so not taking Mickey’s place) he was just kind of hanging out.  I said I would give him away to a good home and in the next instant everything changed.  Roland looked at both of us-stopped his shoeing and asked if we were serious.  I said-yes to the right home-I would give him away.

Roland said he had a guy in a nearby town that had just lost his horse and was looking for another.  Moments later I was talking to Keith on the phone about the possibility of Leo being their new horse.  They are out-of-town right now but will come see him tomorrow or when we get back from Denver.  Roland said Keith kept his horses barefoot and we went back and forth about if we should remove his shoes or not.  Finally, we compromised with front shoes only-in case it didn’t work out, we could still show Leo.

After Roland left I sent some Leo pictures to Keith and his wife.  I hope he is what they are looking for-which is a horse that pretty much hangs out in the pasture and gets ridden occasionally around the property.  Leo is an OTTB and I hope he is quiet enough for this man.  He is pretty good at the walk and trot but at the canter, he is a  big horse and can move quickly.  Roland described Leo as gentle-and I wouldn’t go that far but we will let them come see him and decide on their own.

I was reminded of nine years ago when I tried to convince Sarah and her mother that I would be a good home (mother) for Kid (or Twister as they called him then).  At the time I was seriously overweight and did not inspire a lot of confidence in someone looking to place a high-spirited barrel horse.  But that worked out okay and perhaps this will as well.

Today after seeing some pictures of Leo, they seem excited.  I asked if they had a pond.  They do!  They won’t have to worry about riding Leo in the summer because he will not come out of the pond.  I don’t know if this will work but if Leo could find a loving, lifetime home, especially near-by, it would be a wonderful event.

Gee, if Leo moves to a new home, it would leave a stall open and maybe Snowboy could come home.  Roland picked up quickly on that and said, “you know Dev is locking the door on that pony”.  So, maybe not yet, but soon, maybe, Jordyn will get her ‘Snowney the White Pony’ back home.

It was a busy weekend for us.  Starting off with the visit from friends Saturday morning we moved right on to a vet visit for Feather.  Lauren was against taking Feather to the vet.  She made a strong point in that she had to deal with Feather while I looked on, have to agree, it is easier to be me. 

We had Jordyn in the truck, the truck running and we were both stressed before we got Feather to the trailer.  And Feather no doubt picked up on our stress.  She wasn’t going in the trailer.  It got a little ugly-Lauren yelling at me, me yelling back, wasn’t a good time.  It came to the point where regardless of if we made it to the vet, we were going to be outside in the sun until this mare loaded.  I told Lauren to hang on.  I went to get her gloves and treats.  We started over (we all took a deep breath) and Feather walked in the trailer by herself.

We knew Feather would have to go in the exam room and into the stocks once we got to the vet and neither of us anticipated this would go too well. As far as I know she has never been in an air conditioned building. Fortunately, I had discussed this with the vet (Feather being a little loco) and she was on-hand to take Feather from the start.  First, she took her to the wash rack and got her cooled down and calm.  Then with Dr. Hildreth behind and Lauren guiding her, Feather took a couple of attempts but pretty quickly was in the stocks. 

The doctor did a fetal sonogram and Feather is not pregnant.  Dr. Hildreth said a lot of little girls wanted to be horse vets and this particular procedure changed a lot of their minds.  Not to go into detail but there is a lot of poop involved.  Jordyn insisted I hold her so she could see the poop come out of the horse.  She thought it was really cool.

After we finished we were there also to get Mickey’s medication.  I was given instructions and we gave Mick the first dose last night.  We will follow up with  a dose in seven days, then at 21 days.  Mickey seemed to tolerate the drug well and was not showing any side-effects at all by this morning.  Hopefully, he will be a trooper and get through this well. 

Also, thanks to my dear friends that have stepped up with offers of horses for Lauren to ride to finals as we wait for Mickey’s prognosis.  I think we will continue to keep our eye on finals with Mick and if we don’t make it, we will try again another year.  Your offers meant so much!

