Hi! Now it's been a really long time! What are you up too?

Hi Kelly, We are getting near 6 months of communicating. how are you doing?
The one coach I was taking lessons from took some time off and I had to find someone new so I've had two new helpers since last fall. The newest one is helping me...after 6+ years. I don't really think it's a matter of "when u r ready the teacher will come' . I don't know why it's taken so long to find help but I am thankful it is here and hope she will be able to continue to come. It's like searching for a treasure and finally finding one. It's no brilliant new plan either. She got me focused on belly breathing and then started doing different patterns with obstacles each session and we are moving forward well now. Cash is 9 this spring too so he's reached a more mature place in his life, seems much more confident when we are outside, less spooking at things. I've been leading him down a couple of lanes and I hope to be able to ride those soon and then we can go on a few other lanes and then into the wooded lanes.
Hope to hear back from you. Spring is here!!!!
Shirley

Hi Kelly, Good to hear from you. I bet it feels really good to be back with your horse lessons and horses.
Cash is right sided too.
I'm very happy with our lessons. I can keep him going much better now so it is easier to actually learn how to ride when you can keep some kind of memento going. When we were stopping all the time, I was focused on getting and keeping him going all the time and obviously that wasn't working very well but much better now. Now my back hurts from the trotting. But, I'll work with that.
The four horses left last Sunday and I can't believe I did not get any pics of them. But I will when I go up to visit. Sounds like they are only 10 or 15 minutes away so I gotta do that. It sounds like a wonderful home for horse and human. I've seen a few pictures and it is a very nice home. I get so emotional, when Moose, the yearling went to load up in the trailer, I just got really really sad, that sunken heart feeling. I thought I was going to be brave about the whole thing but as I approached him to give him a kiss and tell him bye...I got about a foot away and the sadness hit. I can go see him any time but it's not the same. I was tickled to see him load really well. He was a little afraid but with only a slight hesitation, he hopped right in with his mom and half sister so it was a family affair. Quite a bundle of money in that little three horse trailer. She made a seperate trip to get the x-racer cause she wasn't sure how'd she'd do and didn't want her hurting the rest of them. They were finishing up the very last of the fence while she was driving home with the horses. All settled in well.
Still no cantering for me. I think it might be easier on my back. But I'm glad you are! And on a Lusitano, that must be a nice ride!
Three of the four spots are already filled at the barn and we have a winter return coming back. But we may take in two more then we've had.
Did I say that I'm going to the Parelli Celebration in Florida. That always inspires me to be more progressive.
I must take off now.
Keep Horsen Around!

Kelly!!! Good to hear from you again. I hope you got to do lots of fun things with your extended stay guests.
Sorry to hear 'The Big Black' is having problems. Do you think he could be mad at you for being gone so long? Is his owner able to spend more time with him now that you are back so you will be able to start riding him soon? I hope your time schedule will allow you to spend lots of ground time with him.
If you want to participate in an active group on Barnmice, the one called "Am I an old fuddy duddy or something like that is interesting and often entertaining. There is lots of disagreement and everyone is trying to be polite about the differences in opinion. We aren't always successful and that's when it gets rather entertaining. Then there is another group about horse mentors, should you choose one or more and who do different people like. That sure jumped around and again folks get a bit testy and critical and defensive. Personally I'm finding it a great way to expand my ability to express my opinions even when I know they will be ridiculed and disagreed with. That is big for me! I'm liking being more outspoken....finally at my age! Better late then never.!!
The horses I had mentioned to you that I was given permission to play with are leaving the end of this month to their very own home. Their mom has just 16 days to get the fence up. The four stalls are spoken for as of Oct. 1 so they gotta be gone from my barn.
Between my cold and then the injuries from the fall, I did not get to play with them near as much as I'd hoped. The Morgan mom was supposed to be sold but at the very last minute before money was to change hands, the horse spooked on a lone trail ride and dumped her new rider.Right after she came up lame with a abscess so the expectant buyer backed out. Fortunately the owner didn't really care if she sold or not. Owner and potential buyer are friends. The owner doesn't really want to sell the mare unless it is to someone that just absolutely loves her and thinks she is great. That was originally the feelings till the two issues came up. I'm sure she thought it was a bad omen telling her to not do it. She has a different horse coming this week-end that she's very excited about. She's getting a young small QH instead of a mid-age large Morgan.
Anyway, so when you take lessons now will be riding different horses?
I'm happy with my lessons. I've had two now since my fall. We are working on consistently moving forward instead of stopping whenever he feels like it and increasing the pace of his walk and decreasing the pace of his trot & all that is going good. I've also on my own been trying to get him to back up faster. I think that takes a bit of trust in me on Cash's part.
I've got to get some pics of the 4 horses that are leaving.
Cash has bulked up this summer. I don't know if he's 'just' muscling up or if he's putting on more weight. I don't want him to get any heavier.
It is cooling here in Michigan. It was 50 F when I got up at 9:00. At 1:00 it is 63. I hope to get in a good amount of time riding this afternoon.
Gotta run. Gotta get some vacation reservations made.
Keep in touch!
Shirley

