Jillian and Cisco

On Thanksgiving Day while we were skyping with my brother Tyler, I discovered that my niece Jillian was interested in learning how to ride. My dad and I were immediately excited but we didn't make too big a deal about it since we wanted to surprise Jillian with this for Christmas. We researched how much it would cost for her to take riding lessons at a local stable and were floored that for beginners most places were charging up to $50/hour. CRAZY!!!! So we decided that since we have a underused pony just sitting in my parent's field and I have years of riding experience that I would just teach her myself and my parents would buy her a pair of riding boots instead to get her started. She was excited to open the gift Christmas Day even though it was only an envelope with a photo of the boots inside since we wanted to make sure we ordered the right size. This afternoon I took Jillian out for her first little lesson and to get to know Cisco. We had a lot of fun together and she was a great student!

At first I led her around a bit and talked her about the basics of equitation and then I let her try riding on her own. Cisco isn't too used to having a bit in his mouth (due to a past tongue injury) so he played around with it a lot, but he did a good job with keeping her safe. We mostly just walked around the pasture since Jillian was riding bareback and worked on turning, stopping and starting.

Hyrum wanted to ride as well, so he hopped on Jena and then they both had fun riding around the pasture together. This was the first time that I've let Hyrum ride 100% on his own and he actually did a great job. Jena is such a sweet little pony, she really took care of him. He even got her trotting around which he thought was great fun. I can't wait to take Hyrum and Jillian out on the trails together and see how the ponies do. That will be super fun even if I don't have a horse of my own to ride. Hopefully we can make this a weekly or biweekly activity for the kids since the ponies really need the exercise and we are all having fun learning together. Happy Trails Ahead!!

One Year Anniversary with Cisco

Last year over Labor Day Weekend we brought Cisco home to live with Jena since Ben had recently passed away and she needed a buddy. Today marked our 1st anniversary of having him, so we celebrated by going over to Bainbridge to spend the day with the ponies. I feel really bad that in the past year we really haven't done much with Cisco other than feed and brush him. But I guess I have to cut myself a little slack considering that almost 1/2 of the time we've had him I was pregnant and unable to ride. Then once Landon was born it was the middle of the winter and raining all of the time so we didn't visit the ponies too often. I would have liked to have tried riding Cisco earlier this summer but each time we visited the ponies the boys only wanted to ride on Jena or we had limited time and couldn't take both of them out. Today though, both of the boys were excited to try and ride him. I was proud that they both were eager to do so even though he's much bigger than Jena and they'd have to ride bareback since we don't have a saddle yet that properly fits him. When I tried my dressage saddle on him earlier in the summer he wanted nothing to do with it and freaked out a bit by jumping and bucking around after I loosely tightened the girth. Since we didn't want a repeat of that we decided bareback would be best and we'd just keep our riding at a walk.

I got on him first and he was really hesitant and nervous in the beginning. I don't know if it was because I weigh a lot more than he's used to carrying or the fact that no one has really sat on him in the past year, but he was pretty tense. Since I didn't have a saddle in between us I could feel all the muscles in his back tense up and at first it felt like he was walking on eggshells and taking baby steps. I was really hoping that he wasn't going to freak out and buck me off. My dad helped to lead me around for a bit at the beginning and then we opted to have Jena enter the paddock to help calm him down. Once she was by his side he relaxed more so then we decided to open the gate into the pasture so I'd have more room to ride him around. He did really well out in the open area especially considering that I was riding him with a bit and reins. The girl who rode him last summer always rode bareback and with just a halter and lead rope. I wasn't confident enough to try that even though he's been know to have issues in the past with a bit due to a former tongue injury. He seemed to accept the bit for the most part but played around with it a lot in his mouth. I rode him for about a half hour at the walk and was even able to ride down in the woods away from where Jena was and he remained calm for me. It was an odd experience to ride bareback again since it's been ages since I've done it. Until now I haven't even owned that was even remotely comfortable to ride bareback so it was never really an option. Cisco though is like riding a couch! I guess it's good that he's on the chubby side since it meant more cushion between my legs.

After I rode, Hyrum was anxious to hop on and give it a try. He really loved it which I'm glad since he's really getting too big now for Jena. Cisco fits him so much better. Now I just need to get the saddle situation solved so I won't have to worry about the kids slipping off when they ride especially if they ever want to go faster than a walk.

Hyrum kept telling everyone that Cisco is now his horse and that Jonah could have Jena and we needed to buy another pony for Landon. Sorry Hyrum, if and when we get another horse someday it will be a bigger horse that adults like myself, my dad or Jeff could ride, not another small pony.

Jonah had a fun time riding Cisco as well and he did a great job holding on and not slipping off. I found that once the kids were riding him Cisco was 100% more relaxed and actually having fun with them. He was being really careful and calm and pretty much just followed me around the pasture as I led him around.

All in all I was very pleased how our rides went today and wished we would have tried this out a couple of months ago so we'd have more of the summer to play around and ride him. Now that school's starting I hope that we'll still be able to come over as often as we can to visit the ponies and ride.

