Cooper

This morning Dusty went out to work the arena for me. I came home from the mane event totally motivated. We hauled Cooper into the arena yesterday and I had the PERFECT ride. I threw away my reins and totally guided everywhere with my legs. He was a dream. I was getting ready to come out when dusty came in the house and told me to get my boots on. As I came thorough the barn I saw Cooper. He was in the ditch on the side of the road. I felt a little nauseous. I was expecting big trauma. There was nothing but a couple tiny superficial scratches. The top wire was down and there was some hair on the inside of one post and the outside of another. I couldn't really piece it all together. 

We didn't get any clearer answers as the day went on.

Both Dusty and I are in shock still tonight. Our friends, neighbors, and family have been great. 

I have been struggling with anxiety when I ride and he was the first horse in a long time that I woke up excited to ride. No pit in my stomach- no self-preservation first in my mind. He was easy and fun and pushed me to be better. 

The money spent is a hard pill to swallow but what's worse is the disappointment I have that I won't get to keep riding him.

He was a once in a lifetime horse and I feel fortunate to have gotten the privilege to own him and ride him. 

Spring Break

Spring break.

I have been looking at people's fabulous trips abroad or the fun family mini vacations that people have been posting. While all those things look marvellous.... I have been thoroughly enjoying doing the bare minimum. We have raked pens, swept patios, moved sheep and goats, laid in the sun on the trampoline, ate hotdogs and chips, went in the hot tub at night, and just stayed home. We said no to our phones, no to the dishes, trips to town, and all else that seems to continually pull us away from here. 

No company just us. Just us, the beautiful weather, and our poor neglected house.

It has been perfect.

Happy Trails

This kid (both kids) love just going out for a ride. Everytime Ellie and Midnight would stop Andy would start to wail!

Doors

There's an old adage that is like when one door closes another opens...

Well, when we had to euthanize Holly, dusty and I knew it was going to be a big blow but over the last 6 weeks we really felt the effects. She was a family horse. She quiet and kind enough for Ellie to ride. Dusty loved riding her because he says she made him look good with out being too smart for him and I appreciated that she allowed me to ride when I wanted to.

We have looked at quite a few horses and while we didn't find a horse that filled her shoes, we did find two horses that will push both Dusty and I. 

This is Bailey. She's a registered QH. She is super sweet but she got a bit wrecked on the track ponying the racehorses. She's not bad but she thinks leg on means run like the dickens and she needs some soft quiet work. Dusty loves her. She looks like the horses his grandparents had while he was growing up. He's excited to bring her along and try to get her so she can be as good as she once was. 

We have ridden her at home and she was so quiet for me but the other day we took her to the indoor..... Hahaha she wasn't so quiet then. I thought it was just dusty so I kicked him off and rode her.... It wasn't him. Finally after our neighbour hopped on she started getting a little quieter. Then dusty took the girls out for a ride in the field.....

Picturesque as they were leaving. A really enjoyable ride.... Until they went to come home! I am glad it was him and not me! He was channeling as much patience as he could muster and trying to pull out his inner Clinton Anderson! Haha they made it home on his terms. She is going to make a really great horse and he is happy to have a horse of his own again. She is perfect for him and he got a steal of a deal on her which makes him love her even more!

And me..... I got darn near perfection....

This is Cooper. Ever since having kids I get a self-preservation pit in my stomach while I ride. The first ride I never got that. I also realized in that first ride that it's been a LONG time since I had to really ride. This horse was way more trained than I was used to!!! The owner coached me through where some of his buttons were. We decided to go back up for a second ride. The second ride I think I rode for almost an hour and a half. I never got the pit. It was the most fun I have had riding in years. 

The hour and half might of over done it for me! There were muscles I hadn't used in a decade! I am just starting to be able move without feeling my age (mostly my out of shapeness).

Cooper is coming from a lady who is an exceptional rider and she has raised him. She is a Reiner and so that's Coopers foundation. I was blown away at his softness and the bend he has in his body. 

