JUST AMAZING ....

Riding today was a joy - I was able to ride in my new saddle - finding balance in the half seat while striding over ground rails. His side passing is wonderful, and he became putty in my forgiving hands this morning, with his arched neck and willing heart. I just enjoy being atop a stead that is always looking to please. Today we learned to rock between forhand and haunches with just my seat. His sensitivity to halt is supurb. I just would never have thought he would want to learn, or care to learn honestly. I thought I would be doing a lot more encouraging and accepting of a try here and there. Instead we are on the fasttrack to success and I am loving every minute of it! The bright light in my day on my way to the barn and he calls for me at the gate. C'mon! Like whols heart doesnt get all gushy when that happens!

Riding 3 horses a day would get me fit quick if winter wasnt coming in such a haste! I have to load up and travel to an indoor (as soon as my arena freezes) which I did all last winter - not fun shoveling out and hooking up, then loading up, tacking up, mucking out when finished, unhooking. Not to mention how many times the question comes up.... "can I get up my 800' driveway?" Several times having to unload them at the bottom as its to much of a chance with jackknifing half way up because I loose traction. Nerve racking to say the least, and trying when all you want to do is ride in this hateful Northeast!

Tomorrow is another day.... and I am looking forward to it!

GETTING INTO A ROUTINE

Now that I am currently not working, I have to find a new routine. Some days are harder then others, as I seem to have more tension headaches as of late. WELL, that comes from not listening to my body, not drinking enough water, not eating right and not excercising consistently. We all know this but make bad choices daily. Its not just me right? Started this morning right, up let the horses out for breakfast, came in made oatmeal, added raisons, started my 7 day cleanse, took vitamins, then did my turbojam - now heading out to the barn to clean out, prep for evening feed, ride Angel and then hose Babys shoulder for 10 min. By that time it will be lunch feed for them.

Then back in for shower and heading off to return merch in town and head to Career Center to apply for Starting My Own Business. Equine Videography and Photography. Hopefully can get that completed and submitted today and that will be done. If I am in town later on may meet up with fellow equine enthusiast for support and retail therapy!

Hoping this is the start of a new rountine. When life throws you a curve ball it makes for a good time to make some life changes that are otherwise hard to do. Meal planning, excersise and priorities should be reworked for the better. This I have done.

& lets not forget .... ITS FRIDAY!

Pictures .....

Angel By Day
8yo 17H TB Gelding
Starting a new life in Eventing... & loving it!

OUT WITH THE OLD - IN WITH THE NEW

Waps Chocolate Moose "Charlie"

2 yo Gelding - Enjoying ground work

Will be an awesome HUS or Eventer in the coming years

Waps In Yo Wallet "baby"

3 yo - born bred and raised here at Birch Ridge

Going well and will be Amazing in Dressage with that extension!

Angel By Day

Well, having my two WAP kids was not enough on my plate I figured, which is why I ended up with my dream TB - Angel By Day. Fate? - I had personally seen this horse 2 years prior and planned to bring him home, but as life has its funny twists and turns, here we are. I feel like I am behind the eight ball because of that. The thoughts of "what if", and "If I'd just ..." come to mind and I wonder where I would be today if it all had come to pass then. After purchasing this fine stead I found myself 2 weeks later without a job. Again, thank you life! What is one to do now? I didnt want the first missed opportunity to pass again so I made sure he came home with me 4 days after I went to see him. Knowing in my heart that he will be a wonderful partner for our new adventures together. I couldnt wait to show him all he had been missing out on racing at Suffolk downs.

A big 17h bay beauty! With the noble look that says "see you at the Rolex", how could I pass that up? Our relationship has begun to bloom, he calls for me now, and trusts me in unknowing situations that I create. I am always testing him. Although he is definately "thin skinned" with bugs and sprays, a tender flower for sure, he is not an airhead, bolting freakshow I could have ended up with. THANK GOD! I have been blessed with a horse that is up for the challenge.

