Endings

I've been gone awhile, haven't I? Lots of Netflix. I mean, big changes and all that. Moving and starting college has been taking up a lot of my time, but that's not the real reason I haven't been writing. I mentioned in the first post that I'd be leaving Deuce back home, and the reality of that hit me harder than I thought it would. Add the fact that he was so perfect on our last ride, and I was pretty messed up. He was so patient with the little girl who saw us from our porch, and fed him an apple and petted him. He agreed to trot down the road with no complaints, in both directions. His trot felt amazing - absolutely smooth and round and so easy to sit bareback. And just two days before I'd finally jumped more than about 18" with him. 2'2", actually. And it felt effortless. 

So you get the point. And now I'm going through withdrawal. I rode a friend's horse a few days after moving - about a week ago. First time in a dressage saddle and it went surprisingly well, although the length of the stirrups freaked me out at first. And her horse really progressed since the last time I saw him, about two years ago now.

There's surprisingly little equine industry here. With a large college, which includes a veterinary college, and the largest city in the state only 40 minutes away I expected more. There used to be one really nice barn, but I just learned they went bankrupt this winter. There are a two barns now that I know of and a few small boarding operations. The college does have and IHSA equestrian team, though! I'll definitely be joining that, and my horsey friend will be on it with me.

The other good news is that one of the few trainers up here is an eventer, and I've heard some good things about her. She also has special rates for students! I have a lesson with her Monday. I'll actually be having the lesson on a sale horse, so I may have my new horse sooner than I thought. Here's hoping he's as nice as he sounds!

 

 

Deuce at our last show.

He was super adorable, and usually a pretty chill guy.

Horse Show Dad?

Neither of my parents are what you'd call "horsey." Sure, they've picked up quite a bit from my rambling and ranting, but I never would have called them horse show parents.

Before last week, that is.

To be fair, my father has some background with horses. When he was growing up his family raised Spanish Mustangs. They never really showed, though, and my father wasn't very involved with the horses.

There I go rambling again. Back to the point- last week my dad and I were driving to a 4-H show. He's starts asking me if I have everything.

"Do you have your helmet?" Check. "Jacket." Yep. "Hair net?" Yep.

Wait, what?  My father knows what I need to show, down to the hair net? He knows that I wear a hair net? I have no idea how or when this happened. I only go to a handful of shows a year, and most of them neither of my parents go to.

My current theory is that horse-show mania is contagious. I have clearly infected my father.