Pre-Thanksgiving thanks giving post
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2018 7:54 pm
Or probably more aptly named "Update on My Life". Read on only if you're bored like me.
Some of you may know I lost my handsome boy Hi-Oc to sudden, severe colic on February 1st of this year. He'd never colicked before, never even been sick really. A month shy of his 25th birthday, I couldn't see putting him through surgery - even IF I thought it would save him. Most likely, it was a large lipoma/tumor, and he wouldn't have made it through anyway. I was/am crushed. :,(
Tuffytown was every so gracious, and let me ride her Max on some trail rides - but as you all know, even though it's riding, it's not the same as riding your own. I even tried leasing a Haflinger (I'm pretty intrigued by the breed), but it wasn't a good match. Hubby and I are looking at moving out of state in the next 3 years, so I didn't want to buy another horse...plus not paying monthly ownership costs was helping with the vet bills (my 18yo kitty has racked them up this year with various, serious medical issues).
Fast forward to September/October/now: I've reconnected with my former trainer (BJ Higgins), who worked with me and Hi-Oc through his most trying times. I'm riding a 17.3 Oldenburg named William that she has, that's a 3rd/4th level schoolmaster - and NOT easy as he demands perfection from his rider. Which is perfect for me, as I've acquired some nasty bad habits from riding alone all these years. Case in point: it took me 4 lessons to get a quarter turn on the forehand lol. He's very humbling.
I've also been invited to my friend Susan's barn to ride some Friesians there - namely, Rembrandt, a retired GP stallion but now entering his 3rd profession as schoolmaster (https://www.thedrivingtrainingcenter.com/rembrandt.html). He is tons of fun, quite the stately gentleman, and also demands perfection - if he knows you have some sort of idea what you're supposed to be doing that is! My first ride on him (with Larry Brinker coaching me), we did flying changes and p/p. My position was AWFUL! But just this last Saturday I rode Rembrandt under Ralph Drietzler's tutelage, and saw lots of improvement, thank gawd lol. I'll be riding him again December 8-9 under Larry again, so hopefully I can improve even more.
I have lots to work on. I'm riding about once a week on trained horses with excellent coaches - no more putzing around for me lol! I'm having my shoulder repaired surgically the day after Christmas, and will be unable to ride for a good 2 months, so I'm cramming as much in as possible now . I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be able to at least go along with BJ on her weekly carriage rides, but the weather and my shoulder recovery may make that difficult. I've always wanted to learn how to drive, and since it seems second nature to Haffies, I better learn how now!
SO.
I'm thankful for everything Hi-Oc taught me. There's SO much.
I'm thankful for great friends.
I'm thankful for great coaches.
I'm thankful for great horses.
TL/DR: Be thankful for everything, even if it's painful to see. Everything can be a teaching moment so listen to what it's saying.
Some of you may know I lost my handsome boy Hi-Oc to sudden, severe colic on February 1st of this year. He'd never colicked before, never even been sick really. A month shy of his 25th birthday, I couldn't see putting him through surgery - even IF I thought it would save him. Most likely, it was a large lipoma/tumor, and he wouldn't have made it through anyway. I was/am crushed. :,(
Tuffytown was every so gracious, and let me ride her Max on some trail rides - but as you all know, even though it's riding, it's not the same as riding your own. I even tried leasing a Haflinger (I'm pretty intrigued by the breed), but it wasn't a good match. Hubby and I are looking at moving out of state in the next 3 years, so I didn't want to buy another horse...plus not paying monthly ownership costs was helping with the vet bills (my 18yo kitty has racked them up this year with various, serious medical issues).
Fast forward to September/October/now: I've reconnected with my former trainer (BJ Higgins), who worked with me and Hi-Oc through his most trying times. I'm riding a 17.3 Oldenburg named William that she has, that's a 3rd/4th level schoolmaster - and NOT easy as he demands perfection from his rider. Which is perfect for me, as I've acquired some nasty bad habits from riding alone all these years. Case in point: it took me 4 lessons to get a quarter turn on the forehand lol. He's very humbling.
I've also been invited to my friend Susan's barn to ride some Friesians there - namely, Rembrandt, a retired GP stallion but now entering his 3rd profession as schoolmaster (https://www.thedrivingtrainingcenter.com/rembrandt.html). He is tons of fun, quite the stately gentleman, and also demands perfection - if he knows you have some sort of idea what you're supposed to be doing that is! My first ride on him (with Larry Brinker coaching me), we did flying changes and p/p. My position was AWFUL! But just this last Saturday I rode Rembrandt under Ralph Drietzler's tutelage, and saw lots of improvement, thank gawd lol. I'll be riding him again December 8-9 under Larry again, so hopefully I can improve even more.
I have lots to work on. I'm riding about once a week on trained horses with excellent coaches - no more putzing around for me lol! I'm having my shoulder repaired surgically the day after Christmas, and will be unable to ride for a good 2 months, so I'm cramming as much in as possible now . I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be able to at least go along with BJ on her weekly carriage rides, but the weather and my shoulder recovery may make that difficult. I've always wanted to learn how to drive, and since it seems second nature to Haffies, I better learn how now!
SO.
I'm thankful for everything Hi-Oc taught me. There's SO much.
I'm thankful for great friends.
I'm thankful for great coaches.
I'm thankful for great horses.
TL/DR: Be thankful for everything, even if it's painful to see. Everything can be a teaching moment so listen to what it's saying.