Yesterday, Blake, Lauren, Luke, Ally, Jordyn, baby Kendyll and I moved the big furniture into the nursing home.  It is going to look so nice.  Her mattress and box spring should be there today.  We all went to Sunday dinner as a family-something we do not do enough of and ran into our friends the Davangs.  So great to have them see the new baby, trade horse stories and fellowship.

Blake, Jordyn, Ally (with baby Kendyll) Luke and Lauren

I will get mom’s new address and phone number out soon.  Thanks, as always, for riding along!

Little Zie on Feather looking at her daddy with joy

My friend came to the farm today with her husband and daughter.  We have talked about this outing for some time but conflicts from one side or the other kept arising.  And honestly, just because I think this whole ‘ride horses’ thing is fun doesn’t mean others want to get out and spend time with hot, dirty horses in the Texas heat.

We didn’t know what Micenzie would think.  She is a little girl with some big opinions.  She seems to like things or hate them.  When she first arrived, Jordyn was all ready.  She had her helmet, shorts, half-chaps and paddock boots on.  Perfect summer riding attire.  Zie had borrowed an old pair of Jo’s paddock boots and was going to use Jo’s first helmet.  It was blazing hot, even at 8:00 am.  Feather was already drenched in sweat.  Zie was not interested in touching the horses or brushing them even when Jordyn gave her the favorite pink brush to use.  Nor was the child impressed when I showed her how Feather liked to eat treats. 

But we saddled Mickey and Feather in little saddles and headed to the arena.  We had Jo get on first-hoping to set an example for Zie.  I spent some long moments last night deciding which child would ride which horse.  As ridiculous as it sounds, with Mickey being off the work schedule and ‘feeling his oats’ as my daddy used to say, I thought it would be better for Jo to ride him and put Zie on the inexperienced, somewhat unpredictable four-year old mare.  I figured if Mickey decided to do something stupid, Jo would have a chance of staying on him.

We didn’t really give Zie much time to contemplate if she was going to ride or not.  I had her daddy lift her up to the saddle, told her to hold on and off we went.  She never looked back.  I led her around the ring a few times while her folks were snapping pictures and taking videos.  Jordyn wanted Mickey to go over the low jumps (he just walks over them but she calls it jumping).  So of course, Micenzie did the same.  After a few rounds in the sunny ring, I gave the leadrope over to her parents and they alternated leading the little one on the grey mare around the arena.

Obviously all went well.  I was poised for a little two-year old tantrum when we needed to stop riding so we had a couple of trial separations of Feather and Zie that she did not willing participate in.  The first time we got her off to see the cat.  All she wanted to do was to get back on.  With tears in her big eyes, I easily relented and she was back on Feather again. 

Micenzie and her mom had come to one of Lauren’s horse shows a few months back when Lauren had been showing Leo.  Leo is a sweet guy and Zie had been quite enamoured with him.  But I remember her mom telling me that she had cried so hard leaving the Equestrian Center (I want my Lee-Lee-she kept saying) that she had soaked her car seat.  I did not want to re-enact that.

Zie’s dad had gone to their car and come back with a bag of small apples for the horses.  I knew Mickey would be all over that.  I let go of Mickey and Jordyn and Mickey high-tailed it around the arena following Michael and his bag of apples.  Mickey was actually inhaling the apples almost whole.  Occasionally he would bite off a piece and make the apple last for two bites but most times, he simply chewed the apple up.  I think Zie was pretty delighted with the whole Feather eating the apples from her mom and dad.

I actually don’t remember how it was decided that it was time to get off but Zie did so willingly.  In fact, her mom, Cayla and I had rush over because she was getting out of the saddle on her own.

Later inside, Jo and Zie played with the dogs.  Zie took all the dogs in stride, from the Doberman to Puppy Girl.  She hugged them equally, and hard.  Jordyn played her favorite video of Lauren jumping a horse with a song from the Eli Young Band called “Always the Love Songs” playing in the background.  They are a Houston band and talk about a “place just off 249”.  Little Zie came to Lauren and said “249!  249!”.  I guess she wanted to watch it again.

Good day at granny’s farm.  The joy of children is one of the most wonderful gifts I could have been given today.  I warned Cayla though, that she was in trouble.  This little girl would want to come back and the horse bug would hit hard.  Oh, well!