Ensign Ranch

Today I was able to go on a trail ride and it was heavenly! Even though we just walked in a single file line the whole time, it felt so good to be in the saddle again. We spent the day over in Cle Elum at Ensign Ranch and it was great to be around the horses. The horse I rode was named Angel and he was perfect. I could have done without the western saddle and all the dust being kicked up from the horses in front of me, but I wasn't going to complain since I was actually riding a horse again. I can't believe it's been a year since Ben passed away and how much my life has changed since then. Having a baby sure puts things on hold! I sure hope that I'll be able to ride a little more consistently now, even if it's just trail-riding. I sure miss how relaxing it is and having some "Me Time."

Jeff took these photos of me after we got back from our ride since we weren't allowed to bring camera on the trail ride with us.

Angel was a nice and hefty Quarter Horse. He felt so much bigger than Ben, but maybe it's just because it's been so long since I've ridden. I sure hope I'm not too sore tomorrow!

He was such a good boy I made sure to give him lots of pats and loves afterwards. Can you tell I miss riding??? Just a little bit??? Ahhh, hopefully I'll be back at it again soon!!!

We Sure Love Our Ponies!

Today we went over to visit the ponies. The boys had a great time riding Jena. She sure is a special little pony and we love her so much. I'm always so pleased with how tolerant she is of the boys despite their exuberance and our inconsistency in riding and spending time with her.

I can't believe how much the boys are growing up and it really puts things into perspective when they stand next to Jena who has reached her maximum height years ago. Hyrum loves Jena so much and is sad that he is outgrowing her. He did a great job handling her as he led Jonah around. She is actually better behaved when the boys work with her than when I do. I think it's because they are more her size and she doesn't feel as intimidated.

Hyrum will have to start riding Cisco soon. I feel bad that we haven't spent much time with him in the past year besides brushing him. He could use the exercise since according to the vet he's an 8/9 for body condition. Maybe we should start calling him Mr. Chubs! To me he doesn't look that fat, just out of shape. Last month I tried to put my dressage saddle on him in hopes that I might be able to take him on a little trail ride, but he freaked out and wanted nothing to do with it. He likes being ridden bareback, but I'm not sure I'm up for that quite yet. So I'll have to think more about what to try next. Here's hoping I'll be able to ride him at least once before the summer is over.

Too bad I couldn't get him to prick his ears forward in this photo. At least the rest of him looks good!

It's Shedding Season!!

You can definitely tell it's Spring when the ponies start loosing gobs and gobs of hair. Just petting them you get a fist full. So today while we were over on Bainbridge for Mariko's 1st Birthday I made it a priority to go down and help the ponies in their shedding process. They both stood so well for me as I rubbed them all over with the curry comb. I wish I lived closer so I could brush them daily or at least a couple of times a week. But maybe I'll be able to make it over to visit them at least weekly until Spring ends since their coats could really use the help. Here they are after I got most of the loose hair off of them. Too bad I didn't take a before shot to compare, but really it was so embarrassing on my part since it's been forever since I brushed them last. I'm such a bad pony mommy! But I guess since I'm a mommy now to three little boys the ponies will just have to take what they can get.

Cisco loved his rub down and was even glowing afterwards!

Jena still has more teddy bear fuzz to loose and it kind of makes her look two toned until it all sheds out.

And the pile of hair that came off from the two ponies, minus all that floated away in the breeze and all that was stuck to my clothes. Seriously, there was horse hair everywhere!! It's a good thing I'm not allergic!!

Balancing Act

Tonight I was in tears as I found myself stuck at a crossroads. In one arm I was holding a stack of equestrian books and in the other I was carrying my almost 4 week old baby.

I dedicatedly rode my horse until I was 5 months pregnant with every hope to continue riding after my baby was born and my body was recovered. But unfortunately Ben coliced and died unexpectedly right when I was about to put my riding career on hold. Having him taken away from me so suddenly really made me upset and wonder for what reason this was all occurring. It took me a long time to come to terms with his death and I think what really got me through it all was the fact that I had no choice but to give up riding for the time being since I was 5 months pregnant and it was just getting too risky and uncomfortable.

But tonight as I held my sweet baby in my arms and the pile of books in the other I knew there was no way I could handle both at the same time. No matter how hard I tried one was going to slip out of my hands. Knowing I could never drop my baby and that his life is more important, I was forced to let all my books topple to the floor and as I did so it brought tears to my eyes. It was like I was closing a door on something that I have loved to do for so long and was now being forced down a new road that didn't seem to have an end in sight.

While I do enjoy being a mom it's truly the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. There are many days that I absolutely hate it and just want to give it all up. But I've never felt that way about horses. The more I learn about them I just want to learn even more. Even after having a rough ride or bad fall, I want to get right back on and try again. Horses are my passion and for a long time have been my outlet.

Now with trying to raise 3 boys I feel like I don't have anytime to be ME anymore and am loosing myself in the process. Motherhood is truly the most selfless act of service you can do since it requires so much of your time.

I am truly grateful for my mother and all that she sacrificed to raise her five kids. I don't know how she did it or if she ever felt like me, because there are many days that I truly don't like the mom that I am and feel like I'm just doing such a horrible job. Patience is not one of my fortes and I am tried with this on a daily basis. I'm sure, or at least I'm hoping, that things will get better as my boys age and I'll be allowed to have more free time to be able to discover my true self and talents once again.

But for now I guess the scale has tipped and the books will remain scattered across the floor. Hopefully with time I'll be able to start picking them up and discovering myself again....