Tribute to my old mate

I had to make the heartbreaking decision to let my old horse

shadow go yesterday - April 20th 2011. After 19 years with me and

at 28 years of age, my old mate had too many aches and pains and the

upcoming winter would not have been kind.

This is a little poem for him,

I remember when I got you

You were stubborn from the start,

But that didn't matter to me

I loved you with all my heart

It wasn't always easy

As I learnt to ride

But you remained so patient

As I tried and tried and tried

From barrel races to hack shows

I dragged you here and there

I pushed and pulled and prodded

And you just didn't care

Down the beach at Cabarita,

You loved an ocean swim

to hours of trails at newmans

So many places we have been,

Although you did get cranky

you were a great old shoe,

Helped the kids learn how to ride

And some adults too

Now I have to let you go

And the choice is hard to make

I believe it is the right one

Before it gets too late

19 years is a long time

So many memories

Thankyou shad my old mate

for growing up with me,

Goodbye to my 'old man'

I'll miss you every day

Id rather let you go now,

than let you fade away

Im glad that you went quickly,

It was as if you knew,

A few last carrots and a mars bar

and your best mate next to you,

Rest in peace my shadow

In that pasture in the sky

You'll be forever young there

& I'll see you again sometime

x x tjk

Limited time - working in with the weather

So. I am 9 days into the start of my little girl and despite my grand plan of starting her over 10 days straight, having a couple of days break, and then doing another few days - things didn't go to plan whatsoever!

Over the past weekend (april 1 - 3) I had no time at all.

I thought - no problem I will work her all next week - I go away on Saturday 9th.

That was going to give me 5 straight days riding. And then the rain came. No riding at all, in fact I didnt even get her out of the paddock. Today, I cracked. Its been raining and shining on and off, so I bit the bullet and went and caught her. I intended just to do some ground work with her, brush her, do some farrier training and leave it at that.

Which is what I pretty much did, adding in jumping on her bareback and doing some turns etc.

I am soo happy with this little horse, she really is trying hard for me, and whilst I wont call this 'ride #10' done, I will notch it up to a lesson of working with what I have. I kept procrastinating about working her as the roundyard is much too slippery and they can lose confidence - but I worked around it. I just worked her in a different area of the yard, where it was not as slippery, and I asked for just basic groundwork skills etc. The session built her confidence, taught me a lesson, and got my little filly that little bit more educated - what more could I ask for?

That lesson complete - I headed straight out to my stallion with the rain threatening. I decided not to even put the halter on or to take his rug off - I just did 10 minutes of full liberty, in which we achieved 2 circles in each direction 2 times. Backup from me at his tail, backup from the front, draw, walking next to me and stopping. Done, awesome :) big smiles all round.

I could have stayed in the house - but what would I have learned?

Work with what you have

Happy Riding :)

Tanja