Lauren on Mickey in 2005-they were both young

Not to get lost in a Tim McGraw song, but life has definitely turned on a dime and it is an ending of an era and the turning of a page.

Irish Midnight (Mickey)in the early “A” show days, flying high and hopefully feeling no pain.

The picture above was at the Winter Series probably in 2011.  Five years ago.  Mickey was winning rounds, winning championships and the sky was the limit for this fast, cow bred but high jumping paint horse that came to us from the rescue as Lauren’s walk/trot horse when she was nine.

From the very start, after Sarah did her usual magic at the rescue, Mickey was out winning blue ribbons from Lauren’s very first show.  Lauren shared Mickey with Chelsie Gallatin in those days and it wasn’t long before Chelsie won both the EQ and year-end Hunter awards for the Junior/Adult division on Mickey.

Through the next several years Mickey came along with Lauren, winning some and losing some but always a solid jumper (just not the hunter we tried to make him be) and her best friend.

Throughout 2005 to 2011, things went well.  We had occasional set backs but mostly big wins and steps forward.

Mick and Lauren relaxing between rounds

Alex breezing with Mick

From this point forward, things got a little more unpredictable with Mickey.  He always had an occasional stop in him when he was tired or when the fragile emotional bank account you hold with a jumper was not quite in balance, i.e. Lauren gave some to him and Mickey gave a few to Lauren.  If Mickey felt Lauren had overdrawn that fragile balance he could stop on course and throw her into a jump.

Mickey, although small for the sport, always jumped easily, honestly and in good form

We had two good years in 2012 and 2013 where Mickey was the king of Fiesta Classic and some other shows.  He was in his prime and Lauren was growing and learning as well. Feather had come along by this point and we were grooming her for the future.

But Mickey got to the point that he made my stomach hurt every time Lauren showed him.  He would either have a blazing fast round that no one in the ring could touch or he would stop and she would fly over (through, into) the jump herself.  It was a rough time.  He was still good enough, often enough, that we showed him.  There did seem to be a trend that the first few days of the show he would do well but by day four or five, he would be done.  Not jumping at all.

In and around the barn, Mickey was very dependable.  Giving Jordyn and others many, many wonderful rides

Occasionally, Mickey would have some lameness issues.  We would rest him, change his shoes, give some meds, put him on monthly injections and he did better.  But the lameness issues would creep back.

As Feather came along, Alex started to lease Mickey.  She had great success initially especially during training at home.  I remember Don Branham watching Alex in one of her first shows and saying Mickey never looked better.  Alex had some outstanding rounds but then Mickey started stopping again, especially if it was late in a show.

Still, he was good enough and Alex rode well enough to secure a blue ribbon at Pin Oak last spring against a solid group.  Absolutely nothing wrong with his jumping on Day One of Pin Oak.

Mickey and Alex at Zone Finals 2015-he had to have been hurting so much

Retrospectively, I should have stopped sooner and demanded more information on Mickey.  Especially in this last year, when Alex struggled with Mickey stopping at jumps and refusing out of jumping competitions, I was too ready to chalk it up to Mickey’s usual erratic behavior.  And while we all agreed that maybe at 18 Mickey might not ever be going in to jump anything over a meter or so in height, we all felt he would be back in the ring.

In fact, I predicted he could readily (and easily-although a step down) win the Junior/Adult Jumpers this year-and in fact he probably could.  But he shouldn’t!  That is what we just learned.

Our boarder and friend Jo Ann has been taking dressage lessons with Mickey. Dressage master Nancy Lindsey many times has said that Mickey is not a dressage horse, but he is full of try and full of heart and he does his best to do what Jo Ann asks.

Jo Ann on dressage Mickey

The downside of this-for me (not Mickey) is that Jo Ann and Nancy are both able to see lameness in a horse 27 miles away in the fog.  They had complained of Mickey being off.  We quit riding Mickey, had the vet see him, put new shoes on him and thought he was ready to go.  I was convinced it was a just a temporary rough spot.

