The Circle is Complete.

Four years ago, I lost my equine partner and friend, Monty. The search for another Good Horse to love and have a partnership with has taken me into some places I never thought I'd go. But I don't regret any of the lessons brought to me on this journey, even the hard ones.

Yesterday I rode on a hunter pace with Joey. The first time in the two years I have owned him that we were able to do this. He was without a doubt the best horse I've ever ridden at an event like this. He was my Good Horse and so much more. In a simple snaffle bit I rode him over the 12 mile course and he was flawless. He's a great team horse. He will lead, but prefers to follow. He canters across open fields on a loose rein and will slow and stop with a soft touch and a gentle "whoa". We didn't jump the big jumps, but that will come and if it doesn't, I am still happy.

I owe so many good people my gratitude. I have been blessed with many folks who have helped me return to what I love doing.

Whoever let this horse get away from them was a fool. But I'm glad they didn't see the kind, sweet and loyal horse inside him or I never would have had the chance to have him as a partner.

He saved me. I saved him.

Never give up on your journey. Learn from every experience - even the bad ones and don't let it dim your passion. The payoff is there, but sometimes you have to wait for the clarity to realize when it's right in front of you.

I love you, Joey.

The team of the painted ponies, lucky team #7!

Ready for the start!

Last jump!

Cantering away!

To the finish line!

What is A Good Horse?

Horse Personalities

Doing a quick catch up today on some of my favorite blogs and loved this post by my friend at A Horse and a Half. It's a quiz about horse personalities. I laughed at the results for the two horses in her life and decided to take the quiz myself for Joey.

Darned if the quiz didn't get it 100% right! Joey is a "Steady Eddie" - If you are a novice or amateur, this is the horse for you. They are quiet and predictable, loving and engaging, willing to learn new things, willing to hang out with you and do nothing. This is not your big ego, career-oriented horse. They are happy to just be. Consistent and loyal, all you need to do is enjoy.

That is just SOOO him! Granted, he's a young steady eddie and still open to some foolishness now and then but it's never anything that can't be gently managed. As he ages, he will be the horse in the description 100%.

Try the quiz for yourself if you haven't already done so over at A Horse and a Half and share your horses results in the comments. How accurate is it for your equine friend?

Happy 75th birthday to George Morris

He was the "word" when I was growing up as a hunt seat equitation rider. His emphasis on horsemanship is to be commended and his record does speak for itself. Not always the most congenial in conveyance of his message but still a worthy master of his craft to learn from. Ride on, Mr. Morris.

Are Registration Papers Important When He's a Gelding?

Maybe, maybe not, right? I can't breed him. I am sure enough he doesn't come from any famous bloodline that I'd wager on it. He will never be sold so I don't need the papers to make him look fancy.

Yet I have been emailing the American Warmblood Society and trying to get his AWS papers since I first posted about my figuring out his early origins here: OMG I Found Him!

I know many of you thought it best I don't stir the pot so to speak but I want his papers. It's like I want his identity to belong to him again and be safe with me. As of today I am the closest I have ever been to getting them. It may take another month or two after I submit paperwork to them and my finger's crossed but it's happening! And I have to add, the AWS Team has been really great in trying to do this for me considering the missing pieces of Joey's past.

I love this horse so much. He's had two months of just chillin' (literally) in this cold snowy winter yet on the days when it's been thawed out and nice enough for me to ride, all he needs is a 10 minute twirl on the lunge line to assess his mood (which is usually quiet or needing one lap around with a snort and his tail up) and we're good to go for an obedient light walk/trot ride.

And he gives horsey kisses now, too. If I blow gently in his nostril, he wiggles his lips and then proceeds to horsey smooch my face until I laugh. No teeth, all gentle. He'll even do it if I make kissy noises at the opening in his stall where the feed is poured into his bucket, he'll walk over and smooch my cheek through the opening.

Still a match made in heaven.

The Horse Dictionary

It's been forever since I posted anything on my blog. I'm good, Joey is good and we're both stuck in this godawful winter! No consistent riding all through January and now this big snowstorm has frozen us in our tracks! But I just came across this and thought it would be a day brightener so enjoy!

(I especially like the Owner, Rider and Trainer descriptions!)

Stolen Saddles!

In less than a week, two stables in my area have been broken into and saddles were stolen! One place lost 25-30 western saddles and the place that was hit today had dressage/english saddles stolen. No news yet on the details from that most recent one.

This is pretty bad. I don't remember hearing of tack thefts of this size around here for many, many years. Local folks are convinced it has to be the same people doing this. They are checking in with the auctions held in our state and neighboring states to alert them if someone comes in with a large lot of saddles to unload. People are also trawling Craigslist to see if things are posted on there.

Just today on Facebook, the Chronicle of the Horse posted about thefts of 150-200 bales of hay. You can read it here: Hay stolen from Kennebec farm

And apparently these kind of hay thefts are not unheard of, too.

Wow, desperate times? Has anyone else been hearing of things like this? Keep an extra watch on your possessions, folks. Be safe.