Up and Around

Posted on January 4, 2015 by Exechorseluver

My clean bedroom before surgery.

I have become intimately aware of the details of my bedroom. For over 30 days now, I have spent at least 20 hours ( if not more) laying on my bed praying as time passes, my new hip heals and the pain subsides. Not that we are going to focus on this today (because we aren’t) but many of you know elderly friends and relatives that were walking right after a hip replacement. Because of my non-elderly age, my hip prosthesis is not glued into the femur bone. My new titanium femur and hip socket (all seven inches) was forced placed into what was left of my femur bone above my knee. Over time bone will grow around the metal and be way more stable, but in the meantime it is a slow go.

View from my window on this cold day.

My animals have been great companions,although the poodle sometimes wants to have a closer relationship than I really desire, wrapping his big self around my head or laying across my chest with his friend the cat.

Poodle hat?

Poodle Cat?

Enough of that. I am headed back to work in one week. Pretty frightening right now as I have not done much of anything for weeks. Last few days (New Year’s Res and all that) I have pushed myself to get up and get going. Jordyn has been protégé for much of my new workouts and attempts to get my life back to normal.

I heard once that it takes many weeks to build muscle but muscle starts to deteriorate in as little as ten days. I am a poster child for deterioration of muscle. Wow. I headed to the barn intent on cleaning and clipping my mare Kalani that broken-heartedly I have put up for sale. I just will not have the ability to work with her or to ride for a couple more months. I guess my dreams die first as Lauren and I have agreed we must pare down the horses we own. I hope to find her a terrific home.

Anyway, on unsure legs, I headed to the barn. Kalani is a very quiet mare. Even so I needed help getting her halter on. I approached her with the clippers and had difficulty keeping my balance even with this simple task. Lauren takes over and it is easily completed.

Lauren left for the evening and Jordyn is stuck with me to get the horses hayed and watered for the night. Jordyn is seven, tall for her age and knows her way through the barn chores. Together, (okay it was mostly her) we get a bale of hay into the wheelbarrow and head to the barn. We had some precarious balancing acts as we tried to get the wheelbarrow up into the barn and down off the concrete to the next barn. But we did it!

Before we went in for the night we put all 13 buckets of freshly made morning feed (in order by stall) into the wheelbarrow and left it in the first barn. This morning, 45 degrees and a howling north wind greeted my first breakfast feeding of the horses since the beginning of December. As I shambled out along the drive to the barn, Jordyn ran on ahead and had all the first barn fed before I even reached the gate. Together we moved the wheelbarrow with the eight remaining buckets onto the next barn. I really did not do much feeding but getting up and out accounts for something!

I have to admit I got a little overwhelmed with the thought of getting all the horses out to their respective pastures. Jordyn can handle many of the horses, walking them to their daily destinations, but the thought of holding and walking a horse with my unsteady legs conjured up immediate thoughts of me lying face down in the cold mud with hoof prints on my back or me flying airborne behind one of these magnificent steeds as he scampered off for morning grass. Either way, I was too scared to try.

Lauren, followed shortly by Ally, Luke and Kendyll, took over the morning chores as we waited for 70 bales of hay to arrive. I guess this was a pretty usual day on the farm, but it is the first one I have participated in for some time. Linda and Richard came to deliver the hay. It was good to have company and be part of the chores even if I did not really participate much (okay, I sat in a chair the whole time).

Getting up and around is a whole lot more fun than hanging out in my room. It is all about small steps toward getting fit again. Lauren got FitBits to measure our walking, sleeping, etc. Lauren set her goal at 12,000 steps per day. I set mine at 150 steps. Seriously, I have not walked anywhere but to the bathroom for a while. At the barn last night, I was startled by my wrist vibrating. My FitBit was telling me I had reached my goal! Wow, 150 steps!

When I got back to the house I moved my goal to 1500 steps a day and I think I just might make it. Step by step, day by day…getting back to life.

As always, thanks for riding along and another big thanks to all of you (especially my boarders) that have helped out this month. Lauren, Ally and especially Jordyn have helped keep the farm running smoothly!

