The running water effect

While riding in the Sandy River last Friday, the mare who has never relieved herself while with me atop, had an unusual response to the water flowing under her hooves.

Too funny. I am glad she decided to finally do this action...I knew she had to go, and had gotten off several times already. This was one local, I would not dismount for her. She decided it was a safe spot, even with me aboard!

Some more things my mare has taught me....

....about me!
We Love Acknowledgement of honest efforts made !

Being an ultra sensitive mare, she loves and needs concise and fair communication. Through repetition of this kind of communication, she gains understanding and then can trust a request I make, to yield a consistent response she may rely upon and rest in. This normally gains her relief from an aide or a high praise or treat for being willing to try. She loves the acknowledgement of her trying to please, I love to reward her for the smallest of efforts. It is looking for the communication measure that works sometimes.

I too desire honest efforts from the people around me in mutual respect for our friendship. Give and take and easy going is great! Yet-I do require a yea to mean yea and a nay, to mean nay.

Once we have an understanding and acknowledgement of who we are, fitting into the scheme comes easy by known- set standards, we both can look on in ease, and relax~

Some things my mare has taught me

My Mare is always Happiest....when she is Chewing!

ABOUT ME!!!

Since the first part of ownership of my mare, I have kept a running tally- in- mind- of all the ways she has taught me about myself. She too, is very sensitive. She is all animal and instinct. Me being human, I have reasoning thought and intellect and free will.

I have been amazed at her language to me, specifically, as we both have been abused. My lessons are numerous and I have so grown to understand her much more and appreciate her efforts as I accept my own inabilities to cope sometimes and move forward. These are very valuable nuggets of information. I often apply them in my life, with other humans!

While I could make a list of 20 or better- of the funny ways she teaches me about me as she tells me about herself...I want to savor the lessons here..one at a time.

(Obviously..I started with one of the funniest ones..oh! I need to loose weight!)

Therapy Riding Therapy

That is what this week is all about...therapy.

My mare had her therapy session first thing Monday- finally! She has been indicating -very loudly- in horse language that certain area's of her body were sore and needing attention. She was most definitely out in her Ham strings from kicking the electric fence off her legs. There also were some Different areas of need I have not had to have homework on, in the past. I always look at it like this when it is something new...that we have moved on past what was hanging us up before. So, it is good to me that new area's need attention, we are doing new things all the time. We also did another saddle fitting with my new dressage saddle and my standby Jump saddle....and....the jump saddle is too tight for her! She has developed more in whither area and the signs of tightness are appearing, in the form of tiny white hairs. I have only used it once weeks ago, since I had it reflocked..but the downhills really made the mark on her. Time for the rubber mallet!

So, since last we met here, I came off the mare in a hurry, as we passed by a tree that is leaning into the trail. ( == NEWS FLASH==About that tree. My Barn owner investigated moving it and discovered that the thing is actually resting right on the power line!)

Maybe there was something to that explosion and not all bad horse action-?- Anywho... I have been able to stay home and around the house mostly for the past 12 days. Ice on the ankle and heals with elevation with some drugs...save the 3 times I HAD TO GO SEE WA! I brushed her and left again. I was actually able to lunge her twice by the end of the weekend. She did better than usual and seemed to really enjoy being able to do something with me.

She was very good about walking ultra slow, as I hobbled along. She'd look at me, in a kinda knowing look as she stop and wait for me to get slightly ahead again, as we went down the driveway to the open field, the first day. The second day, above, we were joined by my PBO and a friend clearing a tilled area, in prep for a round pen.

Then, my "MUST RIDE MONDAYS" adventure friend called and said, "I am bringing a horse for you to ride..let's GO!!!" I could NOT pass that up and I requested to ride Mr. Mustang Cazi man. He is lower to the ground and a solid ride. Simeon is only 4 and can present one with training issues here and there...and I just wanted to see if I could even ride, at all yet.

We went to some nearby trails in the Molalla River Corridor. They are kept up by "Oregon Equestrian Trails" group. Very well marked and groomed. As we arrived a bit later in the afternoon time, the four horse trailers that were there, left. We had the entire acreage to ourselves!

Cazi took very nice care of me, as we followed his- Bay beauty- pasture mate. He was smooth and inquisitive about things...but not spooky. I just loved the way his multi colored mane sparked in the sun, behind his adorable Carmel dipped ears!

We came upon a MOVING MOUNTAIN OF........

Mr. Simeon was not too sure about this mound of moving, living structure!!! There were soo many of them everywhere...pretty cool really..if you were UP-on-a-horse-and-NOT-on-the- ground!

I have to tell you...the surprizing thing about riding was>>> It did not hurt at all, and the absence of pressure on my heals and ankle, WAS therapy in itself!!!

THANK YOU CAZI...what a wonderful horse you are. You made me totally happy and someone is really-REALLY going to enjoy being your partner someday...wish it could be me!

As for now.................................

My mare is having a kind of time -off-therapy too....... she is LOVING her new huge field..and getting used to staying out 24-7 again.

Looking forward to walking down the trails again soon, with my Equine Venturing partner!

Very nice to be thought of here

Thanks to my friend over from "Baba Yaga's Mirror" I am delighted to accept this sweet and thoughtful award!

It comes at a most appropriate timing for me! Thanks my dear~
Please do check out her horsey space and read up on current safety measures ...I definately Will be reading up more on your safety info!

No mistakes in it yet

I want to quote from a favorite Movie of mine,"Anne of Green Gables."

One of Anne's mentors told her, "Tomorrow is a new day, fresh, with no mistakes in it yet."

I have always liked that thought pattern...a do over for the day you may have had or, the way things have gone or are going. The Bible has the original version from which all others follow-..." do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it's own things. Sufficient for the day is it's own trouble." How darned true huh! Stay in the moment and in the time that you have ...which as we all know is >>>RIGHT NOW!

Okay, this is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad! Another favorite saying of mine. So, For now, I am just staying put, healing and doing the minimal...maybe not even posting, since I have a quest to tell good news and the irregular and off news I share makes me want to share good news all the more..it is a kind of pressure I put on myself here. SILLY me!

All the same, I do believe I am in for a break..Like Dear "Grey Horse Matters", I will be perusing your writings and maybe not adding any of my own, for just a spell. You know me...I won't be gone very long...I love ya's all!

My husband just said to me, after proof reading this...."Sometimes, I find that Just taking a DEEP BREATH, feels like privilege".

Time to Chilax!!!