I  super excited to be able to ride all together and to have a safe horse that will push me back into the level of riding that I want to be at.

The Little Big sister

It was Penny's first St.Paddy's day at school. This morning we found out she doesn't own any green.....

But good thing her little brother does....

Life as an Adventurer

Our day (life) seemed a little more than chaotic than originally planned...

It was a pretty full day yesterday and Andy decided to single-handedly derail the plans. He got into the medicine cabinet and so we spent a good part of the day in emerg. He's no worse for wear today but hopefully his little stint in the er will deter him from any more of his antics today.

And now for some cuddles and paw patrol. (And I REALLY good justification to avoid laundry)

March Madness

This is part of one week of life in March.... Its been madness and with lambing approaching.... Forget basketball madness...

Spirit week (which I was TOTALLY unprepared for... As usual)

Vacation day...

Spring time Buggy rides with Rubee.... We actually caught more than one ride this week!

Ellie is part of a recorder group for her school and they wrapped up this week of festivals!

Ellie decided to enter a "cowboy challenge" competition... She loved it... Her pony loved it.... The above is a picture of the water element. 

She ended up winning first, second, and third.... $90.00

This little machine LOVED going to Ellie's competition. Lucy played all day with him in the dirt with his tractors and fed him french fries and ketchup chips!

Dusty and I were headed in two different directions this weekend. It was Penny's LAST day of hockey on Saturday and it was vs. the parents. The kids won (like there was any doubt). She got a pizza party and LOVED it. We didn't know if Dustu would make it. He was busy helping my uncle try to load a horse but he managed to get there and play the second period and party. Then he headed back to help load the horse. AND THEN.....

He made it back home to recieve this beauty! We got a steal of a deal on her and she's been so great so far. Her name is Bailey.

And of course, we have been dealing with this 4x/day with shots and drops.... Vet come back Tuesday....

That's the week! Now to get through 3 more!!

Those weeks

We are down three horses in our farm. One of our best horses, my horse that I had been getting ready for me to ride and show this summer got a displaced colon and we had to euthanize her. One of our old horses that we rescued died of old age and then we sold one (without trying to sell her.... )

The kids seems to be taking it in stride. Ellie (who is the most emotionally intune) has been overly helpful since I am the one taking it the hardest.

Most of the time around here dusty and the girls will take off for a ride but with babies and food... I don't get out as much as I would like BUT today I left Licy in charge of the sleeping Andy and Ellie and I took off. 

The only horse I have left here is my old mare. My 4-h comrade and my high school secret keeper. 

It's just what the doctor ordered. Muscle memory kicks in as soon as my butt his the saddle and it's like we've never had a break. 25 years old and she doesn't miss a hoof beat and she's still the fastest most up-beat horse on the place. I get her and she gets me and we can just go with no thought or care in the world. Dusty is going to have impossible shoes to fill when she too goes to the big field in the sky.

The second week

Most of "my" obligations fall on the second week of the month. It means that life is a bit hectic. Well this week we had the stomach flu cycle through. We have had such a healthy winter that I am not even going to complain that it's our turn BUT of course it happened the second week of the month! 

The weather has been so nice though that I have been able to air out the house and most of the things I am a part of I have lots of help so people have been able to step in and complete what needs to be done this week. 

I am sick today but earlier this week I got tigger outside and just do all things it's usually way to cold to do.

We got the ewes out of the barn for a bit and we got to chase ducks around the yard. We cleaned the tack and got the horse trailer cleaned out for the show on Monday! And hopefully the weather stays so that we can get everything clipped!

No rest for the crazies

It was wishful thinking. Penny's coach just phoned us with a last minute game- good news is that it's scheduled at the crack of dawn and that I will have just enough time to get the kids to riding club....

That's how I feel on the inside.

I keep telling myself "middle of march middle of march middle of march" haha but then I just remembered that's when soccer starts....