A Few Steps

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Exechorseluver

As we continue through the holiday week, Jordyn has spent the night a few times. As you recall, I have morning feed duty which consists of getting in any horses that pastured outside overnight and feeding, dogs, cats and equines. I have not accomplished this duty since my surgery. This has left Lauren on morning and night rotation. It is a little overwhelming, and while many of you will not get the reference, it is like being in the Groundhog’s Day movie, where you get up, you do the same things over and over, go to bed and get up to do it all the same again.

Jordyn has really come of age over the autumn months, confidently now, managing tasks that were beyond her previously. As you see in the picture above, she is leading Mickey, with just a lead rope slung over his neck, out to pasture in the early morning light. Taking Mickey to the pasture is an iffy proposition for any of us but Jordyn has been successful more than not. This morning, while having difficulty with Snowboy’s blanket, she made quick work of both Playboy’s and Avery’s blankets, just like she had been doing it forever.

This morning, My doberman awakened me around 3 am as she needed to go out. As I stood by the back door, Jordyn came down the hall. “Granny, is it time to go out and help Lauren?”, she asked. I couldn’t believe she was dressed and ready to go. I sent her back to bed. What kid can’t wait to get up to go out in the dark cold morning and clean stalls? This one, I guess.

Kendyll, too, has learned so much about the horses. When I am off at work I miss her almost daily adventures with the horses. I was surprised to learn upon heading in to make feed that Kendyll knew where each horse’s supplements were and which colored bucket they went into each day. It was just one of many things she has picked up, like each horse’s name and the owner’s as well. She will quickly inform anyone who asks (and many that don’t) all about Granny’s farm. The kids continue to take steps forward in becoming farm kids.

I laid the crutches down and tried a few steps on the cane yesterday. A little unsteady, a little frightened, I shuffled down the hall. A few steps at a time, I am walking again.

Merry Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2014 by Exechorseluver

Momma and I enjoying our last Christmas.

Honestly, I tried to upload six other pictures but they all errored out. I guess this was the one I was meant to post. I am sure missing my momma on this first Christmas without her.

It is day 23 on my post surgical confinement. My hip replacement turned out to be a little more invasive than thought. They took out five inches of my leg and hip while replacing it with seven inches of titanium. Ow! I mean seriously.

I have spent most days in my room, surrounded by my dogs and cat. I have not even been out to the barn in over ten days, the gravel driveway proving to be my foe.

I have only left the house once in all this time except when visiting the hospital or doctor. I have had plenty of time to think, to grieve my losses of this year and rewind the moments of celebration and happiness. I have given some serious thought to my life and my job and bettering my commitment to both. I am going to be paring down and working harder. I am establishing new goals.

Of course, my first goal is to walk again, by myself. And just manage some simple things like making my bed or feeding the animals. From there I can step (get it, step?) right into filling other goals.

God gives us time to think and time to plan. This quiet time is important to me. But expect to see some new photos soon and my return to life.

May you all enjoy a Merry Christmas tonight. I wish you seasons of Joy.

Count backwards from 100

Posted on December 2, 2014 by Exechorseluver

Tomorrow morning, long before the sun makes it way up into the sky, Lauren will drive me to a downtown hospital for my total hip surgery.

We will exchange roles from earlier this year when I sat alone and waited the long hours for her surgical repair of her broken arm. This time she will be waiting and my bones will be replaced with titanium. I suspect Lauren may wander off to Chik-Fil-A at some point as the morning stretches out endlessly.

I would appreciate your prayers for myself and my family. Thank you for riding along and being our support system!

I am Thankful

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Exechorseluver

The grandkids hanging on the back fence, Riley, Jordyn, Lexi and Kendyll

I had the first turkey cooked and it was pretty well eaten all gone (as the kid’s say) by Wednesday night after the arrival from Denver of Amber, her husband Ryan, and kids; Riley and Lexi. It was the start of good times, good eating and good conversation.

My dad used to be the designated driver to take my mom and her sisters’, Betty, Bill and Nova to Oklahoma City or Tulsa for their shopping trips. He complained they never stopped talking the entire time. I still think we scare Ryan (Luke has had a little more time to get used to us all) but when my daughters and I get to squabbling over something, four kids under eight chime in, seven dogs get to barking and a scared, crazy cat runs by, you know you are home for the holidays. It got a little loud and more than little bit crazy, but it was all well-intentioned and fun.

