Ready, Set, RIDE!

Today I took Ben on his first trail ride around Gazzam Lake. In order to get there I took a trail that goes up through my parent's woods and connects to our neighbor's field. Ben was pretty excited to see the open field and I'm sure he would have rather just stopped there to eat their nice grass for the rest of the day, but I had different plans. So up in the saddle I got and we proceeded on our way passing through another neighbor's yard, down their driveway and out on a little country road.

Ben was super on the road and wasn't afraid of any of the cars or trucks that passed us. I had to laugh though, since the one thing that did spook him along our way was a small herd of sheep. He stopped dead in this tracks and stared them down with his nostrils flared for quite a while before he felt comfortable to proceed.

Once we got up to Gazzam Lake, I decided I better take it safely and mostly walk and trot around the first half of the loop since I wanted him to get used to his surroundings and I didn't want any branches or logs to pop up on us unexpectedly. So after I made it to my turning point and knew all was clear I took him for a steady canter and then let him all out into a gallop. I could tell he was having as great of a time as I was.

It's been over 7 years since I've ridden on those trails and it brought back many memories for me. I love how quiet it is galloping through the forest and all you can here is the clicking of your horses' hooves against the occasional rocks in the path. During my teenage and college years I spent many summer days riding these trails and contemplating my life and where it was going to take me.

I'm so thankful to be where I am now. I have a great husband and two wonderful boys. My husband truly loves me and wants to make me so happy. He is able to notice when I am in dire need of his help and also needing a way out so that I can be able to find myself again. Thank you so much Jeffery for allowing me to purchase a horse! You don't know how much this means to me.

For so long I've been putting other people's needs in front of my own with my own interests and desires on the back burner, I've felt like I've been disappearing. It's so wonderful to be able to do something that you love again! There's no place I'd rather be than on the back of a horse and it's where I feel most comfortable and at peace.

I'd also like to thank my parents for helping to get their property ready again for horses. They have always supported me in my dreams and I am truly grateful for their love and devotion to their crazy, head strung, horse-loving daughter.

Welcome Home Ben!

We came over to Bainbridge Island last night so my Dad and I could get an early start in the morning to go up to Arlington to pick up Ben. We left the house at 7:30am to catch the 8:20am ferry to Edmonds. We arrived at Pacific Moon Equestrian Center right at 10:00am as we had hoped and were only there for a half and hour before we were on the road again. Ben was very willing to load into the horse trailer after he was able to sniff it a little.

We were so surprised how smoothly everything was going, but we may have spoke too soon because by the time we got to Edmonds the ferry was super overloaded and the wait line was miles long. Not wanting to sit waiting for the next couple of hours we decided to drive down to Seattle and take the Bainbridge ferry instead. Being such a sunny Saturday, everyone was wanting to ride the ferry to the Penninsula for the weekend so we missed the 12:20pm ferry there as well. We were all getting very annoyed of waiting, especially Ben. He kept stomping and swaying in the trailer, poor guy! Luck was handed to us at the last moment though, as we were actually able to sneak on the 1:10pm ferry as being one of the last cars on. Good thinking Dad for choosing lane #1 over lane #2.

By the time we got home the three of us were so happy to get out and walk around. Ben was pretty sweaty from the trip since the trailer made him a little nervous, but all in all he traveled very well. He was pretty surprised to see his new surroundings. He spent the rest of the day soaking up the sun, exploring his pasture, woods and barn, eating lots of carrots from the kids, munching on my parent's lawn while the hay was being loaded into the hay loft, and following us around as we did some finishing touches to his pasture area.

Ben is certainly a perfect match for our family. He is super sweet, calm around the kids and loves to follow you around like a big puppy dog. It was so great that the weather cooperated with us as well today.

One of the cutest moments was when Ben Horse met Ben Cousin for the first time. At first I thought it might be a too confusing for the kids to have 2 Ben's in the family, but Ben Cousin actually loves the fact that he can share his name with the horse, so we were very happy. We also found out that the horse's real name is Ben Crusin' so we wanted to keep his name since it's so cool.

It was truly a nostalgic day as I rode in the truck with my Dad pulling the horse trailer. It brought us back to all of the times my Dad had hauled me and my horse Toasted to horse shows, 3-Day Events, Pony Club Trials, and riding lessons. I am so excited to own a horse again. I have been waiting for this moment for the past 7.5 years and it still seems a little unreal. Thanks Dad for all of your hard work in helping to get ready for Ben! I had such a fun time driving and talking with you today.

He passed with flying colors!

Today we drove back up to Arlington to Pacific Moon Equestrian Center for Ben's pre-purchase health exam. I wasn't surprised that he passed with flying colors, but I just wanted to be sure that before I purchased him that he was indeed 100% sound and healthy. The veterinarian didn't find anything to be concerned with so we were all very happy. Even Ben "smiled" for his photo afterwards. It was pretty cute!

On Saturday we will drive up to Arlington again with the horse trailer and bring him home to live at my parents house on Bainbridge Island. We are all very excited! I've been looking around for a pasture mate for Ben and have another horse that I'll be checking out on Thursday. So hopefully that horse will work out as well so Ben won't be lonely. My parents also wanted to have a horse of their own so my Dad, Jeff and nieces would be able to go trail riding with me occasionally.

None of this would have been able to happen had my parents been so excited about getting horses as well. They have spent countless hours in the past couple of weeks getting the barn, fences and pasture ready for horses again (it's been a year since horses were boarded on their property last.) THANKS DAD for all of your hardwork! I can't wait to hit the trails with you soon!

Back in the Saddle Again!

Last week Jeff gave me the go ahead that I could start looking for a horse to buy. I was totally floored as I've been waiting for this moment for the past 7 years since my childhood horse died. He gave me a budget to work with and so I immediately set out looking on-line. There were so many to choose from I couldn't believe it. I guess like property and houses, horses are a buyers market right now as well. I'm so proud to say that after all of the horses I looked at the one I ended up getting was $3500 less than that my total budget so I can actually afford to buy the tack and feed that I'll need as well. Just a minor importance!

We traveled all the way up to Arlington to view this horse and when we got to Pacific Moon Equestrian Center we felt like we were at a resort. The facility was so beautiful and peaceful. The horse we found is named Ben (I'm thinking about changing though since it's too confusing for Hyrum to have a horse and a cousin with the same name). He a 13 year old, dark bay, 16hhThoroughbred with some Arabian in him (Anglo Arab). Go figure, he's the same breed that Toasted was! I wasn't even looking for an Anglo Arab, but I guess we are just drawn together. He has lots of dressage training and is a school master up to 2nd Level. He was a pleasure to ride and the first horse that I rode that I felt like I made a true connection with, hence the reason we decided to stop looking after we found him.

Jeff didn't get any photos of me riding since he was so busy trying to keep the boys entertained and out of harms way. So we'll have to be sure to take some more when we go up again this week for the horse's pre-purchase veterinary exam. Let's hope he passes it so we can bring him home.