Starting out is hard with a retrain. What baggage does he have? How has he been handled? Manhandled? Mishandled? Accidents lurking in ones mind waiting to come to a head? One never knows so you have to pretend you took him right out of the 3 year old pasture and are colt starting. Its the best way. That way you know you have covered all the ground work, ground manners, respect and relationship building one needs for the future. That will come in handy whether being trailed, competing, or selling. So why not invest the time and build a great foundation to better equipt them with?

Lounging... tho being on a hot walker doesnt count. He picked up body language quickly and is very sensitive to drive from quite a distance. What a pleasant surprise. Side passing without physical pressure & only a suggestion, amazing! Balancing on two legs while discussing forward and back motion.... WOW! He sure makes you think you know what you are doing in the unspoken world of horsemanship. BUT... thou shalt not let your guard down.... tho it looks good thus far. I am in awe of his greatness and potential given our odds of coming from 8 yrs of track life.

Ground rails to see whether he knows where his feet are, and extend his trot over time is a good thing. Exposing him to small ground jump options are our next feat. Blue tarps, water jumps, ditches outlined with rails, brush jumps..... all under 12" will determine where we are at physically and mentally and hopefully he will pass the test so that we can start all over again but in the SADDLE - and I cannot wait! Euphoria for me is the day that we conquer platform, water and oxers! Fingers crossed that day is coming soon.....

Stay tuned!

In The Beginning.....

.... well that was a long time ago.... so lets fast forward to today shall we?
The start of a new adventure.... of course having been shockput into this new adventure like projectile vomit but none the less - trying to keep an optomistic point of view here. As everyone keeps telling me... everything happens for a reason, well lets thank GOD for that! Three, (3) horses and NOT ONE I CAN RIDE! Does that even make sense? NOT TO ME. After years of scrimping and saving and begging just have my horse with me through every change, move and transition in my life - I finally had to say goodbye to my dear TESS. Well, 33 years, GREAT years, 27 of them were just for me, and I learned a lot. I had many other horses while I had her but she was my old standby. She fit me like a glove and we knew each other like we were born twins. After laying her to rest - I felt free to choose my next lifetime horse. Given that opportunity I chose to breed. BREED for what I WANTED - BIG, COLORFUL, GREAT MIND, GOOD BONE - versitile - with stamina should get me ANYWHERE! I was able to after two years put my first filly on the ground - with great pride I named her - WAPS IN YO WALLET. A reg appaloosa mare out of HOTANDSPICIE & WAPS MELENNIUM. A darling chestnut filly with solid blanket. MY DREAM - since always having solid WHITE appy mares - I was blessed with CoLOR FINALLY!

So here we are - she is 3 1/2 and I am ready to rock and roll! Where to? Well first off, understand I have done extensive groundwork, and she has been an easy horse to back. What a JOY! I finally get to plan the future of a well bred horse of my very own. NOT downing what I had to work with all these years. Those experiences only sweeten the pot to appreciate the bounty of my current blessings - a clean slate with only what I have taught her is simply invaluable to a rider with hopes and dreams bigger than the universe - but still - falling short by qualifying for the olympics would be acceptable to me :)! In the process of waiting for this all to transpire - my mind still wanders into the abyss of the WHAT IFS.... I should have a back up stead just in case... so onward I go finding a perfect equine for the job - what a surprise! ANOTHER WAP! I shall name him WAPS CHOCOLATE MOOSE - the sire WAPS ROLLS ROYCE (1/2 brother to WM) and the mare BRENDAS DANCER - it MUST BE A SIGN! So I ship him home when he turned 9 months - and we wait yet again - HE is now 2 1/2 and has done well with everything thus far - but its time to test the waters - and so go the terrible twos! I have decided to give him a month or two off - So here we are - Charles and Baby - both great kids - the only ones I will ever have. My life - my loves - my future.

And I am still here waiting....
Tune in tomorrow for the next BIG IDEA....