I've been volunteering at the Beekman Therapeutic Riding Center for around two months now. It's been rocky a few times but otherwise very smooth and fun. I must say I've grown attached to the horses and ponies and am developing favorites among both the equines and students. I guess my favorite student is Abbie, a rebellious red head in her late teens. I can't tell if there is anything physically or mentally wrong with her, but she is fun to talk to and work with. My favorite horse is going to be Rufie, a rebellious bay POA/QH gelding and the  Sully, a handsome chestnut QH gelding who stands near sixteen hands and is performance bred. 

At the Beekman Center we have about ten horses and two ponies, only four can be used and are trained for therapy work. I like to tell people I have ten horses and two ponies that follow me like dogs, which most of them do. There are three of us girls who mainly work at the Beekman Center,  Ambrie, the instructor,  Taylor, the intern, and myself, the volunteer. Brie grew up with Morgan's and she and her sister did barrel racing(pole bending and other speed events). Brie also owned an Appaloosa mare until she died a few months ago. She insists that she and I are on the same level of experience working with(although she claims I am more experienced working with horses than she is, I beg to differ) and riding horses too. Taylor has ridden before,  doing Dressage and switching to Western as she doesn't care for Dressage, but I don't think she's been on a horse in a while.  I have absolutely no idea how to train a horse or really work with a horse. I've been riding Cody for a while(when I can) and in September it'll be a year since I met him and Julie. I've just recently been able to slightly improve my balance at the canter and maintained it for longer than five minutes and my trotting while bareback over bumpy terrain is much better... I don't really move(would love to try a slow canter bareback eventually............)... but I hardly consider myself on the same level of riding as Brie or anyone for that matter. In fact, on the scale of one to ten for horse experience I would place myself at a 2, Julie is off the charts and Brie as an 8. No, I'm certainly not an expert at all. 

For three days last week I cared for four horses and a mini donkey while Julie was away. It was pure Heaven on Earth. The mucking of stalls and pastures, feeding the grain and throwing the hay. Even holding Jac for the farrier. It was all wonderfully amazing. I rode Cody over those three days, bathed horses and generally enjoyed life. I got a glimpse of what it might be like with horses of my own... the daily feeding.. mucking of stalls... filling the water and work that went into horses... Best. Experience. Ever.  Because I was in Fowlerville for three days, I did not get to the Beekman Center at all until a couple days ago. When I got there I went straight out to pasture to get Colby and see the herd. 'My' herd. 

Oulav, a rebellious and explosive gelding, who doesn't usually allow anyone to approach of him, actually came up to me. He nuzzled my hand and allowed me to rub his nose and even his back, a place he usually won't let me touch. Not only did he allow me that much, he also let me put the halter on him! The last time I tried to put the halter on he threw his head and ran away, not coming near me for a while. I slipped the halter on, flipped the string over his head, then took it off. He stood through the entire time with his ears up and a very relaxed body posture. When I turned from Oulav I noticed Money, a young paint gelding who doesn't trust people very well, stop grazing and approach me cautiously. He came up slowly and rub his head on my arm and stomach while I scratched his ears. Money seems to also enjoy when I wrap my arms around his neck and he'll do the same to me with his head. I was even more surprised when Sandman, an older QH gelding, came up to say hello. Before I could blink the field of horses had stopped grazing to come say hello, even Lola, Money's jumpy girlfriend. I got Colby and began to make my way to the arena. Taylor was standing at the gate with a halter so she could get Rufie, who was cantering(he DOES canter!) behind me, along with all the other horses. Usually I get one horse and all the other horses keep grazing but Wednesday every horse decided to come join us on our trek to the barn. I don't know if they felt left out or if they thought food was being fed early, but it was fun to watch. 

We went through our general lessons, switching out horses for each student. I had to go get Colby again for his final lesson and panicked. He and his brother, Oulav, we're nowhere to be seen or found. I checked the paddocks and pastures but didn't see them. I can always spot those two before I spot the others, the fact that they were missing from the herd made me nervous. Oulav and Colby always graze near the herd. Not away. As I was pacing back and forth, racking my brain for where they might be, I noticed a deer trail going through several thorn bushes and sticker plants. I followed this small trail, getting stung by several thorns, and spotted the two MIA horses. Colby grazed on grass while Oulav shielded him with his body and stood watch. He saw me, bit Colby, jumped and ran for it. Unfortunately he was kinda stuck in a trap since his only way out was behind me. Instead he ran and jumped onto a steep hill with Colby in hot pursuit. I cut them off before they could get out to open pasture and herded them away. Oulav led Colby through what I call 'Michigan' s version of Mississippi and Alabama mud', and into a smaller pasture. I followed in their foot steps, only to have my boot sucked off and nearly buried in mud. Trying not to fall my bare foot plunged into the mud almost sinking up to knee. After a few minutes of wrestling with the mud I retrieved my boot and what little dignity I had left, caught Colby and walked back to the arena. Usually Colby comes in for me and doesn't leave but he was punishing me for not coming in like I usually do and for being with other geldings. Well played Colby, well played. 

I have this week and next week off as there are no lessons. I can't wait to go back though, until then, 

Have a happy ride