But oh no, Jo Ann got on to ride and about seven minutes later she and Nancy were headed back to the barn leading Mickey.  He is still lame, they told me.  I called Lynn the vet back with instructions to x-ray, inject, or do whatever was needed to get Mickey back to sound.

I took off Friday so I could be there with Lynn and Sean (our farrier) as he removed the shoes and the x-rays were taken.  The minute the x-rays came up on the screen I knew it was bad.  I could tell from both Lynn and Sean and how they were looking at the screen.  I also had looked at enough x-rays to see that there was not enough space between the joints (I knew well enough the pain of bone rubbing on bone instead of sliding effortlessly with cushion between the bones).

Mickey has ringbone on his right front hoof and serious osteoarthritis in the other hoof (probably developed from trying to save the right foot).  Ringbone is exostosis (bone growth) in the pastern or coffin joint of a horse. In severe cases, the growth can encircle the bones, giving ringbone its name.

The Ringbone has been forming for at least a few years.  It all began to make sense why he would school so well at home, flying high over big only to refuse out of competitions by the third or fourth day over lesser jumps.  He could stand the pain for short intervals but when we started jumping in two or three classes a day for several days, the pain overcame the little bay geldings desire to fly.  We were asking something impossible from him.

Mickey is done.  Lynn doesn’t like me to say it (cause it is a Secretariat quote) but Mickey has run his race.  He has done so much for us so many times with so many people over so many years.

He will never go in the ring to perform jumpers ever again.  He should be able to do some dressage and perform for Jordyn for awhile but our phenom jumping horse (who was really just a quirk of fate) is gone.  It would have been so much easier to just have him gradually go out gracefully.  Or like Peyton Manning, as the big winner, not with his last show being one where he refused out of his last three classes.

Oh my little bay boy, you have held me in awe so often as you have flown over the mighty jumps

When you first came to Lauren, you changed her life and you saved her life

No matter what other horses came and went , Lauren always choose you

To know now what we didn’t know then-that you were hurt, that you were in pain

And yet so many times you were brave, you pushed on and jumped high, you blazed on past the timers

I always thought I see you attack one more course and compete one more time

I thought you maybe were evil and mean, I did not know the pain you lived with, the pain I ignored

You carried on, doing your best to the bitter end when you just could jump no more

It is indeed the end of an era for us.  The Mickey fly days are over.

You have more heart, more courage and more talent than I could have ever imagined. You are a true champion.

Irish Midnight’s Accomplishments

With Chelsie Gallatin ~2005- Grand Champion Junior/Adult Equitation & Grand Champion Junior/Adult Hunter

With Lauren-

2008-Grand Champion Open Hunter

2009-Grand Champion Open Jumper

2010-Grand Champion Open Jumper

2011-Grand Champion Open Jumper

Four Qualifications for USEF  Zone Finals (one in Pre-Green Hunters and three in Low Child/Adult Jumper-including this year with Alex)

Countless Grand and Reserve Championships from so many shows over the last 13 years.

We will miss you in the ring Mickey.  You were one in a million.

The first of a new year always seems to invoke change in people.  Resolution’s seem to come and go.  New diets, more exercise, living healthy, spending more time with family and others seem to all be on the list.

Since we last talked I have had a few weeks to let the ribs heal.  I am getting around pretty well now.  The barn has been chaotic with trainer changes, cool weather and lots of riders. I have not been able to personally enact any of my fitness resolution’s-walking more–riding more–exercising more–as I am not quite ready for all that yet.  But I am making a concerted effort to change my diet/change my life.

I have tried this before.  What is different?  Well, a couple things.  When traveling recently I viewed myself in the well-lit hotel mirror.  Wow-when did that all happen?  It was surprising.  My mirrors are not full length.  They only show me from the chest up and are dimly lit.  Really, not a bad idea. I was startled to see how old I looked and how unfit.

