Mail Call

THANK YOU!! I got this in the mail today from Ashley. She created it for me when Denali decided to scare the crap out of everyone! I LOVE IT!! Thank you!!

Loving Lessons!

Sunday I had my second lesson and it was AMAZING. I really wish that I would have found this barn when I first got back into riding. I think I'd be a different person now, but that's why stuff happens I guess. Everything happens for a reason.

I showed up early and noticed the trainer on the horse I rode last week. I figured she had either A. Forgotten about our lesson, or B. Had another lesson going on.

When I got out of the car I got the most enthusiastic hello. She told me that she wanted to get right to work, and she knows that I know how to tack up a horse. It was an awesome lesson. We did a lot of ground work and so much just "clicked" that I always knew how to do, but I learned "why." Hopefully as the lessons go on I'll be able to explain it. We talked about walk departures. She had me just sit on the horse and relax. She'd walk off with Mr. Saint of a horse and we talked about what I felt in my body. She'd ask me to repeat what I felt with my body without her doing anything. It was pretty amazing. This is the one thing that I have never "got" was how to use my body properly.

We ended the lesson by doing a lot of seat work. It was a great lesson. I need to miss this Sunday because I'll have friends in town for a 5k. I am really excited for November 6th.

P.S. Ignore the horse's plea for snacks. She's fine.

Momz starvez me. Send treatz.

Ungrateful Mare

I can't tell if I get depressed and upset in October because traditionally it's when Denali starts to fall apart and something bad happens, or because it's starting to get dark and rainy. I am superstitious. I can't help it.


October 2008 - I am in Denmark, and Denali is living in the shit hole.
October 2009 - Denali diagnosed with EPM ($4,000 in treatment for something she DIDN'T have.)
October 2010 - Denali becomes uncoordinated again and starts tripping again.

See why I'm concerned?

I had a meeting at the center tonight. On my way in I noticed that Denali was in Pasture C (farthest pasture from the barn.) Of course she decided to stand in the mud (when there was an entire pasture of grass.) I think it was for the pity points.

The vet and I had a meeting about Denali. I got the photo the other day of them treating Denali and freaked out when I thought of all the vet bills. We had her on a plan (worked three days a week, Adequan, and body work 2X a month.) I asked the vet if we could spread the bodywork out to once a month for a few months. I got the second job, but won't get paid for that until December. I don't want to owe her a lot of money. Plus there's her Smartpak on top of it. Somethings going to have to give. I can see a difference when she's on it, but still...more $$$.

Oh to have a horse that is sound and sane.

After our meeting I left the barn to go and do some work for school. I stopped at Denali's new pasture to say hi on my way home and got the cold shoulder.

Thanks Denali. I put my heart,soul and every spare penny into you and that's the thanks I get.

How many Vet Techs does it take....

How many Vet techs and Vet Assistants does it take to tend to my horse....

....sigh....

Three, and from the sounds of it a few more would have helped.

Oh Denali, WHY, WHY must you INSIST on being a pain in the ass? Why? Is it because you heard that I got another job to help pay for your vet bills?

DAMN IT!!!!!

It's not as bad as it looks. She has scratches, and they were not getting better, but worse. The vet did some stuff to her legs and they are wrapping her and keeping her in a stall at night (SHE HATES IT!) Damn it Denali!! Do you not remember that I freak out when it's October - January? Please! For ONCE give me a FUCKING BREAK!!! UGH!

Lessons Learned

Today was my first "real" lesson in almost a year. I went to the new barn, with a new trainer and I won't lie that I was nervous as hell. I kept trying to make excuses as to why I shouldn't start taking lessons.

1. Too much money eventually (currently they are free.)
2. I don't own a horse to ride.
3. It takes time that I don't have.

The list goes on (it's a 45 minute ride to the barn.) I finally got to the barn about 10 minutes before my lesson was to start and watched the lesson before mine. I was going to wear my pretty breaches, and beautiful tall boots. Instead I wore my jeans that need patching and my new bog boots (rubber boots.) I realized that I didn't have my helmet. I was a nervous wreck.

MC (The trainer) came out to get me. She is so, so calm that it calms me down (AND I NEED THAT!) We talked again, and she reminded me that she was going to teach me everything as if though I have never touched a horse. Best thing ever.

It was an amazing lesson. I had so many "ah ha" moments that I couldn't help but smile. One thing that I like is that she explains things in a way that I totally get. At one point she reminded me that a horses resting heartbeat is 38-40 beats per minute, and a human's is around 70 (resting.) That automatically a horse will sense that we have a higher heart rate than they do, and that can make them nervous. You take me, who's heart rate skyrockets when I'm nervous and no wonder Denali totally thinks I'm a freak.

After some ground work and explaining MC eventually got me on a horse. It was so relaxing and wonderful, I am glad to be back. I actually left the lesson feeling like I learned something, and less stressed out than I was when I started. It was nice. I also lucked into the 2pm lesson spot on Sunday. Apparently that's a coveted time slot. (So said the woman who's lesson was before mine.) We'll see how it goes, but I am going back next Sunday.

In other news (and I keep forgetting to mention this.) I am unable to post comments on blogs. I haven't been able to for a while, and thought it was a glitch. Has anyone else had this problem? It keeps telling me that "Your current account (xxxxxxxx@gmail.com) does not have access to view this page." Makes me sad. Please don't think that I don't care!! I do a ton, and I wish I could tell you.

ALSO: Thank you to Slbaldwin for my AWESOME award!! I'm glad that we inspire you!! BUT it's ALL of YOU who inspire me! So THANK YOU!!