Wednesday after we polished off all the turkey for lunch, we took the four kids out to ride. What an exciting time! Riley and Lexi really have no exposure to horses or rural life until they come to “Granny’s Farm” but it did not affect their enthusiasm for wanting to touch everything and every horse. I think they had mastered the names of all the horses (and ponies) by that first evening. We took turns in the arena walking with Lexi and Kendyll while Jordyn and Riley made laps around the rail on their own.

Riley and Jo riding like pros.

Everyone pitched in to help feed and little Lexi, who at three years of age is a hair smaller than Kendyll at two, had to be lifted up as she held securely to the feed bucket and then dumped the night’s offering into the horse’s bucket. I had gotten Lexi and Riley new cowboy boots for Christmas but they opened them early so they could wear them around the farm. Riley’s had his favorite color, orange on the tops and Lexi’s were decorated with pink roses and pink horseshoes. After all, you can’t hang out in Texas without your boots.

Son-in-law Ryan, got assigned to bring in Betty Sue. I have to say I think he was a little enamored with her. Ryan took her down to the arena after she ate and worked with her on her leading. At this point in a long but fun day, he was definitely the most competent person to work with her. He made her follow him and back and turn. After her arena exercises were complete, Betty Sue got to have her ‘run in the arena’ time. I warned Ryan to hide behind a jump. She looks so small and innocent but when she comes running down the long wall of the arena in a full gallop she is a bit intimidating as she slides to a stop right in front of you. I saw both Amber and Ryan pull out their phones to video a little Betty Sue magic as she made her way up and down. I had Ryan watch her change her leads precisely at the corner and we both marvelled over how pretty she was. She is butt-high again-measurements tonight (Dec. 1st) so we will see how much she has grown this month.

We finally went inside to settle in for the night.

Amber told her kids that at Granny’s they sit on the floor and the dogs sit on the couch.

Thanksgiving dawned cool but beautifully clear. Lexi insisted on wearing a ruffled little grey dress. Her mom wanted to her to change, but I helped her figure out some sweaters and headbands to keep her warm. She was eager to pose in her strange outfit.

Lexi and her warm outfit.

The kids played as the day warmed up. Casseroles cooked in the oven and crock-pot. Luke was in charge of frying the turkey and it turned out perfectly. Luke’s parents, Blake and Libby joined us for Thanksgiving dinner and it was a grateful, appreciative group we formed around the table. It had been a hard year emotionally and physically for many of us, but we all were grateful to be together. Many times during long weekend I thought of my mom and Thanksgivings past.

After our dinner, Libby, Lauren and kids all rode. Luke, Ally and the kids stayed over and Friday found another gorgeous day ahead of us. By now, mowers had been fixed, fence boards re-hung and other tasks complete by the “boys”. Ally got the tractor going with the dump cart hooked up behind. The little kids, Lula and big kid, Lauren, all climbed in for rides around the farm.

Wheeling around the farm.

Friday night found us at our favorite local restaurant, Stevan Pho’s. Both Lexi and Riley have nut allergies and Chef Stevan had cleaned out a special part of the restaurant to prepare their meal with no nut contamination. Steak, crab legs and teriyaki chicken were a nice change from all the turkey we had eaten.

Lexi and Kendyll got matching dresses but different attitudes toward our dinner out.

We finished up the evening with s’mores over the fire pit at the farm. Mia and Wendy joined us as well. Wendy clearly had been holding out on us as she got on Snowboy bareback under the bright arena lights and trotted over some jumps. All we have heard from her is “I am afraid of horses”. I guess her days growing up on a West Virginia farm were still in her bones.

Our last day, Saturday, more wonderful Texas weather prevailed. I think we actually wore down Ryan over the four days with Houston weather on its best behavior. He vastly prefers Colorado over Texas (who doesn’t?) but there are some great times to be had in southern state. He enjoyed everything about the farm. He learned the horse’s names and figured out the chore rotation. I was a little shocked when in the arena on Saturday, I looked over to see him riding Kalina bareback. He insisted he had to a least get on a horse while he was here.