What else?  Well, this new relationship that I had with Chris (oh, we broke up after the great rib break) made me realize that time is short.  I cannot just meander through life thinking I have plenty of time for everything.  I am getting close to 60 years old and need to do what I can to leave another 30-40 years on my personal calendar.

I am serious this time.  I have said that before but feel different this time as if something has changed.  Maybe it has.  There is no secret to the weight loss/exercise more thing except making better choices.  Chris told me it was all about willpower.  I guess it is.  But I felt insulted by that as if I could just “man-up” and instantly turn down the foods/serving sizes/candy bowls/peanut snacks that have all been part of day in the past. The old adage of “I can lose weight, I have done it a million times” definitely applies to me!

The other part of this is it is going to have to be a ‘re-make’ my life type of commitment and as I am being very open about it, I hope some of you come back and hold me accountable.  I want to make a joke here and say, “we will see how that goes” but the reality is this is not a joke.  I want to ride better and maybe show again.  I want to not ache and hurt to distraction each day.  I want to swim without wearing a swimsuit fashioned for the 1920’s.

I get this is not my usual fun-filled expose’ on life at the barn.  But maybe just today I can seriously commit to doing something for myself, my family, my horses and my job, to be healthier and thinner.  Amen.

Thanks for riding along.  I am back in writing mode and will be checking in so-plan to be on the trail with me soon.

I have not written in awhile I was probably asleep or busy.  Holidays do that to us. Mine started out beautifully and blessedly with a one day trip to Dallas for the premiere of the movie “Harry and Snowman”.   

Two of Lauren’s best friends from her first riding barn in Texas joined us along with one of the girl’s mothers and my granddaughter Jordyn.  It was nice to have the unhurried time in the car to visit.  The four hour (each way) trip seemed to fly by.  The girls usually in breeches and boots looked like high fashion kids.  Jordyn wore a beautiful dress and fashionable booties.  

  
Friends Kristin, Caitlyn, Lauren and Jordyn at the reception prior to movie.
For those of you who have never heard the story of the rescued $80 plow horse years ago by Holland immigrant, Harry deLeyer, look it up.  Read the books.  It is inspiring. I have loved the story since I was a child. Getting to Houston I learned that two of Harry’s sons lived here and both had training barns.  Many, many times Lauren has competed against them (sometimes even winning).   The movie was AMAZING! It is set to go into distribution in the spring.  

Go see it!  Jordyn has been told the Snowman story for years.  Many of the pictures and quotes in the movie she knew.  To watch her laugh aloud with glee as Harry told a fallen rider, “get back on, you are fine” and see her also cry at story as Snowman was reaching his end made sharing the movie even greater. 

Many of our riders got out to ride in the warmer than usual weather as we moved toward Christmas Day.

  
We made a lot of foods for our Christmas breakfast at Ally’s.  I had lots of great helpers in the kitchen. 

   
 
Christmas morning brought lots of cheer and happiness. Christmas is always better with kids. 

  
I got a surprise gift of terrific mascara.  I don’t know if the name is correct  but can say this is great mascara.  

  
We even got some much needed training time with Betty Sue. At almost 1000 pounds and 15 hands she is growing into a beautiful mare. 

  
Lauren was headed to Malaysia on the 27th.  Chris was headed in to visit for the holidays.  

Then I fell going out to feed the horses in the dawn under rainy skies.  Spent holiday time in the ER.  Broken ribs for me.  Cancelled trips for Lauren and Chris. 

The end. 

We can learn from any situation.  We can grow even if we are old and stuck in our ways.  We can be re-inspired given the right set of circumstances even if our days sometimes feel grudging familiar.

I enjoyed being re-inspired to ride through my friend, Jo Ann.  She is doing lessons each week (usually on one of my horses) but this was a difficult trip back for her after injuries and illness.  While she has fought a lot of demons this year, she keeps coming back to her time in the saddle.

Jo Ann on my Nova.