Still Green! How are you doing? It's been too long since we've touched base. Are things okay with you? I hope so. I have healed and am riding again. We are having a late warm period here so I'm not getting in much time in the saddle as I'd like. It is just hot and humid enough to make me feel whipped. The mosquitos are horrible. Every night I come home with more bites.Getting bit in the indoor arena too but outside is miserable so I have been coming in. I don't even like leaving Cash out to graze. The picture is just a couple weeks old. The barn manager wants Cash to come in a little before the rest of his pasture buddies cause he keeps getting all excited and running around which gets all the pastures running around so then they come in hot sweaty and full of it. I'm glad, I'd just as soon have them come in a little earlier.
Hope to hear from you soon and that everything is okay with you.
Shirley

Darn that ground is hard!

I think Cash spooked?? He went right, I went left and down.

I went to ER. He stayed at the barn.

He did stay at my side till they moved him to help me get up.

I am sore and bruised but not broken.

He seemed glad to see me when I came to let him see I was okay

and get some bug spray on him and a few kisses. He nickered as he hurried to the gate!

The leader of his pasture was taken down last week and on solitaire rest now

with a very damaged muscle on his hip. Actually knocked the old guy off his back feet

and they had to pull him back up with Bionic woman power.

Can't wait till I'm able to hop on that nice copper back again.

Vicodin certainly makes the world a better place ....

Continued. ...I figured I'd send that much before it disapeared never to be found again.
If you get a chance, look at some of the information on the wild horse progress. There is a bill that in the works that is trying to put the mustangs back where they were 30 years ago. They have been running them off and taking them off their land for that long and many horses have been killed in the process. There have been big threats in the works by some of the government agencies that looked like the mustangs were going to be even further reduced in numbers and amount of land they could be on. I'm very glad to see things looking like there may very well be an improvement soon. The bill has passed the house and will soon be on to the Senate for their vote. It is just amazing what has been going on in the west by the very organizaton that is suppose to be protecting them It's really horrible. I so hope a good change is in the near future.
Anyway, please drop a note when you can and fill me in on your horsey goings on. Giddy-up Girl!
Shirley

Okay now I have written three messages that have gone poof and disapeared.
Cash and I are doing well. We did ride outside of the ring and he's more feisty and that will help me learn to be a stronger, more active partner for him. He was very good but turns into a "go" horse that I am not used to. It's all cool!
I hope you enjoy your guests and make some nice memories to put away in your memory file. I don't do well with guests staying right with us. I get over stimulated and very uncomfortable. It's kinds sad really cause I miss out on alot of good times.
Things are going well with my two new equine friends. They are very different from each other and even more different then my Cash. The Fresian is strong willed and can be quit intimidating but so far I have held my own and gotten her to do what I ask even though her initial reaction is "make me" I made her but didn't feel too confident about it. I hope next time she will remember and be nicer about it all but I don't see that as being her character till I prove myself to her to be a strong leader. There's a challenge! The yearling is easier and I have spent more time with him. So far he's much more comfortable with me in his stall with him and me with a brush in hand and useing it all over him and then the spray bottles with just water. I have never been with a horse that was scared of all those normal things but my Parelli training gives lots of help with that kind of stuff too and I am vrey much enjoying the progress that's being made. He's getting much braver. He's very curious and I allow that behaviour so that's fun for us too. He's starting to like me. Can't say that for the Fresian but I'm not discouraged cause I've had such little time with her. It has taken three weeks to start feeling myself at all and I'm still not totally over the cold thing.
I hpe yu get to spend more time with your horse then you originally expected.