I wanted a Christmas card picture with the kids and had in mind exactly how it should look. My big quarter horse mare, Kalani was the go-to girl, when it came time for the grandkids to show their holiday spirit. I left to get some props and told the girls to dress their kids in jeans tucked into their boots. While the parents were a little skeptical, and I know I will hear about the lack of helmets, it was a magic moment aboard my wonderful Hancock mare as the kids rode together reminiscent of the de Leyer kids aboard Snowman over 50 years ago.

From littlest to biggest on Kalani’s broad back, Kendyll, Lexi, Riley and Jordyn

I am grateful, thankful and blessed. Hope you all had a great holiday too!

Leaving you with one of my favorite shots of the weekend—

Quiet, wet weekend

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Exechorseluver

Kona hanging out in the damp arena with Quest.

The plan was for Dev to ride new Canadian Warmblood, Quest, on Sunday morning. His owner’s plan was to wear down the young horse so Dev did not die on his first ride. So off to the arena the beautiful black gelding went. He ran and played accompanied by the black poodle. The skies may have been dreary and grey but the boys were stunning. My vet had commented that when this horse trots he moves so beautifully that it made the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Must be a pretty cosmic experience. I have not seen him go under saddle yet but just his big flowing trot around the arena was something amazing.

Checking out the jumps.

I lunged the mighty Quest and he got away from me the first go around. Which lead to some excited galloping around the arena with lunge rope and poodle in tow. All Mia could say (as she sat quietly on Snowboy) was “I wish I had my camera, I wish I had my camera!” I think there is just something amazing about a solid black horse-it is the dreams from our youth with all the Black Stallion books and Black Beauty. And this horse of Jo Ann’s is stunning. Any of you looking for a great eventing or dressage mount, this guy is for sale!

Betty Sue wanting to come in out of rain and wet.

After the Quest events, my friend Gaylyn came with her new mare Annie. I had seen her when she had first bought her and she has grown and developed into a lovely young sorrel mare. Gaylyn, Libby and I rode our three Quarter horses in the cool afternoon. It was a very nice time full of talk and camaraderie. Soon enough the rain and cold hit us in earnest and we ran for the barn.

It rained all night Saturday. Lessons were cancelled. Lauren was out-of-town and I was on my own cleaning for company that will be coming this next weekend and enjoying the new tv that Luke, Ally and Lauren had arranged to have set up in my bedroom. I have not had a tv in my bedroom for at least 15 years. But with my surgery coming soon, it sure will be nice to be able to watch a movie or some mindless show while the hours pass.

My favorite part of the cold, wet weekend? I took all the dogs out to the barn with me to play while I cleaned the now 12 stalls we have occupied. I sent my horses and Cody out in the drizzling rain but left the rest of boarders in the dry, warm barn. I have been cleaning stalls for years. But just recently have we escalated to 12 stalls of horses. Twelve is a lot!! Like seriously, I am too old for this. When it rains, everyone stays in all night and day (and poops and poops!). Saturday morning’s chores wore me out. Sunday I was starting with aching bones and tired shoulders. But I wasn’t in any hurry. I did not have a thing I needed to accomplish or a place I needed to go. I actually hoped the big gate on the driveway would stay closed all day.

I worked my way through the boarder barn (called the Blue barn as all the geldings are housed here) and but was really dragging by the time I hit stall number ten in the Pink barn. It was raining. It was cool.

I took Feather’s stable blanket and laid it out on the dry concrete in front of her stall. I simply laid down on the concrete and rested my back. As I did, Lula the dachshund, laid down on my stomach, Muffy, the spaniel fit herself around my head. The Doberman and poodle took up guard along each side of me while the Corgi and wild border collie lay at my feet. It was a perfect time. There is no where else I wanted to be. My regret was that I could not figure any way to get a picture of my special friends joining me in rest. I watched the rain fall. I listened to the wind. I ran my hands over my trusting dogs. My back felt better. My attitude improved.

I had a great weekend in the wet, damp weather. I couldn’t have asked for more.

