Riding Horses Again

Wow am I a bit sore today after my riding lesson yesterday.  Yesterday's lesson was the first one in two years - since my daughter's horse, Rex, had died.  I am being reminded of muscles I don't normally think about every time I move.

I wouldn't trade it for anything though.  I was so excited to get back on a horse again.  I didn't want to after Rex died.  That broke my heart, but I have to say it was time to get back on again.  It was so much fun. 

I thought I'd be starting over from the beginning, but I remembered how to tack my horse up again and trotted for about half my lesson.  It was like I picked up where I left off.  So much fun!!

What was also fun - - - being able to have a riding lesson without kids there yelling, "Mom?" repeatedly throughout the lesson for my attention.  It was just "mom" time yesterday morning.  It was nice.

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Horse Loving Family

We have two horses. One is my horse and the other is my oldest daughter's horse. I ride Western (when I ride...it's been a year since a horse of ours died and I haven't rode since) and my daughter rides English. I like to ride casually (at a walk) while my daughter likes to canter and jump. We are complete opposites when it comes to what we enjoy about horses.

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Bling for my Horse

I went on a little shopping spree over the weekend buying pet supplies for my horse, JeeNee. She needed a new leather headstall. I was undecided whether to go for bling or function on the headstall but I think I made the right choice. She is also getting new reins and a new bit. Once I decide on her colors and get the saddle pad, she'll be one stylin' spotted draft.

What is the best colors for a black and white mare? Pink? Purple? Red? Orange? I am sure some of you are wondering what the heck it matters but if you know me well, you know I have this thing about matching. Obviously, it has extended beyond myself and my kids to my horse too.

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I Saw The Wagon Teamster Today!

While out shopping this morning, I wasn't too suprised to see, going in the opposite direction, four horses pulling a wagon. Where we live, we see a lot of horses pulling buggies, however, unlike those, this one had a name and web site on it and it looked more like a small trailer. On the way back from shopping, I passed the four horses and wagon. Hmm...so I thought I'd look them up online.

It turns out this team of horses is pulling a man cross country. His "wagon" is actually his home that he built himself. For pictures and more information about this team, check them out here.

How cool is that? I actually saw them today!!

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My Horse Jumps Pasture Fences *sigh*

Horses are powerful animals, but they seem to get hurt easily. My clyde/paint cross decided to jump a pasture fence for the first time last night and cut her back legs up. Here's the pics. She gave herself a little owie, but she's had her shots, there is no swelling, so she should be ok. Hopefully, the big moose doesn't try it again!

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Stages of Grief

It's been a week today since we lost Rex. I went to the stable today with tears. I stood by what used to be his stall and held his bridle thinking about him, looked at all his little reddish hairs stuck to the underside of his saddle pad. It was hard to go to the stable, very emotional, but I do have to say that when I left there, I felt better. My mare was her usual mooch self over treats and I pet some of the other horses whose owners don't come around to visit their horses. I think I will go next week and start working with my mare and our trainer and get back into things again. This morning, I was crying on the way home from the grocery store and right now, I feel a little better that I'm not stuck in grief right now.

The five stages of grief:

1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

I've been through one (denial and utter shock) and seem to go back and forth between stages 2, 3, and 4. The stages of grief really stink but I know eventually, we'll get through them.

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Rough Week For Us

It's been a rough several days since losing Rex last Thursday. Like my 11 year old said many times, it's not fair. Rex shouldn't be gone. He had too much life and personality to just not be here anymore. He was a magnificent animal and we miss him terribly.

I thought I was doing better yesterday but I think that was just because it had been busy getting the kids off to their first day of school. Last night was difficult, depressing. He is gone and we can never ride him again, never pet or brush him, never see his funny faces again. He's not there anymore. It's awful to think about.

I keep having bad dreams every night...have since he died. They always include horses, sometimes include babies (probably me trying to deal with my baby going to school), and nightmare material with bad guys and all that stuff. My daughter and I got attached to Rex very fast. It would have been impossible not to - everybody did. He was definitely well-loved. I just wish we'd had longer to love him. I guess my subconscious is trying to deal with that while I sleep with these dreams.

I told my daughter, to try to bring her out of her funk, that Rex made us happy, made us laugh and smile and he would want her smiling and happy again. Easy to say to a child...not so easy to do myself I am finding.

I started a memorial page for him but it was too hard to finish to I set it aside for now. I'll post the link when I finish it.

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Lost A Wonderful Horse

RIP Sweet Rex

My daughter's horse died the night before last. He was her best friend.

