Crazy but VERY fun weekend!

To continue on with my "time to get over it" mindset, this past Saturday after work Dean picked me up and we headed to Charleston to the rodeo!  Dean really wanted to ride a bull and Sammii and the kids were meeting us there.  Mason had a blast watching the pole benders and was too cute when one of the horses kind of reared every other stride Mason yelled "WABAAAH" little cutie - pop wheelies and stunts are so fun to him!!  So then came the bull riding.....I said "Daddy's gonna ride a bull" and Mason said "NO!" and shook his head!  HAHA - Oh yes buddy, daddy most definitely is!

  
He didn't win any money - but he's now hooked!  August 3rd he's gonna try again!

After the rodeo we followed Sam home to get the trailer and then sleep drove home to get a couple hours sleep so we could head to Dexter to North Country Riding Club for their game show Sunday morning.

5 am came WAY too early and we ended up running behind the schedule I had in my head but we got there.  I took Sierra this time and I had NO idea what to expect - I've never taken her to a show, I've never ridden with more than one or two horses and I've CERTAINLY never tried any games with her.

She was a rock star!  For the most part - she is a mare and she is pretty opinionated about being with a buddy.  She had a hissy fit a couple times but none of her shenanigans scared me.  A year ago, it would have terrified me.

The morning started off with COFFEE...

Right after the picture below was taken something happened, I'm still not sure what exactly it was but the two on the inside STOPPED, we were cantering. GAH!  We bumped into the little black one and Sierra gave a MIGHTY buck when the horses behind up loped up close.....MUST work on that with her for sure!  Even THAT didn't shake me to the "I have to get down" point....I think it probably just made me more determined NOT to get scared and work through it!

Mason would come over and hold his hands up and say "UP LYSHA UP"....And of course, Lysha does what Mason says and would lean over and grab his little hands and lift him up!  Thank heavens for little horses!

He took my reins and said "MY HORSE LYSHA" haha no sir little man this one's MINE!

Pretty girls ribbons for the day - we didn't go in all the classes we registered for, by 4pm I was hot, sweaty and exhausted and Sierra was done and getting cranky.  She did so good and I definitely don't want to make her NOT want to go in the ring so I untacked her and sponged her off and let her eat some hay while Sam and Toad finished up their day.

All in all it was a GREAT day!  I will admit, I got frustrated with her refusal to settle down when Sam and Toad would go off and leave us but she needs to get over that.  She would have a fit in the ring when we went in for ribbons if she wasn't RIGHT next to him.

All just stuff to work on.  She's green, still young and we just need more wet saddle blankets...BOTH of us!!

Speaking of that - I finally found a saddle that fits her AMAZINGLY well, and while I was afraid it would be too small for me - it's not.  I feel secure, safe and totally comfortable in it!  AND I can get on miss thing from the ground which is not something that I have attempted since my incident with Doc.  But I figure, if I can get on Toad the giant moose from the ground, I can get on my chunky girl from the ground!!

I am truly in love with horses and riding again and am SO excited to be back in the ring!!

This is why we do what we do

It's been a long...LONG while since I've posted! Lord life surely gets in the way sometimes!  We moved, then got divorced, then I moved again....and again and yes....AGAIN!  WHEW!  Through it all I managed to hang onto Sierra and Rowdy - I let all my other horses and my goats go.  :( That was rough.  Through the last 2 years I've probably ridden less than a dozen times and I've seriously found myself wondering....WHY?  WHY do I invest my time and SOOOO much money.

That answer is simple. This is what we do.  My best friend in the world reminded me of this just last week.  Her daughter and her daughters horse were in a horrible wreck.  Freak accident - her daughter had to have surgery and looked like a boxer who'd lost several rounds and they initially thought her horse would eventually be ok but in the end, letting her go was the best thing for her.  Her injuries were just too much.

Sam said it the best - so I'm stealing it from her -

"This is what we do. It's in our blood, it always has been from the time we were little. If you don't have it you will never understand it. We can go some time without it. But we always, always find our way back to it. It will always be there.. You just wouldn't understand it, there are only a few words that can explain it. Those that have it, know it, know that it's like the air we breathe. We know there are risks. Every time we put a foot in the stirrup, we know. Ever since she was two weeks old, she has ridden. They are the air we breathe. We may wander away from it but we always wander back. This is who we are and we can't explain it but if you have it, you know what we mean. Tami Hoag explained it best in Dark Horse. I even have it tattooed. " On the back of a horse, I felt whole, complete, connected to that vital place in the center of me and the chaos within found balance!" "

I've wrecked.  I've lost my confidence. I used to be a pretty good rider.  Seeing what Jo has gone through, and knowing that when her Dr's ok it - she's gonna Cowgirl Up and get her ass right back on a horse, and listening to Sam's words - has made me realize - this IS what we do!  This IS who I am!  I have wasted FAR too much time on a cop out excuse and being "scared".  To hell with fear!  I used to live, sleep, breathe (I was going to say eat....but well...) horses and without them, I am not me!  A ride, even the SHORTEST one on the back of a horse is enough to improve my mood ten times over.  I have a good horse, she's green but she's probably the sanest, most forgiving, loving horse I've met (besides Buck - no one will ever be him).  

Last weekend I decided after looking at hundreds of pics on FB of other people having a blast at game shows this summer that *I* wanted to go to one!!  I borrowed one of Sam's horses, Sierra didn't have a current rabies vaccine (which is being done today so we can hit the ring Sunday!) - I'd never ridden this horse before.  I'd only seen him from the driveway - he looks like a moose, he's pretty huge, which anyone who knows me, knows I like "ponies" not giants!!  But I hopped on that horse and I fell in love.  Toad is a kind, well broke, forgiving old man.  Been there, done that ranch type horse and he is very much like Buck.  Get in the ring and LET'S GO! Leave the ring and he falls asleep.  I <3 him!

I have no pictures as I was WAY too nervous and worked up - I had Dean and Sam and Tate there to cheer me on - Sam was riding too and she's such a good coach and calming force for me.  I am truly blessed to have wonderful people in my life who fully support and encourage me to do the things I love.

Look for pictures next week - Sunday we'll be at it again!  And I can't wait!!  :)