On the wings of Angels

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Exechorseluver

I know the three of you were watching from heaven yesterday

as Lauren and Feather made their way through the in-gate for finals

I could feel the wind stir, I could see the drapes rattle

a little dust even blew up under Feather’s feet as she approached

the first jump

Lauren and Feather had your wings and your hands were upon them

‘Lil Betty stroking Feather’s neck so she would stay focused and calm

Helping Lauren hold the reins in a hand that no longer functions

Heels deep, back straight, reins even

I can see you daddy, being sure Lauren’s heel was deep in the stirrup as she approached the jump

And momma, your hands were upon her tired shoulders to keep her upright and strong

All three of you supported my little broken girl as each jump came up and they rode away clean

What team she had with you all on board!

Thank you for watching over my girls in the ring today.

Zone Finals Champ-Say what?

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Exechorseluver

The outside wall is four-foot. Feather takes this big oxer like the wind blowing across the top of it without touching a thing.

Over the years of this blog, I have written about our journey to the USEF Zone finals. The United States Equestrian Federation divides the country into Zones and those states compete for points over who is the best of whatever division in which they are showing their horses. Although Hawaii is just one zone (probably because it would be hard to trailer to a show in Hawaii from anywhere else), the other zone definitions by states are not necessarily equal in terms of size (geographically or by population).

Somehow, Texas (which clearly could be a whole zone all on its own based on size-I mean Alaska, Hawaii, Texas-which is clearly bigger?) ended up being placed in a zone with five other states. So, Lauren and her fellow Texas riders compete for points with riders from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Louisiana, and Kansas. Now, does anyone actually make shows in all those states, probably not. Six states in the NE would be a possibility but these six states in our Zone 7 are geographically disperse.

In the past, Lauren has qualified for finals three times on her horse, Irish Midnight, aka Mickey, the first time in hunters (where they had no chance of winning at all but it was fun to go) and twice in jumpers once in the Children’s Low Jumper and once in the Adult Low Jumpers but they have never walked away with a ribbon.

This year very little thought was given to zone finals. We had qualified early in the year based upon Feather’s and Lauren’s performance at one of the first winter shows. Then she added some points at the Oklahoma Go Show this summer. But that was before she broke her arm and her hand stayed permanently paralyzed in a claw position. And before her grandma died leaving a hole in our hearts. And before the thought of jumping a horse over a big fence was something to be feared instead of something she loved.

Personally, I was pretty happy with Dev riding the mare and pushing her up to new heights. I didn’t want to worry about how Lauren would grip the reins or hold a crop or intuitively know how to set the mare to a slower pace without a right hand to count on. I was not keen on zone finals. But Dev thought they should do it so off they went.

I usually try to get out to see her ride during the week but I have been sick with various ailments and have had a lot of work to catch up on. Or so went my excuse. When Lauren called me Friday to tell me they had a refusal in the .85 (about 2’6″) I just wanted her to quit. I figured if they couldn’t get through that they were never going over three feet in the following classes. I literally sat at my desk at work and silently cried. I was just so afraid it was useless and that Lauren would be hurt more.

I texted my three dearest friends and both my other daughters to say a prayer for Lauren as she headed to the next round which would be set at a meter high (3’3″). My friend Lynn sent the following prayer:

dear Lord,

Keep Lauren safe and give her the confidence and the courage to face her fears and ride straight through them, Amen

My friend Kathy told me “she has already achieved a lot just getting back on and riding through the in gate. Great rounds will come.”

Friends are awesome. And they were right. Friday she rode into the meter round with Feather and caught the first pole creating an immediate four faults, but then something just synched and they were perfect. They did not place but rode very well.

Friday night and Saturday found me with horrible stomach flu which I blame on my granddaughters but fear and apprehension could have been a culprit as well. Probably for the second time in the history of Lauren’s shows I was not with her on an important day. I got texts later that they had placed fourth in one class (Out of 40) and were just out of the ribbons in the other.

This morning on the last day of the show I woke up feeling better than I had in a week (gee, wonder why). I was off to sit at the ring and watch and write down the times of every single rider in her big group. Lauren was 37th to go. I had seen falls, lots of pulled rails, many, many stops and only completely clear round for the adults. Even John de Leyer’s horses had some issues. I felt good about Feather as I watched her warm up. Lauren was riding easy and clean.

Clearing the jump easily.

Feather flew around the course never even rubbing as pole or chancing a refusal. It was a beautiful round. And again, Lauren never used her legs, spurs or crop to ask for more from Feather, they just flew together to victory. What a sight it was to see! I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else today than watching this ride with this brave girl on this wonderful horse.