I also was inspired in an unusual way at work.   I had a new employee that was coming to work with me this last summer.  He was coming back to our company from a competitor.  But he was a little legendary in the path he had made when he had worked here previously.  I knew he was smart, perhaps brilliant.  I knew he was a hard-worker.  I knew work was his life.

I was scared.  I appreciate my job.  I try my hardest to do my best at my work.  But I leave (most days) with a clear head looking forward to the evening or weekend ahead at the farm.

Alfonso

Then Alfonso came.  I was afraid he would be a sour academic with little time or thought for anything other than work.  I knew he spoke six languages and that English was not his first.  And then of course, there was the age thing.  He was in his late 20’s.  Certainly not an age (especially with guys) that I have a lot of knowledge of or much in common with.  He had no knowledge of horses, dogs or cats although he said he once rode a pony in Venezuela. What we were going to talk about with one another?

I was right about the smart thing.  He is smart.  As I said, perhaps brilliant.  But as these first 90 days have passed, I learned he was more than that.  We work in a small work space.  We somehow got delegated to the smallest cubicles in the company. Mine is maybe four feet by five feet.  There are six of these in a tight space.  Like it or not, you get to know you cube mates pretty well.

In the past 90 days, I went from having a pretty anonymous position, sitting at my desk for hours at a time without a soul coming by and quietly floating through the company without rippling the surfaces to having interruptions at  least every 10-15 minutes as my new colleague wants to ask me something, get my feedback or just show me what he is working on.  I might be a little ADD and sometimes it is hard for me to get back on task after these breaks in my concentration but I always learn something.

All of this I kind of expected when I learned Alfonso was going to join me in my group. What I did not know or expect was his quick sense of humor.  There are times we get to laughing so hard, heads go down on the desk.  No, I didn’t expect that from this human think tank. He sent me an old SNL skit on Toonces the Driving Cat.  Later at the barn, everyone from Kendyll to the teenagers were laughing at the silly skit.  Toonces happens to look just like my cat, Levi.  Like I said, not what I expected.

Also, many days Alfonso brings some type of homemade organic goodie.  Like hummus and freshly baked bread. Or popcorn cooked on the stove not in a microwave.  He even insisted on bringing his own lunch when we headed to Bartlesville, Oklahoma on business a few weeks ago.  Imagine the laughter as his organic cherry tomatoes spilled out on the conveyor belt of the X-ray machine at the airport.  Wow.  You do not see that every day.

But what I also did not expect that he would do, just through his own nature and habits, was inspire me to work harder.  When we discuss something I am working on, he questions me (and he is always annoyingly right unless I can get the topic off on horses or dogs) and I dig deeper to find the answers.  I can say without question that I have learned more in the last 90 days about more subjects than I have in years.  I have been inspired to want to learn more.  That is not an easy leap for someone headed toward sixty and pretty content in her ways.

Before this rocks off to something bordering on adulation, I with just conclude with an observation.  If we are open to seeing inspiration it is all around us.  From my older friend Jo Ann that I watched overcome her fears to ride again to young Alfonso that brought intelligence, but also passion for his work, I learned and I stepped up.

Now, I am riding more, riding harder and riding faster-thanks to Jo Ann.  Work is more engaging, stimulating and a place I want to be because Alfonso brought learning back to me.

Find someone who inspires you.  These people are all around you.  Watch them.  Engage them.  Copy them.  Life is better for them.

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My friend Jo Ann goes back to jump more medical obstacles today.  Say a prayer for her and her recovery.  She is one of the good ones.

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Thanks for riding along!

Yorkshire Terries seem to just find me at certain times in my life.  In Florida, a friend was a breeder of Yorkies and I took her older females that were done having babies.  Jessa was my first Yorkie and had no fear standing up to my giant Irish Wolfhound that I had at time.  My Yorkies have always been small and tough.  My latest Yorkie I saw at the HEB parking lot.  I bought PuppyGirl and her brother Theo. 

