Breezy mare

A mare of rare quality..she had the heart of a lion and the gentleness of a lamb. Many young riders sought her for learning.

We met for the first time last Autumn, she was enjoying herself, outside.

"Hey Breezy mare", I called.

Inquisitive, she decided to take me up on an invitation....

Closer she came...sweetly glancing at me~

Breezy mare resided at a wonderful stable and taught many riders joy!

Breezy has a sweet filly too...meet Jessie mare, who is just as giving and faithful~

"KK girl, here's looking at you!"

This summer, Jessie traded her Mother places at the wonderful stable...now she gets to show young riders

how it's done!

Breezy came home and Enjoyed pasturing next door to Mustang Cazi and Simeon, while eating the sweet grasses of retirement.

Today, Breezy said goodbye to this earth and joined the Great herd above~

With much sadness, we will miss you little mare~ The joy has been ours~



Camera Critters do I really see what I think I see?

On a ride out from the stable, my partner and I yielded to a this neat couple...and....

their riding partners!!!

                                      We thought it pretty cool that this couple took the pups along for the ride, even having "special wool blanket mats" for them to sit upon, behind the saddles.
 This is one set of dogs...you'd want to leave the nails long...for the grip to ride!

This pup below, on the woman's horse, had a special harness too. He tends to jettison himself OFF THE HORSE sometimes, and would definatley hurt himself. This way, he will do it sometimes...but his mother may haul him back up -onto his mat!

They told us that the pups usually run on their own, for say 9 miles, of any ride...but after that, they ride.

Below is their buddy the boxer. He always stays on the ground...and usually leads the way-cowbell a jingling, on his collar.

Hope to see ya around, you two,

 +!!!

Have loads of fun visiting others interesting Critter photos this weekend.

THANKS to MISTY DAWN!!

"Mustang" moves

While I have been waiting for my mare to  recover more fully from her injuries of falling on the road last month, I remembered my own fall on the road, and off of her, last year.
It was due to saddle fit issues and pain for Wa mare, I am convinced. My feet,  heals, ankles took at least 4-5 months before they did not pain me and swell constantly. I still do feel some residuals.

Age, and motion wearing...can be so unforgiving and I do know this...with most  injuries , you NEVER go back to the  same health  again.
 FACTS are facts, and though I hate aging and injuries...we are all heading down the same road of disrepair.We live our lives, accidents and repetitive motions happen and wear on us!
 We must all take care and do the best we can to stay healthy.

Sometimes changing the risk factor by discontinuing an activity and or it's risk level. And sometimes just getting smarter, more informed about how you may diminish ill befalling you, in that activity.

For me now, I have determined the saddle fit issue is a larger part of my mare's volatile responses to certain activities.
 Her first 30 days in an  arena, right before I received her from my sissy, did her in to start with.The ill mannered/educated cowboy trainer- re saddled her daily, by putting plastic wrap over her saddle fit wounds, riding her for an hour or so each time, and being tied down, into frame, she could barely be herself .

 Because of my great ignorance towards pain response( and memory pain response) in a horse, due to ill fitting and wrong gear, she and I have gone round and round with this issue.
 Me not wanting to die, by being catapulted off again..in or out of the arena....

 I have been using my down times, this past spring, summer and now, to educate myself and SAVE, SAVE, SAVE, $ !!!
My research shows that knowledge costs one= to live up to what you have learned.

For me, when I learn something as truth..proven and tested truth..I can't 'Unlearn it". Meaning: I can not ignore it and keep on- keeping on. I dig in and do my best to do- JUST THAT-
Take the knowledge and go for it...

My sister likes to educate herself too...we share most things horse.
She found this CO. over the summer as I have had continued issues. It was born out of the Loss of a dream- of an Olympic team  rider.
SADDLEFIT 4 LIFE

After watching just the first 3 videos(out of 9) I am very interested, and hopeful too.
I couldn't have chosen a more expensive saddle...and reviewing the make of it and the fact that they have researched the differences in a man's saddle fit needs- verses the woman's body shape and different needs, they have me sold!
I love the fact that I may change the saddle fit, should my horse change in her shape or, I get a different horse in the future. These saddles are NOT cheap (like what I've been using) so I need to know I may trade it in, or have it changed. After all, it will fit me, no matter what horse I have.