An extremely elated Lauren holding her ribbons.

In the end, she was first in this class for both the Zone and the Division with only one other double clean rider, she combined the points for both her Zone classes and the division classes and ended up as follows:

Tied for Champion for Zone 7 Finals *****see below

Tied for Reserve champ for the division

It has been a year when the lows have really been low for us, but just as clearly these highs have really been top-notch. I would have never dreamed when this little Flagmount horse got off the trailer from Florida she would take us so far. Yet, even then I had a hint of a dream, a dream of a once in lifetime horse and we are so blessed.

Thank you especially to my daughter Ally who has been our savior and the only way this barn has kept running in the dark days and big thanks to Dev Branham who believed in Lauren even on a little bay horse and has helped us develop Feather to what she is today. And to so many of you that urged us on, prayed for us and will be here for us still as Lauren and I go back to surgery once again. Thank you for riding along! God bless.

_______________________________________________________

***POST-SCRIPT***

I had a couple of things wrong.

First, Lauren was Zone Champion all by herself and not tied with anyone. And second, the class on Saturday where we thought she did not place, she actually placed sixth.

The young ones

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Exechorseluver

Kendyll’s first official (pre)school photo at 28 months.

Three year-old Lexi shopping with her momma.

The first grandchild in any family is special. Usually it has been awhile since a baby has been around the house and the long, endless days of exhaustion are well forgotten. Everyone gets enamoured with the first grandchild. Jordyn was my first grandchild and enamoured I was! Probably with expectations and visions of greatness far beyond what Jordyn could possibly ever meet, I thought my first grandchild was great (and she was/is).

Next, came Riley, the second grandchild and the first boy in our family (I had two sisters and I had three daughters). He was special indeed. From what he wanted to play with to his approach to the world, he was different and new. He was just named student of the month and one can understand why with this special little man.

Then came the young ones, as I will call them, Lexi born in 2011 and Kendyll in 2012. While they had their unique personalities they were more of the same (wonderful same!) in many ways. I could almost predict what they would like to wear, to play with and to do.

As time has passed they have started leaving their own mark on the world and it is as unique as they are. Lexi is tiny, brilliant and opinionated. She looks a great deal like her mother Amber did at the same age. Lexi is fearless and complicated. She follows brother Riley and but also dreams of princesses and magic lands.

Kendyll, whom I have come to know more and more since we have moved to the new farm, is quite different from her sister Jordyn. Not any less bright (if anything perhaps smarter) but Kendyll is a loud red if Jo is a soft pink. At two, Kendyll reasons out and communicates thoughts beyond her age. She also hates many foods (Jordyn loved everything from veggies to burgers). She is fearless like Lexi (or has yet to learn the consequences of her actions).

The young ones are beautiful and willing. Kendyll was at her other grandparents and told them she was going on a cruise with Lauren and granny. She was going to eat ice cream on the water slide. They were stunned. A family cruise-why were they not told? Well…

Lauren’s and my latest idea is to take the young ones on a cruise. That’s right. We want to take the two year-old and three year-old on a cruise. No one else. Just the four of us. Wow-we are nuts right?

Think about it. There are some real advantages to this age. First, we would probably extend the invitation to Riley and Jo but they go to school with that annoying school schedule where you can’t miss any time. We want to go when the prices are low and the boat is not full of children (a contradiction I know).

Plus, no matter the meltdowns, the tears or tiredness, toddlers can be redirected to new shiny objects. On a boat, there are so many things to show them from the elevator to the swimming pool to a movie in the room, that we could always deflect them off to a new activity. Plus, Lauren and I are good at this. We have no expectation of a long sit down dinner (or any meal for that matter). We can eat and go with fastest child. We are also great at eating at any time, Lauren in particular, is always up for ice cream so if the young ones are hungry-we are happy to oblige.

Then there is the schedule. Lauren and I, both, go to bed early and get up early, just like the kids. Plus, leaving the pool for nap time sits real well for us, too. I really do not see any issues here. Kendyll and Lauren have had a whole summer to learn to play together as Ally did the barn work and Lauren nursed her broken arm. Kendyll loves to play teacher with Lauren as her student. I bet we could incorporate Lexi into that game as well. Lexi could be the queen and Lauren the peasant. I could be reading.