Pretty Pony

Some photos of Denali. It's been two years now since our battle has started. Some days it feels like just yesterday, and other days it feels like a lifetime of fighting for her and with her. She's doing well and for that I'm grateful! I won't lie. The past two years, October and November have been horrible and I get really nervous when I think about this year.

It's a Major Award

Thanks to Megan over at http://operationhorserescue.blogspot.com/ for this award. Now this is the point that I name 15 blogs and 7 things about me.

1. I love to organize, as long as it isn't my house or my office at work.

2. I have a huge pet peeve against people who don't call or e-mail back in a timely manner.

3. I obsess over things (WHAT? I know, shocking right?) to the point that I make myself sick.

4. I still dream about what I want to be when I grow up (I'm 30 mind you.)

5. When someone does something nice for me I file it (literally, I have a box) away and try to make a point to repay the favor somehow, someday.

6. I met my husband at a bar. I was tanked and he drove me home. I knew the moment I saw him walk in the door that I was going to marry him, and I don't even think that it had anything to do with the 3 prior Malibu and Diet Coke.

7. I use to be so shy I didn't talk to anyone. In college I got a little more outgoing, and if you know me in real life I know you'll find it shocking that I could have ever been shy.

and for the 15 blogs...

In no particular order.....drum roll please......

Pia's Parade

Sweet Horse's Breath

Miles on Miles

A Fearsome Beauty

Dapple of My Eye

My Farmer's Life

A Collection of Madcap Escapades

Barn Door Tagz

R Lil Bit of Cash

A Good Horse

Eventing-a-Gogo

Sprinklerbandit

Mustang Cheyenne

A Process of Learning

and #15. You! I realize that isn't fair, but I can't pick JUST 15.

Andrea and Gogo

"The soul would

have no rainbow

if the eyes had no tears."

-Native American Proverb

 

Rest in Peace Gogo Mare. May peace comfort your mom, and may green pastures welcome you on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge. Rest in Peace sweet, sweet mare.

Time Flies

I'm currently sitting at the Dr.'s office with my arms wrapped in ice. Have to love allergy shots. Oh the things we do for love.

I can not believe that it is the middle of October already! I have no idea where September went. None. Zip. Not that I can complain too much. I don't mind when time flies. I think it's only fair that my summer break was gone in a snap, I hope the same thing happens for winter.

My friends and I always have a bi-annual girls weekend. This time we went to a friend's beach house on the Pacific Ocean in a small town in Oregon. It was beautiful. I would have loved to have wandered the beach for hours. My friends had other plans, but it as still fun. On our way home from the beach I realized that it was the middle of October and I have yet to pay Denali's board and vet bills. UGH. I don't want to see that bill.

In other news I got an e-mail last week. It is from a trainer that donated some lessons to the auction we did for the horses who survived the fire. She heard through the grape vine that I haven't really ridden in over a year and asked me to take lessons with her. Someone had explained to her my "traumatic" experience last November and that I really was afraid.  I really liked her when I talked to her in August. Best part of the whole situation? The lessons (five of them) are free. She said she wanted to help me. If she's like me she likes a challenge and boy am I a challenge! She wants me to have a weekly lesson, and as long as I show up they will be free. They are normally $75.00 so that's awesome. I guess it's good that I do nice things for others sometimes.

I go tomorrow to watch a lesson with her and talk about what both of our goals are for me. We'll see how it goes.

And in other sad news, my heart goes out to Andrea and Gogo. Andrea, you did everything you could for her, and showed her so much love and devotion. I really wish that things could be different for you and that I could be there with you. Lots and Lots of love to you!! There are no words to take the pain away. Know that Denali and I love you and will be thinking of you and your sweet, sweet mare!! (If you want to still donate to their gifts you can pay via paypal.)

Gogo

Gogo and Andrea,

You were there when we needed you the most. We are here for you now. I'm so sorry for what you are going through.

Love Always,

Brooke and Denali

Rain, Rain, go away....

There was a gelding clinic at the center today. We turned 6 men into boys (as one of the old farmers told me.) Denali did the normal when there is a gelding clinic and went into instant heat. Seriously, I think she'd be so easy to breed (NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER happening!!!!)

I was doing some paper work in the office when it started to rain. Denali drops weight if its cold and raining so I ran up to put her blanket on her. She saw me coming and came running over to the shed. Sweet girl. I grabbed her blanket and threw it on her. It looked funny, but I assumed that it was twisted or the straps were stuck. Nope, not stuck. The mare managed to tear off her one strap, loose her but strap AND get a rip at the neck. At this point the blanket is more patches than it is blanket and isn't really waterproof anymore. I decided that she really needs a new one (the old one was almost 3 years old) and went to look online. Every blanket was going to take 10 days to ship here, so I decided to bite the bullet and go into town and pay the extra $20.00 that I would have saved online. They had blue and green ONLY. Nothing that a fine mare would want to wear, but I figured green is less boy than blue. PLUS it's the Center's color.

How cute is she? How fat am I!

I love this horse. She is an amazing spirit and just so damn funny that I sometimes wonder if she knows she's a horse. I think we will have a lot of fun together once I get rid of my whole panic attack problem when I think of riding. It's been almost a year, you'd think I'd be over the whole almost dying thing.

I appreciate that she will come running to me when she hears me of sees me walking. I love that she stood at the gate most of the summer staring at the office door waiting for me to come out and when I did, she'd nicker the loudest nicker. I am happy that she is smart enough to know that I'm nervous and she tries SO, SO hard to take care of me. She went to spook the other day and bumped into me. She hit me and flew back so hard away from me she almost toppled over. She tries so hard.

 She had another vet appointment yesterday. I don't know how it went, but she looked happy! I will get the update on Monday or Tuesday. I've been trying to get hoof shots. I have one! I'll work on that.