I remember some of our best rides,the mare and me,  hardly any resistance from her in the arena and some soft attitudes from her,  to try for me, were in my "Cashel Soft Saddle". It is just closed cell foam. No tree, and stirrups...I could only use those stirrups in this level arena environment though...and undulations in a changing outdoor environment beneath us or ....in that glorified bareback saddle, and you were over the side!

 Now, having moved to a stable with an indoor arena, I am nervous to try riding it. We have had some explosive results under some of the best (and worst ) trainers in the past 4 years.
-Firstly-
 I MUST make sure I've not blocked her movements and caused my own problem- with the pain of an ill fitting saddle. She may still have residual mind blocks, towards arena work, but if I am certain she is not in pain...I will start over, slowly and cautiously with her, again. AND under an expert eye, to help us along.

I have NO GRAND ideas for us...just the basic 6 point German Dressage training scale:
Relaxation
Rhythm
Contact
Impulsion
Straightness
Collection

Until I can ride the arena, I will do groundwork and connect the dots, outdoors..it is amazing what I may accomplish out of the arena.
 Just yesterday, we went out for a lovely ride...me wanting to supple my mare on both sides-without- using the reins directly.( her being so claustrophobic to being trapped -it is part of her mind block)
I did use a bit yesterday, and my goal with it was to  have light, low, relaxed contact. I kept my reins even and giving, using  my torso core and weight to dictate our direction and my desire for supple bending around my leg.
 When going straight. I wanted to see her eye lash, then her eyeball to each side. She gave and did almost a shoulder in, against my imaginary wall leg. There is one side that is REALLY tough for her to bend on...the left.
Yesterday, if anyone was around...out there in the wooded trails we now ride, all they heard was a RESOUNDING, " Oh, GOOD"..in a soft COOING Tone..she was so wonderful..it was a joy!
This ride only happened yesterday because she showed me something......

Her very own "MUSTANG MOVES"

(Mustang metal art piece from Sisters, Oregon)


She has been pretty resistant to moving like normal and has not once- bucked it up-  in the arena..when I let her in there to roll.
I think she has really enjoyed her new stable...I mean, it's the life of leisure and Therapy sessions, small -less than 5 mile rides on soft footed, forest flats. JUST  Rolling in an arena and not riding in it (yet). Healing is coming.

I also have been adding some joint sups into her feed. "JOINT HEALTH TREATS "They are little wafers treats you may hand feed them..or... (but  for therapeutic gain,there are quite a few, and I fear mouthiness would ensue) ... put into grain, as I have.

" Springtime Inc." makes them. I do love the devotion to pure and sound ingredients, this Co. has!

OKAY...after only 7 days of dosing her...yesterday...she had her own "MUSTANG MOMENTS"!!Of course...that taken after Mustang Cazi and his up and sideways moves-  with me on him!

I got to the stable...she was in her run , with everyone else in theirs too. The forecast was for a winter storm watch, and the owners would not be home till dark.

She saw me come in, waited for her apple..then proceded to trot down the lane of her 150 foot run...then, she quickly did a roll back and turned-full steam canter up the lane, then to a halt, and entered her stall again!

I got the message...it's time to ride KK girl!!

And after the ride...guess what??

She got up from the roll in the arena..and bucked it up!!

She's getting her groove back-Yea, Wa mare!

In Mean Times

While My mare is getting her "down time" for healing herself...I too, in the Mean time, am healing myself=

 with RIDING a "second horse"

Mustang Cazi has had a nice summer of grasses and leisure mostly...but is ready to go for me anytime.
 He is so sweet and my " MUST RIDE (not only Mondays) Partner" recently told me, as I was thanking her for giving me the gift of riding, even without my own horse, " He is your second horse, I just pay all his bills". 

I have the most wonderful places on earth to ride...and the best friends to ride them with...
my heart has been overcome with joy, since I was devastated over a year ago, being dispelled from the nose in the air stable!
I have totally gained, from a despirate situation (isn't that the way it is...though...gain is found in loss.)

So, my Must ride partner brought her horses over to my place, last Saturday....

We rode around the acres and acres of Local Privately owned  "Oregon Fisherman's Club", near my new stable.

Cazi was mesmerised by the water activities to be seen~on the ponds.

The  crisp Autumn day, had us seeking out the sunshine!!!

Awe, friendly riding partners in the shadows!

 We did the 5 mile loop ride, then returned home again.

I took off my saddle and left it upon the gate, and walked Cazi back to his trailer.

Good bye Cazi man...untill MONDAY...will dream of the  new rides!