Really the only big problems I see are if something happens to the boat, like an Ebola scare or downed engines. Being stuck with the young ones in our room for extensive non-sleeping time could cause tragedies, like Lauren and I could be killed. I would not want to do be on the shut-down Carnival boat you are reading about back home. But I wouldn’t want that without the young ones either.

The other issue could be the inevitable line standing you do on a cruise. Toddlers are not noted for their ability to stand well, indefinitely, in a line. I am sure there is some solution to this issue that I just haven’t thought of yet.

All and all, I say let’s take the young ones on a cruise. I bet we would have a wonderful time.

Jordyn-An official rider

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Exechorseluver

My seven year-old granddaughter, Jordyn, had her second official lesson with trainer, Dev, yesterday. She has been riding and even showing in lead-line classes since she was a wee one, but it has been an uphill battle to build her confidence and desire to move on to doing more than a walk.

Jordyn came up with the idea of “leasing” her aunt Lauren’s horse Mickey after watching the girls at the farm enjoy and ride their leased horses. It was a brilliant idea! Although no money was ever exchanged we all went along with the concept of Jordyn having her own horse to lease.

Young (2 year-old) Jordyn having a little talk with Snow before a lead-line class.

Jordyn headed into the ring with Snowboy.

Many of you probably wonder what happened with her pony, Snowboy. Well, he is being leased by Mia AND he has a really bumpy trot. Mickey had a much quieter schedule and was available for Jordyn. Plus, Mickey started life out as a western pleasure horse and has a little western jog (a slow trot) that is easy for Jordyn to ride.

Jordyn finally gained the confidence this summer to trot Mickey on her own. This led to her being allowed to saddle up and ride Mickey in the arena by herself (with our watchful eyes ever on her). This practice time and time without pushy parents, grandparents or aunts, allowed Jo to master stopping, starting, walking, trotting and backing her horse just when and where she wanted to without anyone bothering her.

Last week we sent her and Mickey out for their first official lesson together. Jordyn had a pretty good grasp of walking and doing a sitting trot (jog) but really had no concept of what a posting trot was. She was efficient at turning and stopping so it was a good time to add this new physical requirement of moving up and down out of the saddle in time with the horse’s four-beat trot.

Before Dev came, Kalani and I spent some time riding around with Mick and Jo. I tried to get her to post and would count 1-2, 1-2, in conjunction with Mickey’s movement. It did not go well. It was more like up 1, hold a few steps, down 2, sit a few steps. Or even sometimes, Jo went very quickly like 1-2-1-2-1-2 while Mickey was still on just the first 1-2. Is anyone following this? Synchronization was not in place.

Somehow though, last Wednesday at their first lesson, after a series of “look ahead where you are going” and “Jo, quit looking down”, Jordyn started to trot ahead with a little more pace and posting started to fall into place as well. Maybe Dev’s counting technique was just better than mine.

I am fairly certain that Dev never said “Jordyn and Mickey-both of you close your eyes!”

By this week, Jordyn was trotting like pro. She asked Dev when she could do her first “real” horse show and was told she had a few more things to master (like being on the right trotting diagonal, for instance) but it would not be long. Jordyn is ecstatic! She loves being a part of the girls at the farm and to be on the show team is the equivalent of heaven. She even dressed the part this week with tiny polo shirt on, neatly tucked into her buff breeches, with her hair cascading down her back in a braid.

This week with polo shirt, half chaps and looking just like the other girls.

Just coincidently, looking exactly like her riding mate of the day, Liv, who was executing more sophisticated riding movements on her pony at the same time.

One day soon it will be time to try her first canter. That is when it will be back to Snowboy who may hold the record for the easiest canter to ride on earth. If Jordyn asks Mickey to canter she may end up fly down the arena wall, jumping a series of jumps and landing in a heap in the sand. So, probably better not to ask her to try that. But there will be lots of shows doing just walk-trot that Mickey will serve Jordyn well. Lauren started, long ago, on Mickey doing walk-trot as well so it is a pretty wonderful tradition to see repeated.
As always, thanks for riding with us.