Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Need some good thoughts

E is still in the hospital and although she is comfortable and with her mom, she needs some good thoughts sent her way.  Turns out they now think that it has been a stroke, or many strokes, that have caused her issues but they are still working on a diagnosis.  She was a healthy 18 yo before this happened, its hard to think that someone so young could have one.

So if anyone could spare a thought or a prayer for Emily it would be appreciated.  :(

Monday, October 29, 2012

Cancer sucks, worst Monday in history.

2 people in 3 days.

On Saturday it was the kid (well he was 18) that lived across the road. He has been battling cancer since he was a kid.  No one thought he would survive the first, or second time he had brain cancer but he did.  Last year they found out it was back, and there was nothing left to do.

In the process of his short life he and his mom raised money for brain cancer research and spread awareness across the country.  The good die young.

Today my other 'adult' rider at the barn that I show with lost her mom to colon cancer.  She had only been diagnosed this spring.  On thanksgiving weekend my friend told me that they were giving her 2 months to live.  She died 2 weeks later.  

She was the barn "Mom" and was always around with words of encouragement.  She will be missed.

And yet there is more...

I knew that my former student 'paint kid', E, who now rides with D and C had been having some weird issues at school but today when I mentioned something to my dad he finally told me how bad it is... She is randomly loosing vision, walking into walls and can no longer control her muscles enough to dress herself.  So if anyone has some prayers, or happy thoughts to send to E I would appreciate it.  She goes in for more tests tomorrow and we're hoping to now more by the end of the week.

I have back developments but its nothing compared to everything else today.

Friday, October 26, 2012

My thoughts on Mugs Post and lessons.

Post from Mugs - Bad riding doing good

 Love this and perfect timing!  Oscar is lovely and is helping me just enjoy riding again and not worrying about perfection.  But I think she is correct I need MILES to fix my issues, not lessons where I work on perfection.









I'm tempted to get back into lessons with D, but I realize that it is miles that I need so that I feel more comfortable on a horse.  I know this shit, its just getting my body and mind to work together again. 

So anyone have any thoughts?  1/2 hour lessons once a week plus riding on my own, or just keep riding on my own for now until we are ready to start getting ready for shows?

Oscar update

eating grass
I promised Oscar's owner more pictures so I decided to share with you as well.  Hes doing really well, and gaining weight in all the right areas.

more grass, he doesnt like standing still for pictures
Love this one of him, really shows how he's starting to glow!
October photo opportunity

Thursday, October 25, 2012

A ride (finaly!)

So I managed to get a quick ride in last night, my friends mother came and rode her mostly retired show horse with me so I wasn't alone either.  Thanks to my Chiropractor, for the first time in memory I didn't feel like I was off balance when I first got on the horse, nor did I think that my stirrups need to be adjusted.  I was finally 'even'! 

We had a nice walk/trot/jog with Oscar.  Hes a lot of fun right now.  We're both enjoying the challenge of getting to know each other and the things that make both of us happy.  I have been riding him in a snaffle but if I pick up both reins at the same time and push him into it he gets frustrated.  I'm going to take out my french link tomorrow and give that a try.  Its such a challenge figuring out why a horse likes one bit and not another.  The bits that his owner has been riding him in are ok, but she's been having issues with him getting over flexed and getting frustrated with her so its a good time to look at it if this is an ongoing issue for him.

I got his shoes pulled, and he's barefoot now.doesn't seem to be an issue.  He does have some hock issues, but hopefully with some slow building work this winter they will improve.

The picture below is one I took for oscars owner, D and the cats wanted to be in the picture too!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Another former student is a congress finalist! (update)

Will have a full post later but one of the former students (first families to actually 'pay me' to ride their horse) youngest daughter had a great go in the novice trail and is in the finals! I'm so happy and excited for her!

This family started riding at the barn where I worked, and I helped them buy there first horse (they often admired him so when I heard that the original owners *might* be thinking about selling, I let the family know.)  They paid me a little extra to ride there horse on the weeks they couldn't get there, which was a big help financially for me at the time, and he was a very broke horse which helped my riding.  The younger daughter liked horses but didn't have much interest in riding.  Over the years as she developed more interest they purchased a horse that I broke out as a 2 yo for her to show (he was 5 when they bought him).  Both of those horses are semi-retired now and the two girls share one horse to show.  From the little shy girl that she was, I'm so happy to see her dreams coming true.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Still Alive!

I'm just about fully recovered from the cold, still have a bit of a cough, but even that seems to be going away. 

Oscar is good, tonight I actually had a chance to brush him for the first time in over a week.  I think he likes being a pretend halter horse, I'll have to get some updated pictures.  His coat is looking great, he's keeping his blanket on (he is well known for his ability to rip himself out of blankets he doesn't like) and hes gained some weight over the past couple of weeks. 

The chiropractor has really been helping.  I noticed on Wednesday that my ankle was bothering me a little, and I had an appointment but before I had a chance to say anything he said "oh your lower back needs done today!".  I'm also on a type of Flora digestive aid that he recommended that seems to be helping my digestive system.  And biggest change of all:

I've stopped drinking Pepsi!

I do miss it occasionally but I realize now what a huge factor it was playing in my health.  I'm still drinking lots of juice, but its much better for me than Pepsi.  And I have managed to triple my water intake over the past week.

I will say that my face has stopped breaking out, so if the outside is improving we can hope the same thing is happening in the inside.