I walked back to the property borders, to get my saddle.  Jules and Maddy mare were just heading out for a solo spin .

 Decked out inVisible, Hunter Orange.

In other personal notes....

I have been really ailing with my sleep cycle, now that the diminished light has begun.

Functioning normally is difficult. It is like I'm doped. Getting only 4 hoursof sleep usually.

 I avoid much in the line of group participation...as I have a problem with my retrieval systems with speech and fluid conversations. It is rather embarrassing.

I have S.A.D. Seasonal Affective Disorder.

 Mine is the toughest to treat, "bi-modal"..I have to get light to my eyes 4 distinct times during the day. And though I do have the light boxes through "Apollo Heath", it is tough to be stading or sitting near the boxes sometimes, to get the light therapy...at the right times!

I  have been suffering more this fall...I believe it is the hours my husband I have to keep, for his work schedule, basically, for me to see him, I must stay up till midnight.

THAT IS ALL ABOUT TO CHANGE!!!!

Monday, he and I will be getting up at O- DARK-THIRTY(6:30 am) so he may do his(NEW HOURS) 12 hour work day at the Hospital.

These new hours...will allow me to start my day off with the light, either outside in a walk...or inside with the light box and you all here, as I blog!

These NEW HOURS will also ensure he gets home by 7:45 PM...instead of midnight!!!

YYEEEEEHAA!

I can feel some normalcy coming on!

I am really really looking forward to the healthier lifestyle

So, with that good news, I will treat you to another riding discovery we made, last Monday last...

SANDY RIVER DELTA

I showed up in the sunshine to groom Mr Mustang Caziman...he was so fluffy and cute!

The two pasture partners enjoyed the short grooming session,  then we loaded up for the 33 minutes drive to the Columbia River.

Arrival to the Troutdale location, on the Columbia and Sandy rivers.

It is a HUGE dog, pedestrian and equine PARK. There is bird blinds, hundreds of trails, and acres and acres of plowed fields to ride.

 I have heard many bad things, including dog attacks on horses here...so I never have wanted to bring my mare.

 We saw many dogs this day...but owners were responsible, and had them all on leashes. This was my friends second time there...with no incident.

We set out ...looking to the trail signs...

Staying on trails, at first....

Then, coming to some open recently plowed fields...we just had to explore them!

                                                  I would have cantered...but these two were in such high spirits...I made a call to contain it...and therefore stay in the saddle, I believe now with what happened later on!
                                                       Then, as we looked to the edges of the miles and miles of fields, my partner had us go through the thicket....leading us to.......

  The Columbia Rivers edge...and a place I have only seen, from a car going along the highway, or from a viewpoint high up in the Gorge!



It was so COOL!!!

Cazi loved it too!

 We spent some time riding along the waters of this inlet of the Columbia... the horses were a bit high. So we decided to spend the some time with doing training details- for their minds to grasp.

 One horse would stand , while one did circles and serpentine around them, us asking for yielding and rhythm...we often do this at the beach in the deeper sand..that alone, helps the mind settle!

My friend went first...her mount Simeon settled and got a nicer rhythm, then she stopped on a good note.

I then trotted Cazi...around we went , and not long till -OH!!!

He totally lost his mind and reared up, unexpectedly so, ...I had to grab mane, to stay on!

 That sent tons of adrenaline through me.. and the will to make another round, without any of that nonsence!

I did make another round... then again...

he twisted in a bucking bolt, and JUST when I thought I was coming off...he'd right himself for me to stay on.

He did this quick little darting move -three times...unseating me three times!

That was enough...my legs were jello..I want to live today, and remain ON!

 My freind described events he had pulled on her simularly...in the past.

 He was almost someone elses horse, after them too... each time!

I HAVE A NEW APPRECIATION FOR HIM...UM, less trust!

Us in a moment of calm...I am choosing to relate to this outing, this way!

I'm glad I left my stirrups short (they fall longer on my mare) I think it gave me staying power this time!

 

We walked home.

This little light spot in the Photo below, is called "Crown Point"..a view point along the Historic, Columbia River Drive.

Even with the unsettleing- spent feeling -the Adreniline gave to me...I stayed on and it was a gorgeous Autumn day! We were pretty happy to be out.

Nice area to ride, close, and unending trails.

We will definatley come on back....

and I will bring my mare too!

Have a lovely weekend all...Our times of Sun..may be coming to an end here in the Pacific North West. Nice to have had this Indian Summer!