For me, yesterday was initially tears and then shock and disbelief that he was gone; it didn't fully sink in until around 2:30 a.m. last night or morning...whatever. I held it together for the kids yesterday, but today is a lot worse. It's harder to hold it together today. I don't know how a horse so full of personality and life could be gone just like that. My daughter had just rode him bareback for the first time two days before he passed away and he was making his silly faces at us afterward. I never knew a horse who made faces but Rex did. For my daughter, she still hasn't stopped crying for the past 24 hours. She holes herself up in her room and cries. I pull her out to eat but she goes right back into her room when she is done. I can't blame her...I'd curl up somewhere too if I could. She wants Rex back. I can't make this better for her. I can be there to hold her and talk to her when she cries but I can't make her grief any less. She has to go through her grieving process. We all do.

Rex gave her confidence. Rex pulled her out of herself when she was going thru some bad times earlier this year and became her best friend. He taught her a lot. Maybe that was why he was with us, though it was for far too short of a time. He should've had another decade with us. I will forever be grateful for what he did for her. I just wish we'd had longer to love him in life.

He wasn't just a pet to us. He is missed.

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Jeffers Equine Takes Care of Your Horse

We have two horses that we love. They are a joy to be around and a great stress reliever when everyday stress starts to get to me. When I get stressed, all my husband has to say is, "go to the stable" and I am out the door to unwind. They give us so much and we want to make sure they are taken care of right so they remain happy and healthy horses. They deserve fantastic care. We do this by making sure they have good care, the right horse supplies, and a lot of loving scritches in their favorite scratch spots.


Jeffers Equine offers everything you need to take great care of your equine friends at a discount. Now I am off to shop for a breastplate to keep Rex's saddle from slipping.

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Three Little Girls Crying

I brushed Jack so he looked pretty for his ride to his new owner's house, kissed his cute little horse head and said my good-byes. My four kids all said their good-byes to him while he was still in his stall (with one daughter crying already). When he was led out of his stall to the trailer, I ended up with three little girls crying (my son's eyes just watered but the girls were waterworks...even the three year old). I had sent them out to the swingset so they wouldn't be underfoot and safely out of the way. I could hear them sobbing out in the yard from the trailer.

It's hard to think about Jack not being there anymore waiting at the gate for us.

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Tears Today

Today is going to bring a lot of tears. We sold our horse, Jack, and he goes to his new home today. He's going to a new home to be a trail horse, which is what he did before we bought him (and what I believe will make him a happy boy). He'll be happier once the initial stress from moving and getting to know his new home (new owners and new pasture buddies) goes away.

It's been put off. He was supposed to leave a few days ago but a truck breaking down prevented his move. It's been a bit of an emotional roller coaster. On one hand, I just want it done and over with so we can deal with the tears and get used to him not waiting at the gate for us at the stable. On the other, I don't want to see him leave.

In about an hour, I will pack all the kids in the car to head down to the stable. We don't want him to leave without saying good-bye.

It's a sad day today. By lunchtime, I figure half the family will be in tears.

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JeeNee's Training - Part IV

Here is the last part of JeeNee's training from last season. Her first trot with a passenger and she did great! You also have to check out the sunset in the background (makes for a darker video but pretty nonetheless). It was a beautiful night.

By the way, JeeNee turned four this month!! Happy Birthday, JeeNee.

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JeeNee's Training - Part III

Here is Part III of JeeNee's training. This is her first time walking with a passenger on her back. She's such a good girl!!

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JeeNee's Training - Part II

Here is Part II of JeeNee's training from the end of 2007 before winter set in. Part I can be seen here.

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My Baby

Our family loves horses. We are as green as it gets pretty much, and we spook more than the horses do, but we love them anyway. I've had my filly for almost two years now but being part Clyde and so young, she was started slowly. Our trainer has done an excellent job of starting her right. We've just been working on ground manners up until this last fall when it was time to start getting her used to some saddle time. Here is the first video from that session. Turn on your speakers and enjoy the music while you watch. Her progress was all caught on video so I'll post the rest of the videos soon too.

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Great Ride

I had a good ride on my daughter's horse today. It was my first time riding him. He is a large horse but his size, surprisingly, didn't phase me at all. If you know me and how much I worry about everything, this would be a big surprise to you too. He is a well-trained horse who is going to teach my daughter and me how to become good riders I think.

His previous owners couldn't keep him anymore so we got really lucky to be able to adopt him. As you can see, my daughter loves her big guy!

If you know of anybody looking for a trail horse, contact me through the comments section. There is a handsome black/white gelding looking for a job with the right person who has a loving home.

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