PuppyGirl has had some run ins with death.  One time Feather caught PuppyGirl’s leash in her legs and sent her flying to the pasture like a soccer ball.  The last year or so, PuppyGirl has had bad seizures but we finally had gotten the meds just right and she was doing great.  Likewise, she had finally started listening and could be trusted off her leash.  She had finally put on some weight and was up to four pounds.

She had this funny little habit.  If I called her, she would wait for me, turn around then jump into my arms. I loved her so.  But she was Lauren’s dog first.  They watched a lot of crappy tv together. 

Friday night, day five of awful rain storms, Kena the Doberman got into a barking altercation with the neighbors two labs.  PuppyGirl, never one to back down, slipped through our fence and was killed instantly by the big male lab.  Our neighbor had promised us when we moved in that his dogs would never hurt my cats or dogs.  Well, the score is Peter’s dogs have killed two of my cats and now my Yorkie.

As the rain began to pour again, Lauren, Ally, Kendyll, Jordyn and I dug a grave in the slippery mud and laid PuppyGirl to rest with Bruno.

I will never forget her brave heart and strong spirit.

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Although pre-arranged before the whole PuppyGirl incident, it was twice as hard to say goodbye to our corgi, Sneaky, as she went off today to live with friends. It will be a great home for her and she will get so much more attention.  Timing was bad though, as she rode off with them tonight.  

I am sad to have lost these dear friends of mine. I would appreciate a little break in the death cycle, if possible. 

Thank you for riding with us.  It makes us stronger.

Piper and I on her first morning.

The dark, gloomy, cold days of what amounts to winter in Texas have been going on seemingly forever.  Whenever I make this complaint, I realize it is ridiculous as I did spend 12 winters in the Chicago-area and quite a few in Colorado.  But the cold, wet, humid dampness is bad in contrast to our normal weather.  The pastures are muddy, the arena is just starting to be rideable again and the horses have been in blankets for weeks.

I am getting in the back to work routine again and immediately when I get home, I go in and put on a few layers of clothing.  I am pretty comfortable outside but seem to be the only one that really wants to spend any time at the barn.  Our boarders have been scarce (no where really to ride) and Lauren is sick of cold by the time I get home.  My poodle’s hair is long and he and the Corgi are completely content to hang out at the barn with me.

But last night it was like we just pushed on past the cold and gloom. We have had fun getting to know Piper.  Ally has kind of taken her over.  Piper got taken to the round pen for a little work (she did great except wanting to stop, paw and started to roll in the standing water on the far side of the pen-we hurriedly rushed over to stop her before she was soaking wet!) and also got saddled for the first time.

Libby got voted to be the first ride crash dummy.  Lauren and I didn’t want to fall off in the mud.  Libby pleasantly goes along with most of our stupid ideas.  I did verify she had signed a liability waiver.  I mean, you just don’t know what to expect on the first ride with a new pony.

Libby taking Piper for her first Texas ride. You can even still see the price tag hanging from her brand new martingale.

But all the nervous energy was for not as the pony just quietly worked around the arena, ignoring the racing dogs, the inquiring horses in the pasture, the many jumps and cold wind.  It may have been the fastest check ride in history as I asked Libby to walk, trot, reverse, halt, canter, reverse, canter and  get back to barn.  Piper was compliant and simple to ride.  Just what we had asked for.

At the trot, looking pretty cute.

We all had fun letting the now nine month old filly, Betty Sue, out of her stall bribing her to follow us with treats and scratching her favorite spots.  I believe she thinks she is one of the group.  She was trotting neatly behind Jordyn and backing up on command.

Then we all headed over to the little fire pit and two-year old Kendyll had us singing the “Frozen” song, dramatically stopping for her to say, “the cold never bothered me anyway!”.  We also sang “Happy Birthday” to everyone present even though it wasn’t anyone’s birthday.  The fun things you do with a two-year old.  Kona ran off with her baby doll and I thought we would have a serious problem but Kendyll just chased him down and demanded her baby back.

It is nice to be feeling better and part of the farm again.  The sun even came out for a few minutes today.

Thanks as always for riding along!