Fall Already!

 Wow! What a summer. This has been a crazy wonderful few months. This spring started out great. Robin come out of winter happy, healthy and going better then she ever had. We have a few great clinics and lessons with some wonderful instructors that really progressed our training.

 In June Justin and I took a week long road trip down to Homer with the dogs. The weather was a bit on the wet and cold side but it was still a great trip. Justin loved Halibut Cove and my parents loved him.

Robin and I were training level Champions at the Golden Heart Horse show this year. She was a real rock start this year. 

Justin and I were exceedingly happy this year.

We bought a house!

Last Summer Fun

Snow Mare

Progress

I love my horse! Robin is progressing well. We jump during our last Friday lesson. She did far better than expected. I need to work on my jumping position and actually RELEASING over the fence. She was a little rushy approaching the fences but was easy to half halt down to a slower trot. I still can't believe I got so lucky!

Shato Red Robin

I did it! After more than 20 years of begging, wishing and hoping for my own horse I finally have a little red mare to call my own. It has been seven weeks this Sunday since she became mine. Here is a photo of my beauty a few days after I got her:

It is a fairy tale story (to me at least) of how I ended up being this amazing little mares owner. I have admired her for years as the ride of one of my friends. When I received a text message from our mutual trainer that Robin was up for sale I knew that I had buy her. The next day we completed the vet inspection, I signed the check and Robin was mine. I quite literally didn't sleep for days out of excitement and terror of what my buying a horse meant for my future with the absent boyfriend. Moving a horse to Balitmore would be quite the undertaking.

Robin and I are slowly learning to trust each other. We have good rides and bad ones. Tonight was a bad one. The day conspired against us. I had a stressful and long day at work so I arrived at the barn late and in a less than ideal riding frame of mind. Robin stood beautifully in the cross ties even with the noise of a stablemate getting his teeth floated. Once we headed outside things went down hill. It was a breezy cool night and we were alone. Between the fox lurking at one end of the arena, a sandhill crane calling and then taking off right at us, cars driving by and noisy kids our goal of 'soft stretchy walk' was never reached. We did have a ton of 'scoot across the arena'. NOT what I was going for!

We have had some good rides. Here are a few photos of our lesson last with week Esther. She has work wonders with me and Robin. This was the frame I was going for tonight.

We did not achieve it for more than a few steps. Oh well, better luck next time.

The Plan

What am I doing with my life? This has been the predominant question of late. I am feeling slightly out of control of my life right now. I have decided to make what changes I can to the way I live.

The first change I am planning is to take up gardening. I have been reading a blog called Cold Antler Farm that has really encourage me to live a more self sufficient life style. Earlier this winter I decided to loose weight and get healthier. Part of that is to eat more vegetable. I think the best way to accomplish this is to grown my own. Katie and Peter mentioned that they are thinking of planting a garden. I originally thought I would join them but I now think I about going plant a few vegetables in pots instead of planting beds. My first crop will include lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, and peas. I also might try mini corn, strawberries, and broccoli.